By Carson Sandell
Kindergartners lined up in black and white,
boys photographed mid-shove on metal benches
girls allongé in laughter. Torn jeans and hair spikes
I wish I could tap dance out from those trenches
Boys photographed mid-shove on metal benches,
though I wasn’t pushed, they clocked truth before me.
I wish I could tap dance out from those trenches
I would ripple like ribbon and cambré into a C
Though I wasn’t pushed, they clocked truth before me.
Nauseated, knocked to knees, I begged for ballet shoes,
I would ripple like ribbon and cambré into a C
a stardust beauty laced in layers of iridescent blues.
Nauseated, knocked to knees, I begged for ballet shoes.
Joy is a bike with bells and a basket; cornsilk curtains,
a stardust beauty laced in layers of iridescent blues
not half-shattered smiles. I know for certain
Joy is a bike with bells and a basket, cornsilk curtains,
midnight makeup; beauty hidden by moonlit dread
not half-shattered smiles. I know for certain
closed door transformations saved ash from windspread
Midnight makeup, beauty hidden by moonlit dread.
Clouded irises surrounded on a page of youthful radiance
closed door transformations saved ash from widespread.
Oh my true teenage soul faded like everlasting gradients
Clouded irises surrounded on a page of youthful radiance,
a childhood spent tip-toeing around murky manhood.
Oh my true teenage soul faded like everlasting gradients
if I could pirouette back to reclaim myself I would
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Carson Sandell (they/them) is a Trans poet from San Jose, CA. They are studying Creative Writing with a concentration in Poetry at UC Riverside. Their work has appeared in Dissonance Magazine, Windows Facing Windows, Drunk Monkey Magazine, Wrongdoing Magazine, Fahmidan Journal, and Full House Magazine, and more.
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