Speak Plainly
Jasmine Pardo
“Speak plainly,”
I beg
I don’t want to hear
About how I’m your
Earth, moon, and stars
I just want to hear that I’m yours
I don’t want to hear
That my voice is like a symphony
Ringing in your ears
I just want to know that you hear me
I don’t want to hear
That my body is the temple
In which you find refuge
I just want to know
That you think I’m beautiful
That when I think I see your eyes wander
It’s just a trick of the light
I don’t want to hear
How every moment without me
Is a moment spent holding your breath
I just want to hear you say you miss me
I don’t want to hear
That my heart and mind
Are like the open pages of a book
I just want know that you know me
SATURN
I can’t help but want to believe that my coming to be was the product
of the stars aligning. I want every time that I cried to have meant
something. I want my every breakdown to be the destruction of a planet
and every smile to mean the birth of a new sun. I want my existence to
mean something. I want to be something special and loved and coveted.
Otherwise, this world would be too cruel to bear.
DELICACY
Sitting down at your table always made me feel
like I was lying atop it instead as if I was the meal before you
and all of your sniggering buddies and staring cronies
were tucking into a feast de moi á la mode.
I wanted to say, “If you must insist on devouring me
With your glaring eyes, then I must insist you part your lips
I must be something you want to sink your teeth in.”
I’ll be a delicacy after all. This cut of meat is extremely rare
There’s none other like it in the world. I know I’ll be delectable—
I’ve been seared in the heat of years, of fury. Before being braised
in your oily touches, I’ve been cut into petite mouthfuls
God forbid I take up enough space to make you think a little harder,
chew a little longer. I know my taste will be so exquisite,
It will move you to tears. I wonder if, after you’ve gorged yourself,
You’ll realize that you’re meant to savor your food
SHOUT 