Remember the thoroughbred girls?
The girls we watched in washroom mirrors
and fell in love with. With kohl eyes,
powder puffs, chapstick lips & candy-floss pink cheeks.
The girls who shot the pistol at the starting line
and still finished first. Who took drugs
and hearts like jumps, curled their knees
beneath them. The girls who landed
feet first, never stumbled with eyes
staring down the barrel of a shotgun.
But combed and plait their hair as if
tomorrow had already come.
The girls with come hither, wish you were me
stares. Misunderstood as golden idols
meant to be shared. The girls who
were champion racehorses in need
of medals but I placed them on pedestals;
rendered them goddesses and untouchable,
gilded their heartbreak & watched them shatter,
the moment we all forgot these girls
were girls.
Inspired by Ada Limon’s ‘How to Triumph Like a Girl’
Poem: © Kristiana Reed 2020
My poetry collections:
https://linktr.ee/KristianaReed
I came back to read it a second time. I loved it!
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I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you 💛
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I did very much!
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Boy I can certainly relate to this is so many ways, it is so well written my friend.
“The girls who landed
feet first, never stumbled with eyes
staring down the barrel of a shotgun.
But combed and plait their hair as if
tomorrow had already come.
The girls with come hither, wish you were me
stares. Misunderstood as golden idols
meant to be shared”
Your piece reminds me of when I moved to KY in the middle of my Junior year. It was horrible. A lot of rich kids and a large school. Unlike me who had heard the ringing of a shotgun from my own dad, these girls were untouchable. I was lower income and they were rich, and they dressed in the lastest fashions. I wore home made clothes. Excellent work for bringing back memories. Beautifully penned. Love Joni
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Yes, this is exactly what I was aiming for! I love that you were able to relate to it but also know that you are wonderful and always have been ♥️
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Thank you my friend that means so much. I understand the feelings of everything you wrote about. It helps to know others understand. I wish I had such a resource when I was a teenager and young adult. Love to you ❤️💖🤗Joni
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Thoughtful as to how I viewed this girls … pedestals were not things that I mounted others on … but I probably watched others do that … and had a heart that ached for both!
I’m also wondering what the voice of the thoroughbreds would be if they penned their stories ..?
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