her house had that spot <br /> <br />the spot where generations of kids have stood and measured <br />their height with a pencilmark and initials. <br /> <br />you can see where some of the young boys <br />used their pocketknives <br />instead of pencils. <br /> <br />the farther back in time you look, <br />the more fingerprinted and oily the wood was. <br />paint worn thin. <br /> <br /> <br />Janet ‘79 <br /> <br />Rick ‘62 <br /> <br />Mary ‘37 <br /> <br />I thought it was kind of like looking at stars. <br />really big stars, <br />you know, supernovas. <br />ones that have been dead for years, but <br />will still send lightsignals until <br />time catches up <br />or <br />the wall is painted over. <br /> <br />oh, look. <br />there’s my lovergirl’s name. <br />in iridescent blue marker. <br /> <br />wow. she was relatively tall <br />for her age, at 7. <br /> <br />and while she’s in her room getting her coat, <br />I see her height at present day, <br />and right where I know her forehead would be, <br />I lean in and touch a kiss <br />to the dirty, <br />smeared wall.<br /><br />Jackson Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lovergirls-and-supernovas/
