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At first she obeyed her conditioning
and wouldn’t touch the millipede
like her classmates
because it was easier to follow the culture
and play the role of the squeamish girl.
Without even knowing it
twelve year old Kesha
had fixed an idea about millipedes being “gross”
that was neither accurate nor fair
nor anything like Kesha
who hates when people think they know
everything about her just by looking.
Now look at Kesha
who thought she knew
everything about millipedes
take a big one in her hand
and stare, amazed as it uncurls
like a question mark
straightening itself out
Much like a gift for Kesha
who appears to be uncurling
herself a little, too.
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I like this one a lot. This is a tremendous piece with profound social implications. I don't really have a "critique" for you...sorry. I like this one just the way it is. The only suggestion I can conjur up is to maybe leave her age out of the last stanza sice you already told us how old she is earlier...though the repitition doesn't hinder the poem at all (in my novice opinion)
I think this is my favorite of the three poems you have up right now, and I'm kind of surprised why no one else has commented on it.
You captured the essence of a twelve-year-old girl so perfectly in this poem; the know-it-all attitude and seeds of individualistic rebellion that are so characteristic of the transition into adolescence. It's beautiful, and I can really relate to the character (having once been a twelve-year-old girl myself).
I especially love the third stanza-- I almost think it could stand on its own in its solidarity. Not sure if I'd really want it to though, since it's such a lovely metaphor all around, and what a sweet ending it has.
