I’m from incense, from Calgon and
cassette tapes. I am from the window
of my teenage bedroom; screenless
thirteen floors above ground, full of
mystery, night and glittering lights.
I am from crabgrass in the concrete.
Breaking free; the jagged edges
contrasting against the cracks. I’m
from playing Spades while sending
the kids to sleep so the adults could
party. From Cousin Billy and Great
Grandma Flora. I’m from expertly
hiding pain behind laughter while
making as few waves as possible.
From being too quiet and needing to
defend myself. I’m from church
services that induced starvation;
from that toddlin’ town and semi-
mysterious Cajun lineage. Smothered
chicken and black eyed peas. And
from the time I left my little brother
in the snow while going home from
school in the blizzard of ‘79.
8
*
Shontay Luna is a poet / fanfiction author whose first job was a Movie Theater Concessionaire. Her poems have appeared in Olney Magazine, [alternate route] and The Literary Nest, among others. The author of four chapbooks, she lives in Chicago with her notebooks, pens and fanfiction fantasies.
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