I aimed to be loved, or at least necessary. I didn’t know I could say no. Pointed at my body: This old thing? Just slipped it on. Later, I said no but my voice was only inside. I had studied at the school of the encrypted. Father’s teasing, nameless women, Penthouses, Playboys under the beds, crumpled. Mother’s slim magazine lessons Dictating: stay skinny keep your man happy dinner in 30 minutes or less. Dinner in 30 minutes. Or less keeping your man happy. Dictating: stay skinny mothers. Slim magazine lessons under the beds. Crumpled Penthouses, Playboys teasing. Nameless women of the encrypted fathers. I had studied at the school but my voice was only inside. Later, I said no. This old thing. Just slipped it on, pointed at my body. I could say no. I didn’t know. Loved, or at least necessary I aimed to be.
Karen Elizabeth Sharpe is a poetry editor at The Worcester Review. Her chapbook, Prayer Can Be Anything, is forthcoming with Finishing Line Press (2023). Her poems have or will soon appear in Split Rock Review, Ocean State Review, West Trade Review, Mom Egg Review, and Catalyst, among others.
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