This is by Elizabeth.
In case of minors reading this, I wanted you to know that I in no way condone stealing or bad behavior such as those used herein to evoke some of the gender-specific angst of adolescence. While one might hope this could go without saying — it is a poem, after all — I’m aware of the demographic of a portion of our readership.
…And with that caveat,
I hope you enjoy the poem.
From A Compendium For Dreaming Childishly:
Article No. 71: Naming Your Band
For boys:
At fifteen, go to Goodwill Industries
where have-nots and recyclers shop.
Take your fictional bass player,
and drummer and dare one of them
to rub vaseline on the bottoms
of ladies shoes.
Jump on and off furniture
across the store
for a better view,
high on the risk
and expectation of chaos.
Harness those feelings
before the manager boots you out,
and jam a t-shirt off the rack
under your jacket.
The name of your band
will be on it:
“Exclusive of Design.”
For girls:
When naming your fictional band,
simply take your first name
nick it short
like Dreanne to Dre,
Trisha to Trish,
Monica to Mon,
then add the phrase “and Her Lost Boys.”
You’ll never feel alone.
