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Nov 01
poem
ZoeBee

A boy in a trench coat

[Featured in Episode 26 of Line Break. Listen to ZoeBee's reading and her interview with eyesofIris!]

The whole world is going crazy.
I should be worrying about the election right now
but I'm distracted because
today
I saw a boy in a trench coat,
not a creepy trench coat, or an ugly one, 
not stained with the tears of late nights or pitted with cigarette burns and the such.
It was brown, camel brown, caramel brown, I-will-never-forget-you brown, drive-in movie brown,
second grade brown, art teacher brown, brown like the last bitter sip of cocoa, sitting on your mother's lap at night.
His hair was the color of sand dunes, and the coat complemented it.
He looked, in the best way, like a camel,
although that doesn't sound very nice.
I wish I could have walked up to him,
complimented his trench coat,
struck up a conversation, told him I had one that was pink like bubblegum, and Christmas carols, and slippers.
But we were in a Hannafords,
and even though he seemed lovely, camel-like, and time seemed to slow just a bit around him,
even though he looked sweet and kind and I was feeling brave,
I didn't go say hi
because we were in a Hannafords and the whole world was going crazy
and I hate how I look and I was embarrassed because our cart was full of clearance food
and he was busy and we were all wearing masks.
So today I'm distracted because
I might have just missed my soulmate –
a boy in a Hannafords wearing a brown trench coat.

  • ZoeBee's blog
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Posted: 11.01.20
About the Author: ZoeBee
Zoe
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Discussion

Comments

  1. Yellow Sweater
    Nov 01, 2020

    This is so sweet. Such a lovely bitter-sweet moment. I hope the narrator gets to see the boy in the brown trench coat again.

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  1. ZoeBee
    Nov 01, 2020

    Thank you. I hope she does too.

    Zoe

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  1. Rosepathfading
    Nov 02, 2020

    This is amazing... I love how many types of brown you know/see in such good, descriptive ways! I like how it involves slight hints of romance, and also this global pandemic we have found ourselves stuck in.

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  1. ZoeBee
    Nov 02, 2020

    Thank you so much!

    Zoe

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  1. It's the cat
    Nov 02, 2020

    AHHHH I LOVE THIS!
    Go find your camel boy please, chase your dreams- er camels.
    Just kidding, but I seriously love how this piece is fun and also so sincere.

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  1. ZoeBee
    Nov 02, 2020

    Thank you! I really want to chase my camels. I loved writing this piece!

    Zoe

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  1. Stargirl
    Nov 05, 2020

    This is awesome!! It’s funny, I have a freakishly similar story...... maybe I’ll post it. I hope she see’s him again:)

    ( I think I made you up inside my head )

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  1. ZoeBee
    Nov 05, 2020

    Thank you! I hope she sees him too! You should post yours!

    Zoe

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  1. Stargirl
    Nov 05, 2020

    I did, you should read it!
    It’s crazy how similar it is to yours:)

    ( I think I made you up inside my head )

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  1. SpookyCatHalloween
    Nov 10, 2020

    Omg this is so cool! Also congrats on getting it published this friday in the paper! Mine will be in there too its called Preschool Days. I'll keep an eye out for yours!

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  1. ZoeBee
    Nov 10, 2020

    That’s awesome and thank you! I’ll look for yours!

    Zoe

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  1. SpookyCatHalloween
    Nov 11, 2020

    Well again this poem is awesome!

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YWP is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists. We're based in Burlington, VT, and we welcome young creators from anywhere!
Young Writers Project | 47 Maple St., Suite 216 | Burlington, VT 05401
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Contact: Susan Reid, Executive Director: [email protected]; (802) 324-9538