Girl
Is spit through curled lips and a growl
As foam creeps out the corners of his mouth
Tongue hits teeth
Picture book with puppy dog ears
In her lap
Girl
Is the butterfly dress she wears,
Is the shoes with the bows on them,
Is in her bob cut and bangs
Is the nervous giggle she offers
Girl
Is the scissors in his pocket
Is the moment they raise to her neck
Is the threat in his throat
Is not the reading buddy who
Sits next to her
Boy
Is the reading buddy who sits next to her
Is the grenade in his cheek
Is the permission of his rabidness
Is the not-punishment
Boy
Is just teasing
Boy
Doesn’t know better
Boy
Is a good student with so much potential.
Is spit through curled lips and a growl
As foam creeps out the corners of his mouth
Tongue hits teeth
Picture book with puppy dog ears
In her lap
Girl
Is the butterfly dress she wears,
Is the shoes with the bows on them,
Is in her bob cut and bangs
Is the nervous giggle she offers
Girl
Is the scissors in his pocket
Is the moment they raise to her neck
Is the threat in his throat
Is not the reading buddy who
Sits next to her
Boy
Is the reading buddy who sits next to her
Is the grenade in his cheek
Is the permission of his rabidness
Is the not-punishment
Boy
Is just teasing
Boy
Doesn’t know better
Boy
Is a good student with so much potential.
Claire Haindfield is a seventeen year-old student at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, Washington.