her house had that spot
the spot where generations of kids have stood and measured
their height with a pencilmark and initials.
you can see where some of the young boys
used their pocketknives
instead of pencils.
the farther back in time you look,
the more fingerprinted and oily the wood was.
paint worn thin.
Janet ‘79
Rick ‘62
Mary ‘37
I thought it was kind of like looking at stars.
really big stars,
you know, supernovas.
ones that have been dead for years, but
will still send lightsignals until
time catches up
or
the wall is painted over.
oh, look.
there’s my lovergirl’s name.
in iridescent blue marker.
wow. she was relatively tall
for her age, at 7.
and while she’s in her room getting her coat,
I see her height at present day,
and right where I know her forehead would be,
I lean in and touch a kiss
to the dirty,
smeared wall.
Jackson Riley
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lovergirls-and-supernovas/
