1 poem

by J Kincaid-Beal

Community High School

every room with red twin beds

this is a thank you note to all my favorite places
the front porch, the attic, the rooms with windows that were stitched portraits of the beach
illinois, michigan, florida
the rooms with two tiny beds on either wall, with matching red comforters
white pillow cases and playful phantom sheets
pulling me into the most fearless sleep i ever owned
painting the insides of my eyelids blue, closing my mouth with gentle hands
braiding my brown/blue/blonde hair and catching my tears
feeding me sweet tea and saltwater and chlorine
turning my insides honeyed and hollow
they gave me good dreams and grey dreams and taught me what i love the most
familiarity, family, comfort, vacation, puzzles, stomach aches, reunions, weddings
people mending each other’s bones, kissing each other’s cheeks, tucking me into bed
gathering around tvs and coffee tables and fire places
the togetherness of the same people in the same place again and again
letting willow trees grow in their stomachs
and blue flowers bloom from their eyes