"Careful What You Write," "White Robes," and "Over and Over"

Careful What You Write

leading a group of imaginary men to a place
a stable, surrounded by angels, blissful parents
this may someday be considered such a Truth
dare me to not believe in your story, to name your star
 
in order to determine whether it was really a comet 
those men saw streaking across the sky
an imaginary society based solely upon 
your collective incoherent scribbles
a challenge to reason.

 


 

White Robes

If our love was a church, 
we wouldn’t have to do everything with the lights off, 
I wouldn’t shrink next to your daydreams. 
Nothing is sacred in your head.
 
Our love is not a church,
not any sanctuary against the rough edges outside
I have tried, fists clenched tight. 
 
Sometimes I think I’m lost without your sickness
and you without mine, one day
you will be able to look into my eyes, and I into yours
and we will be fine.

 


 

Over and Over

It was love, I went home and wrote his name
In my bedroom, “Shannon + Holly,” told my friends
 
That we were seeing each other, that we were a thing.
I told my friends the number of times we did it, told them, five,
Because I had gotten a guy, a popular guy
I was not too ugly to fuck. 
 
For a week, it was just me and him, then he 
Invited his friends to put their dicks in me
My mother was so happy that so many guys were calling me
Stopping by to take me out for a walk, take me.
“You’re growing up 
So fast,” she said. “Don’t forget to wear a jacket.”

 

Add comment

Holly Day

Holly Day’s writing has recently appeared in The NoSleep podcast, Talking River, and New Plains Review, and her published books include Music Theory for Dummies and Music Composition for Dummies. She currently teaches classes at The Loft Literary Center in  Minnesota, Hugo House in Washington, and the Indiana Writers Center. Holly recommends PEN America’s Prison & Justice Writing Program.