I Existed
Snatches of time,
imprisoned,
in tattered albums,
a recital of snapshots
of the happy-lil’-family
that never was.
Like a starving rat,
I steal the paper crumbs,
proof,
I existed.
My ragdoll Sally,
mutt Red,
Barbie slippers,
first black eye,
all Kodak reminders
that even in hell,
flowers grow,
wilting, weeping,
petals of life,
crushed.
I existed.
High School Reject
the reject blends
a chameleon disguise
to survive another day
of fitting a square
into a round hole.
the reject knows,
attention only births
the taunting understanding,
he can never file
his pointy edges, smooth.
the reject loads
his salvation into
the equalizer that will
bring rest in a square box
buried deep in a round world.
A Mother’s Box of Dreams
lamb adorned coffin
swaddles her babe.
slumber’s lullaby serenades,
rocked in Mother Earth’s womb.
–Kelly Haas Shackelford
