Rapunzel

a stranger's skin, unwelcome hips
but hindsights later-
maybe not as awkward
all teeth and bones and eyebrows
hair tomboy short

but now it grows, grows
chestnut and honey locks
past her shoulders
down her rounded hips
grow and grow
make a rope
build a ladder
find a way out of the tower
climb your way through the dark

don't wait
don't hesitate
time to be large
take up places in the universe

decorate the braid with wild things
use your hair to lure them forth
make a lasso for your dreams
learn to save yourself, my girl
no one is coming for you

move and stretch in your skin
always your skin

with or without foresight-
grow
all hair and skin and universe

Comments

  1. Molli RocketSeptember 21, 2010 at 5:43 AM

    This is my new favorite. I can hear it like music. I can hear Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath and Tori Amos singing backing vocals, but I can hear you first and strongest. Perfect.

    ReplyDelete

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