stigma

child at sixteen.                when he told me he loved me

going on seventeen.         i listened as children must

silhouette belittled at twenty.    until i’ve had enough 

when my mind is older            and i defy his gravity

i take the car.                      driving like an edging sword 

like greased lightning        i sing no requiem 

break his heart.                so he ran and rode the train

like mary jane                   i’d rained on his parade

                          i don’t make a blame

                      at least be still my name

 as i never ever make it to 30 

but he makes to 90.

About the Author

Ryland McGinniss is a junior History and English major with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies. He loves to do advocacy work whenever he can, and honestly you'll probably see some of that reflected in his writing. When he's not busy with writing, he listens to music and one of his most prized possessions is his concert t-shirt collection.