Poetry

Virgin

Theresa Staruch, Pennsylvania, United States – Age 18
First published January 1, 2005

He catches the “no” as it tumbles from my mouth

Shoves it back into my throat

I’m choking

Vodka

He is made of granite, of marble: Stonehenge

Stone-boy makes the floor swallow me

Tears

I descend from Irish Chieftains

Recite Shakespeare

Love Vivaldi

It doesn’t matter

My head pounds on the bathroom door

And he hurts me

And hurts me

And hurts me

Blood

I am a child of rape, now I am its slave

I leave my life in the shower drain

I throw up and he laughs

Piercing

Two hours of solitude

I cry as I look for my pants

He took my cigarettes, too

I am not my own