A Siren Dancing in Placeby Sabrina Dawkins Head bobbing, arms flapping, hips wigglingyou tricked me with your moves. I thought you were going somewhere,but you were working up a sweat in place. Fancy clothes, seductive and tightyou curved your body like a snake, your navel twisting and turning trying to keep pace. Your legs opened

High School Jocks by Sabrina Dawkins A musty empty weight room,a fog of stench suffocates air. The warmth of sweat dripped off bodiesnow hangs in humid air. Where have the bodies gonethat exerted till sweat wet the floor,that stank and moaned and achedfor the body that could throw a ball? They lifted weights for hours,talking,

Enemy from my Pastby Sabrina Dawkins I saw your mouth spread and assumed it was a smile.But even dogs show their teeth. Then you started up with the quick-fire questions.I’m sorry, are you a friend or an enemy? Your forehead wrinkled and you leaned in so not to miss a breath of my reply. I

Insanity in a Relaxed Scalp by Sabrina Dawkins Earth is a ball because I read it in a book.But I don’t fall off. A bowl holds water so it doesn’t spill out. But pour water on a balland watch it slide off. Tiny coils cover my head,keeping it warm and drybut I burn my scalp

False Teacherby Sabrina Dawkins How much did they pay you for my soul?I hope a lot, but I’m sure the number would disappoint me.Did they give you the clothes tooas props to help with the illusionthat you were someone who identified with me? I’m a sucker for a good entertainer, I must admit.Grew up watching

Good Teacherby Sabrina Dawkins You found me with false information. You could’ve judged me, but you were patient. You probably did judge me at firstand wondered if I would ever choose youas my teacher. Well, I did, eventually. And this made you happy, but it saved my life. You never forced me to take your

The Difference Between Earthworms and Gummy Worms by Sabrina Dawkins The difference between gummy worms and earthworms is that earthworms enrich and aerate the soil, but gummy worms lay and rot in the soil, doing nothing but releasing questionable ingredients into the dirt. Hidden from sight, earthworms continuously work, helping the soil become a hospitable

Waste for Gainby Sabrina Dawkins Protruding belly, smelling of cigarette smoke,hair that belongs to someone else, never seen wearing the same outfit twice. I hear heavy banging on my door. A strange face greets me. I feel mild terror. Familiar strangersince you only speak to me shortly before you want something. Do you think I

Nothing in a Pretty Packageby Sabrina Dawkins You’re used to getting nothing. A skilled salesman sold you air. No sign on it saying “buyer beware” of my tricks and my schemes.With dreams and future dreams I populate your mind so your thoughts grab hold of me, only me, so that I become both emptiness and