Half Dressed
Jessica Walsh
My body rang trash
in all towns
I was never mistaken
for a body with a cottage
or a hobby
I got pamphlets
Nutrition on a Budget
Facts About Sleep
My body spoke first
and my voice went poor
in a kind of surrender
my voice
that switched rich
on the phone
away from this body
My body held broke and country
whatever its costume
Where the Girl Ends
Even with her face foundation-faded
her lips slime-shiny
she is too old for a girl.
Today she’s a dead woman
her chance at a sexy death
long gone
the steps to her stoop
naked and uncandled.
Girls hoard tragedy
leaving women a furrowed brow.
She wasted work
making that body
for others to wince at
and cover.
Jessica L. Walsh teaches English at a community college outside of Chicago. Her first book, How to Break My Neck, was released in January 2016 by ELJ Publications. Read more at www.jessicalwalsh.com.