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Jul 11
poetry
reeseriversandstone

Youth is a slippery thing

We smell like backpacks 
and old smoke and earth.
Dirt-cheap perfume that
grips you like Chanel anyway.

We don't have to worry about "pretty." 
Our pretty is in our 
fresh skin smooth hands free love wide eyes.
It's all downhill from here.

But your gorgeous comes out
in a velvety record collection,
biting side eye, and a perfect breastroke.
Thoughtless, haughty beauty.

Youth isn't afraid to say what it wants.
"Know me like I've never known myself. Don't be afraid to guess."
Not thinking, on purpose,
to make the colors just that little bit brighter. 

Old flower tucked in the hand-cut hair of a pretty boy.
Fresh tar scuffing the green-laced sneakers of a pretty girl.

Everyone wants to wield time,
cut out the bread, run straight to the fruit.
Everyone wants to clutch this writhing, delirious summer
and squeeze its breath right out.

I watch your lips part.
A sun-stroked morning glory.
And we roll down the hill,
grass sticking in my hair like a naughty child.
  • reeseriversandstone's blog
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Posted: 07.11.21
About the Author: reeseriversandstone
MSG / CONTACT
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Discussion

Comments

  1. Stargirl
    Jul 14, 2021

    Ahhh, LOVE this so much!!!

    ( I think I made you up inside my head )

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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
501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2006
Contact: Susan Reid, Executive Director: [email protected]; (802) 324-9538