When I tell her, “Friend, I can’t call you that anymore. You’re toxic and I’m drowning in open water,” I imagine her toes disappearing into her fuzzy bath mat, her fingers curled around a razor, cursing how they’re both disposable. I imagine her blood sticking to her forearms, a welcoming sign of life, a guarantee…
You’re toxic, I’m slipping under. She sent me 21 snippets of paper with one word on each and said, “Here. Make a poem out of these.” The idea excited me, the poet in me, until I finally told her I couldn’t be her friend any longer. A week later I opened the slips and saw the…
Did you know nine people were killed last week? I hate that nine people died. I hate that because he wasn’t black or brown they didn’t mention his race or assume his motive. I hate that nine people died. I hate that we know this routine, that it’s become routine. I hate that nine people…
“Next on our open mic…Sabina!!” I grabbed the crumpled sheet of paper at my feet and stood up, practically tripping over the emcee as I walked up to the stage. “This is my first time reading,” I said, and the crowd responded by cheering and waving their “Muppet Arms” excitedly in the air, a tradition…
Drag out the duffel bag And stuff it until the zipper Pinches your new clothes For the harsh winters you aren’t used to. Slide in a few photos from high school, Tell yourself you’ll keep in touch. “We’ll talk every day!” But you won’t. Rehearse your speech: name, major, hometown Favorite ice cream,…
I read this poem in my freshman Honors English class in high school, and it’s one of my favorite poems of all time. In honor of World Poetry Day, I’m posting it here. Enjoy! “On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins The whole idea of it makes me feel like I’m coming down with something, something…
I am from suburbia where the PTAs are a little too involved where people are dangerously unconcerned about crime where not playing soccer somehow made me inferior where kids have never even seen the inside of a city bus I am from eating Indian curry and Thai stir-fry instead of hamburgers and spaghetti and…
Victim to Charm 