238

aftershave eyes
& your haze-satanic halo

in the glow of orangeing streetlamps
and 2AM diners

242

I
Never did things right but that’s the way i loved

flawed, striving, and like peeling walls.

II
“things ought not,” we say,
     “to fit perfectly”
   we’ve doomed ourselves,
our little loves
     “pursuit of happiness”

III
darling, you and i
darling, you and me
we, we, we

       darling, cut us away
      with makeshift knives

       reckless: your tiptoes
       and i,
      selfish and
      clasping their hearts
      in tight hands.

IV
trapped, i think, in blankets
and the weight of their words
i tell you how
i chose the cards myself
to fan my warm and beating heart

V
vacancies in neon lights

she is not nearly bone
thin round breasts and a red red heart
legs smooth shaved with you in mind—
cover her, you hate her so weak.

Gabriella Gonzales
Age 15, Grade 10
Bard High School Early College
Gold Key