Melissa Amen
Marriage: A Timeline
Melissa age 4: a car seat. thrown sitting
on the dotted white. line a mailbox
beaten. in with a baseball bat a
toaster. that has no. spring Melissa
age 9: purple flowers and baby’s. breath
pinned neatly in braided. hair pink
and white. roses sprinkled. on the floor
a bride. in a long white dress made
of lace. and crystal beads Melissa age
14: padded headphones cover. ears
but only mute the noises. that cut blood.
trickles from burst eardrums Melissa age 19:
running. Melissa age 21: still running
Melissa age 23: a red baseball. bat for
protection in the new. city a ring of.
promises. made in the dark no. white
dress feet. entwined in sand pollen. spotting
the kitchen. table nothing. to show nothing.