Star

i.

Sarah,

lens-flare bright

stepped from the main

school building and caught my eye,

striding

long, lean

confidence poured

in ballet flats and hip-huggers

smooth spun sugar -

ears gauged

and engaged, lips

stuck with a pin.

Ab-by!

Strident chill

joy trill

skipping

from a tongue that rolls

like unmossed, fresh-washed

tumble-polished stones -

glistens with cherry-sweat.

Abby

I thought of you yesterday,

thought to give you a text.

(Abby look)

Abby

Quick hitch in breath

restitch a smile

restrain the faltering half,

twitch.

(Cloud with a tic skips

across a blue, blue sky

unburdened by the anchor

of small conversation.)

Cardiac arrhythmia of the social presence.

ii.

Hot iron sunburst

impressed

with a solar smile -

a star

carved from a whipped cream wrist

burnt cherry,

caramelized plasma,

blood sugar.

Strawberry ichor

symbol concealed,

she turns and disappears,

sunspot doused

in the cool depths

of an idle car.

Abigail Beaudelle, 17, is the editor and publisher of the online magazine The Poetry Warrior. A ex-Mensan (she hasn't paid her dues this year), Abigail spends her time writing, playing guitar and bumming around on the internet. Her first chapbook Knuckles, Ribs, Phalanges is projected to come out sometime in Spring 2009.