POETRY
SELF PORTRAIT
You smell like chlorine,
Like mountain memories,
Of cold cut out marble basins,
Underwater eyeball ameba’s,
Foggy in the mornings,
Wrists red from sliding on the outer layer of slimy brick edges.
I love you like honeysuckle, on the corner of Main Street and Vader.
My toes barely brisk the bottom
I have to go down to push my way up.
Familiar stagnant comfort in me, in honey,
Honey on a chilled spoon,
In see through lemon tea,
Glistening silvery memories.
Back porch lit up honey smoking.
Red brick-bugs on the walls of row home, downtown Philly,
I’ll avoid your scattering.
Ayla Dompert, 20
Ball State University
Sophomore
Indianapolis, IN
FORGE IT
Keep quiet little girl,
Wait to throw your stones.
Like a storm, sit shutter, in the before stillness.
Keep it here, push it down, line it up.
Wreck and plunder all your plans,
Claw them from me,
Let them stand.
Ayla Dompert, 20
Ball State University
Sophomore
Indianapolis, IN
Express Yourself 5