Mami Said
I touched my red swollen lips.
How they blistered and burned,
like walking barefoot in a Macy’s parking lot.
I smeared my lips
with a cool red chapstick.
More and more
until they were a bright cherry red.
I licked my lips,
hmm, strawberry candy!
Red is god’s gift.
Mami said to come outside,
so I skipped freely
wearing nothing but lovely red.
Si, Mami?
Smack. Nina! Estupido.
She pulled me inside
so that my cousins couldn’t see me crying
and wiped my face of the devil’s
red lipstick.
Ronnie Triminio is a second year at Suny Orange Community, currently earning his liberal art associates degree. He’s a huge fan of animated works such as Steven Universe and Psycho-Pass. When he’s not studying or making sandwiches, he can be found on Twitter.
