my teenage cousin has taken up writing lucky her
I think she probably has a lot of company
teenage girls writing poetry in pink diaries and spiral notebooks
doodles, drawings, deep feelings
kept hidden under mattresses or in closets full of stuffed animals
that no longer hold any attraction
places where mom is least likely to stumble upon them
innermost thoughts written on sacred paper
dreaming or fearing of one thing or another
in between the dances and the football games
the soccer matches and the times out with friends
innocent times confusing times heartbreaking times
many of those never live to see the light of sun splashed days
the world looks far different when your 14
your perspective is one of a limited frame of reference
she’s looked at a couple of my poems and said they were good
she’s just being nice to a cognac soaked scribbler
lots of people oughta write things down
might make them feel better
keep them from saying or doing things they shouldn’t
maybe some of them would become good poets
