i came, pink and crying
under white lights
and masked-face staff of the
hospital.
they sighed, "ooh" and "aahh" at my
inborn reflexes--
gripping their pinkies, curling my
tiny toes.
they said,
"buy a pink bow" and hung it
an announcent to the neighborhood
of my arrival
in time, they littered my floor
with barbie dolls,
pretend plastic make-up,
easy-bake oven sets. told me to
sit up straight,
cross my legs,
be a lady.
i imagined a world of power
in my mother's closet.
adorned in glittery jewels, i
danced around in her
high-heels, not her
practical, business flats.
years gave me my own jewelry
my hands grew out of
crayon outlines,
my feet filled spiked heels.
i learned
girls are not good at math,
they are patient, calm,
forgiving of men.
i lurched out
kissed the wrong mouths,
hungered after
that which i could not be
and found, i like the color blue best.
