tahamina / janis ian by Shaun Loh (17, Singapore)*

Dishevelled low pony because an Ariana one hurt. 
Eyes bald, though smoky with caffeine-sedated circles. 
“You’re not like the other girls,” I muttered by your ear, 
and we gagged, for we sounded like that couple. ​

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Recess warranted our perpetual rendezvous, but not 
that clandestine. No one really cared about us anyway. 
Cavorting with self-deprecation we arrowed our flaws. 
You the fat girl no boy wanted, I that f*ggot. 

One day the geeks will inherit the earth, you declared. 
My manicured pinky entangled with yours. A boy who 
celebrated Barbie and a girl, who unrequitedly loved her. 
Built a fortress of a dollhouse, alone against the world.

​