MIRRORS
CATS
RIGHT-HANDEDNESS
BROWN EYES BRIMMING WITH SELFHOOD
BROWN EYES REFUSING TO STAY BLUE
WORDS
(WORLDS)
UPSPEAK
SPLIT PEA SOUP
(HOMEMADE, VEGETARIAN)
DATING MEN
WARM CONCRETE FOR LAYING ON
A SMALL HANDFUL OF NUTS AND RAISINS
STRAIGHT A STUDENTS
GREEN THUMBS
PICTURE FRAMES
(FOR THE DEAD)
SPIN CLASS
(TWICE A WEEK)
CHEWING ON ICE BETWEEN MEALS
MIDNIGHT SNACKS WHEN THE KITCHEN IS CLOSED
BRASS HARDWARE
(CLASSY)
FRIDGE MAGNETS FROM FARAWAY PLACES
SOCIALISTS WITH GOOD INTENTIONS
(STARRY-EYED)
TOTE BAG CAPITALISM
PACIFIERS DROPPED IN COY PONDS BY ACCIDENT
CARTOONS BEFORE BREAKFAST
MIDDLE FINGERS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS
BRITISH TV DRAMAS
(PROMISED TO WATCH, NEVER DID)
LOOSE CURLS
(LONG)
NOSE JOBS PAID FOR BY INSURANCE IN 1992
VICARIOUS SUCCESSES
(VARIOUS)
SACRIFICE
(A MOTHER’S)
FRIDA KHALO’S UNIBROW
ELIZABETH TAYLOR’S CHEEKBONES
HALF-DEAF FATHERS WHO WON’T LISTEN
(HUSBANDS)
ALWAYS CARRYING CASH
SOURCING LEGAL PEPPER SPRAY
SECOND-WAVE FEMINISM
WHITE SATIN WEDDING GOWNS WITH FLORAL APPLIQUES
HOT TEARS IN THE BACKSEAT
HUMIDITY
(IN THE ABSTRACT)
HOT POCKETS WRAPPED IN TINFOIL
CHUTZPAH
(WANDERLUST)
CHECKING IN ON YOUR BROTHER
(SON)
FILING TAXES
FINDING LOOPHOLES
FIRST KISSES IN CABIN NUMBER 4
(IN LATE AUGUST, IN THE DARK)
WRITING LETTERS TO BOYS WHO DON’T DESERVE IT
SPEAKING UP WHEN IT’S APPROPRIATE
SPEAKING UP WHEN IT’S NOT
SENDING POSTCARDS FROM ALL OVER
GIRL BULLIES IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
FIGHTING YOUR OWN BATTLES
(AND LOSING)
PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY
(AND ALL ITS HAIR)
THE GIVEN NAMES WE HAD NO ROLE IN
THE NICKNAMES WE CHOOSE FOR OURSELVES
SEEING SO MUCH OF YOURSELF IN ANOTHER
SEEING NONE OF YOURSELF AT ALL
FEARING TO LOOK TOO CLOSELY
NOT KNOWING WHICH IS BETTER
(OR WORSE)