JESSICA YOUNG - POEMS

Jessica Young lives in Chico, California. She is a master’s student in English at Illinois State University.

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                                   My Mother
 
 
My mother died
in her sleep
 
My father
woke beside her
 
And when I
went to see her
she was pale
 
and cold
and gone
 
And I wish
I could call
my mother

 
                           It’s Always Tina
                              A Found Poem from Bob’s Burgers
 
 
Your ass is grass
and I’m gonna mow it
 
I’m no hero
I put my bra on
one boob at a time
like everyone else
 
I don’t think you can
handle how much
I can handle this
 
Oh it’s okay
I guess I wasn’t
meant to have
a good life
 
Uhhhhhhhhhhhh
 
Butts

 
                                       As Loving
 
 
You carried me around 
and grew me 
at the same time 

what a trick 

and when I erupted out of you 
you hollered 
but you were the opposite of mad 
you said all that love 
was bound to hurt 
it was so big 

you let me live 
the cliff edge of mistakes 
the wasted time 
the carelessness 
the time I misspoke 

the joys you couldn’t understand 
like my passion for academics 
and the way I am determined 
because we are chapters in a book 
connected 
yet different 

do you still remember those months 
when I kicked and rolled around 
in the nest of your ribs 

I hatched so many plans inside you 
to be confident 
decisive 
strong 

you may not know this 
but one lingered 

to grow up 
as loving 
as you.


                                      And Then
 
 
You left
me for a hobbit
 
But I gave you
flowers
and
love notes
 
And you
 
You came back

 
                                    Normal
 
 
Dewy and salty
the moon appears
above the cranberry
buildings
 
Marble stars
shine over
silent cornfields
 
It was
home