Taryn Spencer’s poetry is vivid and visual. You already know that because you remember Damn Syndrome and you have visited her web site. Wait til you read what she gives us today. A boxer uses the jab to set up for the knock-out cross. Taryn does the same thing in this poem but with language instead of punches. Whoever coined the whole sticks and stones expression clearly never read a poem like this.
1st Grade: When Jessica Byrd Crossed the Train Tracks
By Taryn Spencer
Jessica Byrd liked to draw houses
The color pink
To wear her hair in pouty pigtails
She sat in the front row–
Straight and productive
The teachers loved her
We hated Jessica
We gave her names
Like peepee brains
Onion face
Muffin face
Teacher’s pet
Gorilla breath
Jessica crossed over
The railroads
From school to home
Home to school–
Clutching her backpack
Tightly
Like molars
Chump down
Tightly
On sweet bubble gum
She skipped rocks along the way
Waved to blue jays.
That Tuesday
Morning–
Never making it to class.
Amazing images, sooo true-to-life. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, very powerful ending.
Oh, I didn’t see that one coming. Sad!
You did a marvelous job.
You seriously had me at pouty pigtails! Awesome. I think this is secretly about me, btw, even though you don’t know me. Although you should and you should send stuff to me at Referential Magazine so Annmarie and I can fight over your awesomeness 🙂
You nailed me with a sucker punch with that ending! Good stuff! You certainly are no Onion Face.