My Costume | Teen Ink

My Costume

March 22, 2009
By Danya Kaufmann BRONZE, Ra&#39anana, Other
Danya Kaufmann BRONZE, Ra&#39anana, Other
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

The mirror watched as I became
Dorothy wearing dilapidated shoes with red sequins that used to stick,
A cowboy in a checkered shirt

(My life gets itchy sometimes)

The mirror gazed as I twirled into
A ballerina in scratchy tulle the color of flushed cheeks,
A dragonfly with shimmering wings

(My own costume was getting old)

The mirror chuckled when I tried to be
Janis Joplin in bug-eyed shades,
A Mexican in a beaded vest that jangled like beer caps

(I was ready to be someone new)

I tried on the shoes - the mirror screamed.
Shiny
As a Harley-Davidson
Dark as a party, and flashing white reflections when I strutted
On high, narrow, barstool heels
Black

A babe
A sex bomb
A million bucks
"I like it."

I snatched a hot pink dress that tasted like vodka and bubble gum
It covered no skin
But covered everything else


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This article has 9 comments.


moogie said...
on May. 13 2009 at 11:54 pm
Danya - your grandmother brought this poem to my attention, and it is fantastic. great imagery..love the last stanza especially.

Bravo!

Marjory Wentworth, South Carolina Poet Laureate

j'outek said...
on May. 5 2009 at 10:23 pm
danya, nice.

trishas said...
on Apr. 20 2009 at 1:38 am
beautifully written by an obviously very talented young lady. well done.

roni said...
on Apr. 18 2009 at 7:11 pm
love it! beautifuly written!

cbmteach said...
on Apr. 17 2009 at 4:00 pm
I love the details and the way you bridge the distance between the child you were to the young woman you are now. I can't wait to read more.cbmteach

joy said...
on Apr. 17 2009 at 11:51 am
I could see the writer and visualize her trying on the costumes.Brings back memories of being a teenager myself and how clothes can make you feel- Danya has a gift as a poet.

JM said...
on Apr. 13 2009 at 1:16 pm
I feel the poem describes well the qualms playacting and trials of growing up. I liked the parenthetical thoughts. Considering the content inside the parentheses, I think they broke the rhythm of the poem itself in a very meaningful, very powerful way. Like Daniella, I LOVED the powerful and surprising ending. Great job

daniella17 said...
on Apr. 11 2009 at 11:29 pm
Danya you're amazing. i love this, and i told you that already. my favorite line is "it covered no skin

But covered everything else".

wowie said...
on Apr. 9 2009 at 5:06 pm
i like it. do you have any other ones?