signs of subtle civilization
uttering the sounds of the suburbs.
the living make their quiet call
of ultimately nothing at all
of mowing lawns and backyard pools
or children plodding home from school
of chirping birds and barking dogs
or ignorance of city smog
and plastic waste on summer’s eve
and garden hoses in the spring
that rust accordingly in rain,
resembling the tired veins
of grandma napping on the porch
who still attends mid-sunday church
in spite of the pastor’s sinful acts
the upward nose he turns to blacks
under suspiciously blue skies
of those who only live clockwise
and pace their living by the books;
install alarms for fear of crooks
that litter just southwest downtown
and tend to carry skin of brown
that shall not know the peaceful ways
of leisurely and secure days
of prom pictures in daddy’s tux
this humble brand of perverse luxe
four flavors of pie to taste
on holidays that go to waste
a prancing, panting golden retriever
of devout, no doubt, Christian believers
and strands of long, blonde hair that shed
about the new white picket fence
and whiter smiles to boast this year
porcelain due to veneers
comfort money all around
to silence rival radical sounds
a conservative and quiet call
of ultimately nothing at all.
Ashley Romero a fifteen-year-old Junior from Southern California who writes poetry and prose about her developing perspective of the world, humanity, and herself. She hopes to reach her audience on a personal level and inspire people to embrace literature as an outlet for struggles that can be brought about by the human experience. She gravitates to more traditional modes of writing - rhyming patterns, alliterations, etc. - while touching on relevant themes such as mental health, identity, and relationships.