Prose Poem by Dee Allen
Each suburb has one Thin, dark-clad, Sad-faced Baby Bat* Driven to high school In a silver Toyota Camry, Dropped off, Petite shadow Drifted past Scornful teen-agers, Girls' tongues wag, Diss and slag, Boys stare puzzled at her Class scapegoat Bullied with a tossed toad Landing upon a notebook on A desk with exquisite pen drawings, Backed with loud laughter School outcast Confined to the bench Alone and sitting, Face and spirit downcast Whilst children in white Athletic outfits and sneakers Frolicked through the gym Bouncing a white rubber ball Phys. Ed. routine Then mass dispersal When the wall bell rang, deserted Social leper Lone silhouette Drifted past Scornful teens again, unseen, Left school for the bus stop, City bus sped, refusing to cease For one potential passenger Local leper Forced to walk A street of fears-- Car doors locked on sight, Poodles on leashes Walked by senior couple Suddenly barked out their rage, School crossing guard Raised her STOP sign-- STOP being scary-- Small girl at playground screamed, Hid small face in both hands, Women's faces registered An identical fright, Countless birds flee From tops of trees And telephone wires, Flower garden-tending Neighbour in straw hat and gloves Cast evil eyes At her approach-- It was a hellish day Of ostracism and misfortune Until the return home-- What better gift For a thin, dark-clad, Sad-faced Baby Bat To have Than a parent Willing to go Painting wrought iron fence, Stone walkway and The entire house black to support His own daughter's Pursuit of happiness Through the Gothic life. Faint sign of A smile of Appreciation shown At the right time.
W: 10.9.22 [ Inspired by a 2017 television advert for the German hardware shop Hornbach. ] *A beginner in the Gothic subculture, usually between ages 13 to 19.
Dee Allen is an African-Italian performance poet based in Oakland, California. Active on creative writing & Spoken Word since the early 1990s. Author of 7 books and 67 anthology appearances. Currently seeking a new publisher. You can view more of his work at deeallen
