1st Place Winner - Deja Robinson

Such a pretty girl, so shy. I got you.

You would sing in my ear while you

used tin foil to secure the wooden beads

at the ends of my plaits.

The winter after mama left me, I would lay

in bed and converse with loneliness. For the

first time ever, I heard the screams of silence.

You told me not to be startled and let myself melt into it.

You would stroke my cheek with you thumb, secretly

hoping it would make me forget the innocence I lost

Hush child, too pretty for all that crying now.

Everything works itself out. I got you, you hear me?

And even before I became accustomed to the hue

of disappointment, you would press my head against

your bosom and have me listen to the rhythm of your

heart as you hummed along to Bill Withers.

I still remember your favorite words, I'm right up the road,

I'll Share your load,

if you just call me.

It still brings me comfort, but it's nothing without your percussion.

Now the only indication of your presence is a meer ringing

in my ear that if I listen close enough to, I can still hear you

What a pretty girl, ain't that much shy no more. That's good,

No need to be shy no more.