M. Hank

This is from a longer project of mine, but I really liked how this stanza turned out, and I think it kind of works on its own.

I flip through the first

Couple of pages,

The red truck blue truck cap

Bright blue, not pretty

Like dancing eyes no

This is down to business blue eyes hardened

After too many people said no

After too many yesses didn’t work out

You were supposed to be different.

The one that I didn’t have to give up on.

Someone that I could rely on.

But I turned my back and you chose her.

She who wounded me with words and threatened to do worse.

It was like your second cousin,

the one who stopped coming

to Thanksgiving

most of the time

but shows up sometimes

and you remember a picture

of her holding baby you

with blond curls and energy always

you are.

and: you don't have to be. 

let yourself exist.

sleep in late.

make your favorite foods.

hug your shoulders, your knees, not to hide behind but to marvel at.

you are marvelous.

We used to be seven

My curls used to be sunshine

Colored

You used to be stubborn

Naive stubborn.

The powder used to hit our knees

On the days

When we could eat lunch in four bites