maelynslavik

i found a binder full of photos from my preschool years,

lined paper covered in neat cursive

signed by my teachers, women who i remember the names of

and not much else. their voices were warm and the house

Create

writing

medium or genre

poetry

body

this is my routine;

come home from school

open to this the first chance I get

write.

Write 

write 

write 

Who are we? 

Are we men 

in offices, yes that would still be 

us. 

But, I think we are also the boy who got a flag from the lady in the parade and waves it because he loves his country

When I was little

My favorite color

Was pink

I wore dresses

To school

With matching

Floral headbands

Then I turned ten

On the hearth

there is a fireplace

it has a pile of chopped logs,

coals,

torn up pieces of newspaper

awaiting their burnt endings

On the hearth

a fire burns

flickering and crackling