Revision Poem

Latest assignment: take a favorite line from one of your poems and create a new poem. Here's what I came up with...


Breath like vinegar and sweat and
crusty fingernails, clods of dirt hidden in crevices and
rouge like pools of blood.
A shadow, tall and erect hunched in the back,
beckoning.
Short nod, muted clink of heels across the dusty linoleum floor,
an arm outstretched (artificial gentleman) and
a car ride to a dark room.
My sister.
I remember slamming doors and the same heels
clinking on the sidewalk.
I remember tears, moans, a family who didn’t want
a stain.
My own ragged breaths, a rhythm of don’t be her, don’t be her,
don’t be her.
Torn shirts, patched jeans, cold feet in the morning,
it didn’t have to come to this.
She used to take me shopping, eyeing the
impossible.
I didn’t understand her new
clothes, new shoes.
Only fifteen, begging for
things.
Night, rhythms, short quick breaths,
sniveling, money.
Together we inhale, exhale, tears streaking our faces.