Chasing Me
By La Wanda GarrettI walk the streets alone at night
emptiness closely following behind
searching shadows for any sign of light
chasing after the distant hum of laughter,
the laughter of a little girl
smiling, showing off missing teeth,
pigtails taming her wild mane
pink flowery dress draping her body
white stockings lining her chunky legs
shiny black dress shoes protecting her feet.
Instead, I catch a glimpse in a store front window
of another girl, older, frowning,
her eyes as dark as the night
face hidden in the shadows
cast by her navy hoodie
and baggy sweats,
her feet housed by tattered boots.
Waldorf Literary Review 