Stick Boy

[KaliTracy]

If you were a part of my family,
my father would call you stick boy,
‘cause you, you’re so skinny...
one child began to tell the other child
during a friendly feast of pizza
and pop celebrating the end of a
stellar soccer season or some such
sporting event.

I look down trying to ascertain
why such a sentiment was stated
and see two boys, about the same
height, about the same width,
and the boy spoken to writhes
his legs together, clutching tight
not wanting to let go.

In the background, television commercials
for Nike and presidential candidates tell
us what to think, what to choose,
which shoes will help you jump to the moon,
which man will make our nation stronger.

If you were a part of my family
my father would call you stick boy.

They tell us competition will make
our schools mightier, would make
more leaders and less followers.
But here, in a pizza parlor, where
nothing should be gained or lost
but a few pounds, a child learns
first hand, the feeling of inadequacy.

tracy lynn
Nov. 1, 1996

[pinerow]

1. I was that "stick boy" for many years...although I did

manage to salvage a little bit of my esteem...

[bertha katzenengel]

2. inspiring, along with "somnambulists"

thank you