All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
What I Regret
Tricycles to bicycles,
And a new pair of glitter shoes
You wear band-aids
Like stick on earrings
And macaroni necklaces
That you made
Just last Tuesday In daycare,
When you should have been home
With me, to watch sponge bob
And eat pb and j
Im sorry, I didn’t make you a sack lunch
Instead, today you skip the hot lunch line
Head to the bushes out in the lot
Now laced with hazy smoke
And rough whispers
Your eyes are darkened
Not only by the thick eyeliner
But the bruise
Your lover, your boyfriend
Left on your face
He kissed it, and apologized
Im sorry I didn’t kiss it
And kill him
You learn from
Yellow stars on spelling tests
And one night of terror
After your first OD
I should have hung your test on the fridge
And slapped you after finding pot
Under your bed
It was beside one of your black heels
They remind me now,
Of your glitter shoes
And your macaroni necklaces
But all you wear now
Are hospital bands on your skinny wrists
And pale green paper dresses
We could have bought a dress for prom
But now I buy a dress
It doesn’t match the casket
Not something you should notice
While you lay your daughter
In the ground
Beside dried blood
And worms
That you used to bring to me
And scream Mommy,
Mommy it’s a snake
And I’d kiss your forehead,
But turn away
Just as I am forced to do now
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 4 comments.
Dear Hay_Wire,
You are probably my favorite poet on Teen Ink. Everything you write seems to touch my soul in great depth. Continue writing and let me know when you become famous because I would like a copy of your 1st book. This Piece reminded me of one I recently wrote called Birthday Wishes, but it is nothing compared to this. Your poem completely blows it right out of the water lol.
From, Bridie
109 articles 0 photos 27 comments
Favorite Quote:
She can because she thinks she can.