The Middle School Girls
The Middle School Girls
Addie loves Michelle
She does not love Victoria
Victoria loves Lois
who also does not love Addie
A girl has to belong
to someone
or she is no one
wandering the jungle of girls
who comb each others hair
like monkeys picking nits
They laugh, slightly strangling
none too confident of their place
in the grooming line
wary of being bumped
by a more attractive
smarter girl
one who perhaps
doesn't care so much
or at least seems not to
wearing a shield of indifference
and hairspray
Later, she will hold the lighter
close to her stiff bangs
to show she doesn't care
Her face will be fine
She'll hold a funeral for her hair
She'll move on
Lucy Simpson
Seattle
5/2/2008
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Comments
thanks. I was teaching poetry to middle school girls yesterday and, even in my small group, their are two cliques. I am really super fond of the two unpopular girls and the leader of the popular girls.
The hairspray thing was something my husband witnessed.
Lucy, who was not even in the grooming line, but off by herself or with one or two others
This is wonderful...
I especially love the lines "wearing a shield of indifference/and hairspray"
The imagery is very simple but so elegant.
Precious
Every one
Every child who dares wear a smile
Or hides one
Not knowing her place in the world
Wandering still
Hoping today
Just for awhile
To find the right place to be
That girl was me
Your words obviously stir memories....Sadly children can be so hurtful to each other in their struggle to find their own places to be. Your work is always stunning.
xo
LB
Thank you Lucy for sharing this great poem!!!
During those years, I was a profound escape artist. I withdrew, I thought, I read, I wrote. And I grew. Those years are extremely important to me.
This is insanely powerful:
"Later, she will hold the lighter
close to her stiff bangs
to show she doesn't care
Her face will be fine
She'll hold a funeral for her hair
She'll move on"
thanks farfaraway! :)
Lucy
Thanks prairieplains. I have to be careful not to regress as I digress with the teens.
Lucy
thanks LBreeze.
Lucy
thanks Tammie.
Lucy
I joined the popular girls once due to one shirt I had that I didn't really like, a light pink Izod. I realized how stupid they were and opted out and started spiking my hair again and dressing the way I wanted. Silly ain't it?
Lucy
thanks Aubrey!!! Those lines are the poems heart.
Lucy