A Discarded Tail The Lizard Left Behind

Just be

yourself.

how dare you suggest I know who that is.

Up until now when I’ve looked in the mirror

I haven’t been entirely sure which side I’m on.

 Just be

present.

 when right now is

 a moment from two weeks

 ago and tomorrow, braided

 down the back of my scalp, twisted

 into my spinal cord in preparation and simultaneously remembrance from

 when I am thirty

 and happy.

 more than likely engaged to

 consequence, but still making

 love to the all the dreams

 I have lugged around since I was

 ten. Beauty backstabs the beholder,

 lodging itself into my eye

 like a woodchip from the monkey bars.

 So, Just be

fine.

or ok,

         or whatever ten cent word it takes

         to get them off your back,

because you don’t have to tip

the waiter at family dinner. try  

         and grate at the daydreams

until the edges are smooth,

palatable, and mom says “when.”

         don’t think about it too much

         when she sends it back to the kitchen,

where the chef bobs for apples

until the plate shimmers with gilded

aspirations and ornamental basil.

         it was too cold. or cynical. the dish just wasn’t

recognizable. and no one is hungry anymore,

and it’s all your fault because you couldn’t

Just be

quiet.

 Just be

sure.  

         Just be Just be Just Just Just Just

         Just doesn’t look like how it is supposed

         to be spelled but I’m

Just confused, and this is

Just a life and

Just a time and Just

         enough will happen or not

         for loved ones i haven’t met

yet to speak beautifully tragic

         utterances at my funeral, where living

up to my potential left me rolling

in the mud with the rest of the forgotten limbs.

MacKenzie Lee is a senior theatre and performance major, and creative writing minor. MacKenzie is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, where she was casually introduced to poetry in school. However, her real interest was born in Dr. Gary Mcdowels Advanced Poetry class where conversations with peers and the professor about the craft of poetry inspired many of the works MacKenzie has created.

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