Angela | Teen Ink

Angela

March 9, 2011
By Anonymous

That pale little hand being led to the bedroom
Those corduroy jeans being tossed to the floor
That innocent smile as he leans in to kiss her
The green of her eyes as they lay down for more
The very same eyes I caught reading Harry Potter past their bedtime.

Those bouncy red curls flattened against the bedspread
Twisted and tangled and coated in gel
Those delicate hands exploring his body
Those tiny girl’s hands, that I knew so well
The very same that shook me awake year after year on Christmas morning.

What happened to the little princess?
The cross country runner?
The sweet baby girl?

The science fair champion:
Arching her back and closing her eyes
gasping and panting and
pulling him closer
To the body I held in the hospital.

The clumsy ballerina:
Being rocked back and forth
Going limp with pleasure
Sighing satisfied
With the voice that asked me for a later bed time.

My rosy cheeked child who loved musical theatre
and wore purple sweaters
is gone.

The author's comments:
A few weeks ago my best friend and I were sitting at her kitchen table just like we do every Tuesday after school and before play practice. Out of nowhere her mother burst into the kitchen holding the bottle of birth control pills that my friend had been taking behind her back. She didn't yell at my friend for hiding the fact that she'd been having sex from her, nor did she break into tears. She just stared at her daughter for the longest time with this penetrating expression on her face. For days it haunted me it was confused, wounded--indescribable. The pain I found in her eyes was my inspired this poem.

Note: The poem is entitled 'Angela' after the woman who's face inspired me. This name has been changed to protect her identity, and that of my friend.

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This article has 164 comments.


turdis said...
on May. 3 2012 at 8:03 am
I really liked your poem and the way it was written in stanzas and I liked how to lines flowed together.

J1029 SILVER said...
on May. 2 2012 at 8:22 pm
J1029 SILVER, Tampa, Florida
5 articles 0 photos 73 comments

Favorite Quote:
Sing like no one is listening,
Dance like no one is watching,
Love like you've never been hurt and
Live like it's heaven on earth.

- Mark Twain

That's actually kinda sad. But ur a great writer.

on May. 2 2012 at 5:21 pm
PurpleRockstar GOLD, Lexington, Kentucky
11 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
A creative person has to create. It doesn't really matter what you create. If such a dancer wanted to go out and build the cactus gardens where he could, in Mexico, let him do that, but something that is creative has to go on. --Katherine Dunham

This is absolutly amazing! I'm blown away!

on Apr. 10 2012 at 7:44 am
hippiechick99 GOLD, Mesquite, Texas
11 articles 0 photos 224 comments

Favorite Quote:
"... How dreary to be somebody-- How public like a frog;
To tell one's name; the livelong June-- To an admiring bog"
-Emily Dickinson

I LOVED this poem. I wouldn't change a thing I hope you keep writing.

on Mar. 19 2012 at 10:59 pm
...Travis... GOLD, Medford, Oregon
11 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us...

Interesting poem. A little constuctive criticism? The last line in each stanza doesn't really flow... But then again maybe that's how you wanted it(?).

on Mar. 19 2012 at 2:42 pm
reman5 PLATINUM, Ganei Tikwa, Other
21 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the person your dog thinks you are"

WOW, I was blown away with al the emotions. It is absolutely great, you expressed that mother's feelings better than I would have ever imagined. Great job!

on Mar. 8 2012 at 7:17 pm
lbbarlow125 DIAMOND, Yonkers, New York
89 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Veni Vedi Vici"

(Y) Good work really . . . . . . . interesting

on Mar. 8 2012 at 7:38 am
loveissmiles GOLD, Lynn, Indiana
13 articles 0 photos 102 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I live for the nights I can't remember with the people I will never forget." -Carassisa M-<3

"What the mind can perceive, the body can achieve." -Softball Coach Steve B-

i agree. Amazing piece. I would also like some feedback. You are incredible, and i would love some help.

 


on Feb. 28 2012 at 8:29 pm
Let-Love-In PLATINUM, Chester, Connecticut
27 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You fail only if you stop writing."

wow you are an amazing writer, so much emotion and feeling was put into this. i would love for you to look at my work and give me some pointers!

on Feb. 26 2012 at 8:00 pm
Chelsy22 BRONZE, Adelanto, California
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."
-Pablo Picasso

Great Poem!

on Feb. 26 2012 at 6:14 pm
StarryRoss GOLD, Albuquerque, New Mexico
19 articles 0 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Writing is the socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." -E.L. Doctorow

i agree with everyone, such good flashbacks that connect to the impossible thing her mother can't believe she did. Good point of view and you definitely evoked the feeling of someone stunned into silence

on Feb. 26 2012 at 3:14 pm
Lacie101 SILVER, Sun Valley, California
8 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
"you don't know how far you can fly,till you spread your wings"
"just when the catepillar thought the world was over,she became a butterfly"

so nice i loved it

mayemmalik said...
on Feb. 26 2012 at 5:43 am
mayemmalik, Islamabad, Alabama
0 articles 1 photo 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
''Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the caveman had known how t laugh , history would have been different''
Oscar Wilde

This was touching. I showed it to my mum :)

on Feb. 19 2012 at 8:38 pm
bahannahpeel PLATINUM, Bloomington, Illinois
27 articles 0 photos 73 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Schools corrupt the mind." The Loco Focos

Reading this aloud gave me chills. Great writing.

on Feb. 15 2012 at 4:55 pm
michaela mrianda BRONZE, Temporary, Other
4 articles 0 photos 33 comments
i completly agree with ledzepgulrl you are an amazing writer it was sonderful i really felt the emotions of everyone in it

on Feb. 6 2012 at 9:43 am
maggiehoran96 BRONZE, Waukesha, Wisconsin
1 article 0 photos 2 comments
Awesome description. I loved reading this!

on Feb. 4 2012 at 10:08 pm
Wallflower95 BRONZE, Darlington, Maryland
1 article 0 photos 2 comments
I just cried because I could relate so deeply. All I can say is, poetry at its finest.

SaraA said...
on Feb. 4 2012 at 10:05 pm
SaraA, Chesterfield, Missouri
0 articles 8 photos 3 comments
Wow, this was absolutely fantastic!!

on Feb. 4 2012 at 7:41 pm
TheDarkSideofZeppelin SILVER, Inglewood, California
6 articles 1 photo 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I have a woman's body, but a child's emotions"
- Elizabeth Taylor

You are a true writer. This poem took my breath away leaving me in a trance. All i can say in my mind is wow! This is a very touching poem.

on Feb. 4 2012 at 4:53 pm
Bookworm1997 BRONZE, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1 article 0 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
You cannot open a book without learning something. -Confucious

This poem was so touching and beautiful. Your ability to write such a deep piece inspiring.