Poems & Illustrations: Part 1
*series from Lexington Line’s Spring/Summer 2022 Issue, pages 28
Check out the full issue here
menthol
Like vines suffocate brick they’re growing—beautiful,
our mothers’ hair, my father’s beard,
lost teeth, treasure under the sink, shattered
from hot you’re-a-brat tension,
stuck together with nail glue and
Lisa Frank stickers, tucked, cinched,
like your air being stolen,
swept from cold breath,
wrench in your gut, tightly tucked
static sweeping your ears, “I hate you”
scribbled 23 times, a locked diary, a fuzzy sequined notebook
and three half-finished compositions,
stained by Starbucks, hugged by chewed gum and Dum-Dums,
glitter gel love letters melting gushing Tumblr oil
spills down my back, run through me, pour out of me,
unravel me,
click rewind tapes tangled ten times
till they say: enough.
No more water bottle whiskey, stolen Virginia Slims,
sweat stains sticky,
only vodka sours, Camel Crushes,
kiss me.
chapped lips stained shut
Sucking on gemstones,
sipping on rose quartz to make
them love me.
It’s like when Dorothy
gets to Oz. New year, same thing.
I feel sepia most days, and I choke on crystals now.
Could she always speak in rainbows
or is that just what I wanted to be loud.
Soft whispers of Jazz club
gracing my nostrils rubbed off
on borrowed satin that once
caught dreams or thoughts
when they couldn’t sleep.
Interrupting rest for a Girl,
never interrupted.
If I play the villain
you’ll be the sweet pea.
Melting rocket pops, freezer burnt veggies,
to keep company.
*artwork by Kally Compton
What was your favorite poem? Leave a comment below!