Angry aubades
Heavy
Loud
They tower above me and I can’t seem to hold my breath to let them pass
My stomach feels sick
The noise gets louder
My chest can’t stop beating and buzzing long enough for me to breathe
The sunshine feels hot on my back but the water would pull me down
So I settle for the sun
I’m feeling the sky on my bare skin
and the trees have more depth than a blanket of leaves and bark
The trees are towers
mountains
And coliseums built and caving in together
The ground is made of stars if you pick the right pieces
If you follow lights and let your eyes weave through seas of brown and green to find something that shines under pressure
I don’t pack pain in my punches
I am soft and forgiving
Flowers grow under my fingertips but
All you see is a weapon
Give me daisies in my hair and let me sleep
Let me murmur to the dawn
Melting syrup of a skyline
Sharp bodies and light air
Something soft
Something hated
Something helpful
Beds of pink and blue
Yellow blankets are warm in late morning sun
I’m drowning myself in pillows and sunlight
The hum of my movement sending vibration in the air
Tiers of green are all the same until you’re small enough to see them closely
I am soft
And light
But when bumblebees are only bumblebees
And men feel fury in their fingers
Sometimes bumblebees end up under boots
Grade: 9
Chevy Chase, DC
Washington, DC
She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb; Adrienne Rich’s poems
To become a journalist and raise awareness for social issues.
My older brother