I.
Today was itchy. Itchier
than usual. A few names
kept scratching at the back
of my neck. I’d even cut
the tags off of the shirt.
II.
Today, I’m upset about the
green yellow brown liquid
in decorative pickled vegetable
jars and why they’re kept in
kitchens. It never looks inviting.
Why don’t I ever get invited?
III.
Today I went for a walk.
I wasn’t sure what to do with
my hands. I found myself
stomping down the sidewalk
with two balled fists. No one
smiled back at me.
IV.
Today, I found a faint line
on my face. I tried to smooth
it out with my finger then
took to the internet: does
Botox look natural if you
have an animated face?
The answers were mixed.
V.
Today was fine. It was cloudy
and just warm enough outside.
I gave a homeless white man the
last two dollars I had crumpled
up at the bottom of my purse
and he said God bless you,
sweetheart. I’ll take it.
Today was itchy. Itchier
than usual. A few names
kept scratching at the back
of my neck. I’d even cut
the tags off of the shirt.
II.
Today, I’m upset about the
green yellow brown liquid
in decorative pickled vegetable
jars and why they’re kept in
kitchens. It never looks inviting.
Why don’t I ever get invited?
III.
Today I went for a walk.
I wasn’t sure what to do with
my hands. I found myself
stomping down the sidewalk
with two balled fists. No one
smiled back at me.
IV.
Today, I found a faint line
on my face. I tried to smooth
it out with my finger then
took to the internet: does
Botox look natural if you
have an animated face?
The answers were mixed.
V.
Today was fine. It was cloudy
and just warm enough outside.
I gave a homeless white man the
last two dollars I had crumpled
up at the bottom of my purse
and he said God bless you,
sweetheart. I’ll take it.
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Salma Sayed is a Moroccan-Egyptian poet born and raised in northern Virginia. She holds a B.A. in English with a minor in Creative Writing from Virginia Commonwealth University.
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