Thursday, January 19, 2017

Girl with an Attitude--By Maralee Gerke--United States

Girl with an Attitude

No one sits near her.
She radiates attitude.
Mouth turned down lips pouting,
arms crossed over an undeveloped chest,
a cup of coffee cooling on the book strewn table.

Lank-haired and pale complexioned
she looks through me
a blank, closed, stare.
with I remember that introspective loner,
the girl who lost herself in books.

I walk on by.
She sits alone
in a bookstore coffee shop
just holding on and holding in
all that should be released.

Maralee Gerke lives and writes in Madras, Oregon. She is and avid reader and gardener. She describes herself as a work in progress. Her poems have been published in Calyx, Exit Thirteen, Moonset, Bathtub Gin, Anthology, Nerve Cowboy, Avocet, and Tigers Eye. She has published two books of poems and has had poetry and prose accepted in several anthologies. Her work can be seen online at Shadow Poetry, Long Story Short, and Moontown CafĂ©. She recently recorded 4 poems for the Oregon Poetic Voices Project. They can be heard at oregonpoeticvoices.org One of her poems “Refuge”, was recently selected to be printed as a limited edition broadside by the Penland School of Crafts.

6 comments:

  1. Dear Maralee,
    This poem reflects, like a mirror, my own introspective tendencies. I like being alone, but your poem is a wake-up call that we NEED each other even when we think we don't!
    Thank you,
    Michael

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  2. A thoughtful and introspective poem. Enjoyed reading.

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  3. Hello Maralee
    You have captured a snapshot in this young persons life very well and created the images for us to look in the window as well.

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  4. Nice reflective poem, Maralee. The story is powerfully woven into the poem. Well done. Thank you for sharing and continued blessings!

    -MJ (www.tgbtgpublictions.com)

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  5. Enjoyed your piece, thanks for sharing it!

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  6. Dear Maralee "Girl with an Attitude" is very well covered.
    Her attitude, not found in the books she reads, is well
    defined. In different characters and personalities maybe
    even in some of ourselves. There exist the same
    problem, holding in what should be released.
    I loved this puzzle peaced writing lesson.
    Yancy

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