Yesterday’s poem was very old, in strict form, in translation, and came with lots of explanation. So today we’re going to do a very recent poem, in free verse, in English, with little explanation. Although, it is still about a princess of sorts.
If you have trouble viewing the formatting of this poem, particularly on a mobile device, try this version in Google Books.
HALLOWEEN SHOPPING WITH MY NIECE
Do you want to be a kitty cat?
No.
A princess?
I’m already a princess.
Of course you are.
Oh look, you could be a slice of pizza!
Nahh …
Do you want to be Doc McStuffins?!
I want to be something super scary!
But, Doc McStuffins is terrifying to the Patriarchy.
What’s a patriarchy? Sounds like a kind of dinosaur?
Yes, Darling, the Patriarchy IS a dinosaur.
Is it a very big dinosaur? Cause I could be a bigger one.
I could be a dinosaur that eats a patriarchy. ■
Do you want to be a kitty cat?
No.
A princess?
I’m already a princess.
Of course you are.
Oh look, you could be a slice of pizza!
Nahh …
Do you want to be Doc McStuffins?!
I want to be something super scary!
But, Doc McStuffins is terrifying to the Patriarchy.
What’s a patriarchy? Sounds like a kind of dinosaur?
Yes, Darling, the Patriarchy IS a dinosaur.
Is it a very big dinosaur? Cause I could be a bigger one.
I could be a dinosaur that eats a patriarchy. ■
“Halloween Shopping With My Niece” appears in Rachel Wiley’s 2018 collection Nothing Is Okay, published by Button Poetry. Buy a copy here!
In my memory this poem ends, “eats the patriarchy for breakfast.” But it turns out a patriarchy is for any meal!
Enjoy.
— Ellen