Amy Adoyzie

#22: “Infinite Childhood”

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to
dreaming of infinite childhood
Fortunate to have been innocent
and would have stayed there if I could

—

#23: “NPR at the Dentist”

Headphones with NPR at the dentist
sounds like it would help to get through
two hours of drilling and filing down your teeth.
Unless, of course, you’re listening to
stories of war and calamity with
bombs, explosions, and death set off
as lay back comfortably to have your teeth
get drilled and filed down.

—

#24: “The Offer”

When a hypocrite offers you a treat
It will surely be bittersweet

—

#25: “Pet Peeve of the Minority”

I got this pet peeve
when folks refer to others or
themselves as minorities.

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#26: “Biting Wind”

If I were any younger
I’d embrace the biting wind
try to catch it and
force it to propel me.

—

#27: “Reptiles”

Reptiles, when they think they’re in danger,
will kill their own young if need be.
People, will do the same with their
opposable thumbs and supposed humanity.

—

#28: “Rain, Rain”

Rain, rain go away
Was away the gloomy days
Invite your friend, the sun, to visit
The sky is bored and waiting for the sun to kiss it

#17: “#17″

Look at how all of this casual racism manifested
Itself with some Asian-American kid playing basketball and
Now ya’lls slurs emblazoned on posterboard

#18: “C’mon Jack, Let’s Go”

C’mon Jack, let’s go
with me on four legs and you on four.
I’m walking you and you’re walking me
and on and on and I’m forever yours.

#19: “Songs from Commercials”

Songs from commercials
are the soundtracks
to our everydays
and folks don’t mind
because at least it’s
something to listen to
when we don’t have the
energy to create our own
songs.

#20: “Looking For It”

Looking for it
All over
Looking still

#21: “Cooking Over Homework”

Dad said, “Watch your mom cook.”
I asked, “What about my homework?”
He replied, “All girls must know how to make dinner.”
I stood by the wok, fuming steam like the soup.

I have not abandoned my little vanity project! Here are the three latest poems.

#14: “Under the Bison”

Weighed down by the weight of a bison’s hide
He and I lay at each other’s side
We share our warmth when the days are cold
We lay side by side as the days unfold

- – -

#15: “The Distance Between Zero and One”

The distance between zero and one
is as long or short as you make it

- – -

#16: “Let’s Move”

Let’s move in slow motion
so that every step we make is deliberate
Let’s count the time in between seconds
and know that it belongs to us