[untitled]

the meaning of self-pity is generally assumed to be
a lament upon one's state-
what would the phrase be for instead
finding oneself pitiful?

i am not your beautiful
dancing girl,
like i always
wanted to be.
hips in a sway, some
sixties heavy fringe
and trailing waves.
who i am-
high-pitched laughter
of rolling eyes
and vying for some kind
of contact/connection.
i don't know what a cadence is,
but i have
a neck that aches for
instead of some seductive
solo style,
i joined the boys and i
threw my head into the music,
at crescendo.
legs turning inward
and a little girl's smile.
i miss the time,
of a polaroid-type love
and hiding away in cupboards.
the girl i am now,
gets eight hours sleep,
has a sensible coat
and sensible gloves.


my heart was never sensible.

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

The notion of the actual compared with the imagined (Platonic?)-- the idealized dancing girl, the 60's stereotype, the "polaroid-type love"--is interwoven seamlessly in this piece from beginning to end. The matter-of-fact tone works nicely here. Strong, strong piece of writing.

[celyn]

Ed knows what he's talking about.

[Ed Hart]

you can't fool me; you're not a sensible girl...sensible girls don't write good poetry. and, if you remember that child, you are that child; toughened up a little, maybe; but I'll bet you know where the hidden laughter is...you mention self pity, but there's no self pity here...Ed