By Meg Johnson

You thought
I would write
a poem
for you
about
a girl
and a popsicle.
How slowly
she licks
it.

You thought
I would write
a poem
for you
about
men who stick
their mustaches
into place
with hairspray.
The Aqua Net,
the shame.

You asked
me why
my performance
art didn’t
include
Snuffleupagus
and a reenactment
of your birth.

You asked
me why
when I see you
I look
away
and kick
rocks

*

Meg Johnson is the author of the full length poetry collection,Inappropriate Sleepover (The National Poetry Review Press, 2014) which was recently a NewPages Editor’s Pick. Her poems have appeared in Hobart, Nashville Review, The Puritan, Slipstream Magazine, Word Riot, and others. Meg started dancing at a young age and worked professionally in the performing arts for many years. She is currently the editor of Dressing Room Poetry Journal and an MFA candidate in creative writing. Her website is: megjohnson.org and she blogs at: megjohnsonmegjohnson.blogspot.com