Rainbow Sherbet Skies

An imitation poem inspired by the poem "Royal" from Joshua Burton's poetry collection, Grace Engine.

BEFORE LONG, DEAREST…WE WILL BE FREE TO LIVE OUR LIVES IN OUR OWN

WAY—FREE TO LOVE EACH OTHER AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CAN’T

UNDERSTAND. WE WILL GO SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN NEVER AGAIN TAKE

FROM US OUR RIGHT TO LIVE. SOMEWHERE THERE IS SUCH A PLACE, I’M SURE.

IN THE VOICE OF LILYAN BROCK FROM QUEER PATTERNS

EVERY DAY I SLIP MY FINGERS INTO

SILVER-COATED HOOPS OF COPPER—MY FINGERS STAINED A

SEAWEED GREEN AT THE BASE MY JEAN SHORTS AN

INCH ABOVE MY KNEES WITH A BUTTON-UP SHORT

SLEEVE TO COMPLIMENT THE TANK TOP SHOWCASING A

SLIVER OF SKIN—A TANK TOP THAT FLATTENS MY BREASTS I SLIDE MY FEET ENCASED BY ANKLE SOCKS INTO VANS IN HOPES

THAT SOME DAY—ONE DAY—SHE’LL SEE MY CHOCOLATE SWIRL

CURLS MY DIPPIN’ DOTS FRECKLES SHE’LL LOOK AND

UNDERSTAND AND SHE’LL SAY “I SEE YOU, YOUR GOLD FRAMES AND AUTUMN EYES”

WITH HER ALTO VOICE AND SUN-KISSED SKIN AND OUR FINGERS WILL LACE TOGETHER—OUR CHEEKS THE COLOR OF PEONIES—AND—

BUT THE WORLD DOES NOT LIKE PRETTY GIRLS IN LOVE

LAST YEAR A GROUP OF MEN APPROACHED ME AND MY FRIENDS

ONE SAID, “EXCUSE ME, CAN WE RECORD YOU KISSING FOR OUR FRAT?”

THE GROUP OF MEN STOOD EAGERLY ON THE CURB

EYES ALIGHT WITH FLAMES OF HELL MOUTHS SMIRKING AND

SANDPAPER HANDS RUBBING TOGETHER IT TAKES SECONDS

TO ANSWER—FUCK YOU—I AM NOT YOUR TV SHOW I DO NOT HAVE STRINGS THAT CAN WRAP AROUND YOUR FINGERS BUT THEIR FEET STOMPED ON THE GROUND—PLEASE—THE ICE-CUBE LETTERS PELT MY SKIN—PLEASE IT’LL BE HOT—MY FEET CARRY ME AWAY BEFORE

MY FISTS COLLIDE WITH THEIR JAWS

A FEW MONTHS AGO MY BEST FRIEND SENT A VIDEO OF

HER BOYFRIEND—IN HYSTERICS—OVER THE IDEA OF

US LIVING TOGETHER HE SAID HE WAS SCARED

SCARED HE SAYS! OF WHAT?

SCARED THAT I WILL DO SOMETHING TO HER

HER LAUGH LOUD AND SHARP ECHOES IN MY SKULL—MY PHONE SUDDENLY A BRICK IN MY HAND—AND IT BECOMES CLEAR

THAT MY EXISTENCE WILL FOREVER EXIST TO

FEAR AND TO PLEASE—DISGUST AND EXCITE—EVERYONE

IN A WORLD WHERE ALL I WANT IS FOR HER AND HER SUN-KISSED SKIN TO HOLD ME CLOSE AND TELL ME IT’S ALL RIGHT WHILE

IT’S JUST US—ONLY US—AND OUR FLUTTERING

HEARTS BEATING A SONG’S RHYTHM

JUST US AGAINST THE WORLD