that girl

i will never be that girl who stands up straight.
i will never be that girl who wears the tasteful white dress,
the solid red earrings as the only accent, her hair pulled
back, loosely, in a simple bun. that girl who takes
two bites to eat one french fry.

i will not laugh cutely at what you say.

i will not lightly touch your arm at the right moments.

and i certainly won't excuse myself when i go to the bathroom.


i am not without manners,
but i am without filters. i don't understand simplicity for
simplicity's sake. the point of a monotone outfit.
a face without black eyeliner. a laugh without the belly.
a beer without (at least) a little belch.
a mouth of teeth without at least one pointing in the opposite direction.

sophistication belongs on the shelf with the dictionaries.
i will take my coffee black, with lots of cream.
when the milk collects above my lip i hope you'll laugh, then lean over
and lick it off,
tell me that you've never seen me more beautiful.