5 Foot 4

She always learned the hard way.

Inspiration never comes without a price,

and people will always pick your meanings to the bone.

Throw the gristle over the fence and into

the mouths of hungry 3rd parties.

There's new rumors that the girl can be swayed

like a used car in the fast lane,

blown in the wind over the dotted line.

This is the same line they drew in the dirt

when she was 16.

The line dividing the flat and the full,

the ones in heels tall enough to look down

on the ones who tripped on their laces,

crying loud as the Velcro was pulled away.

She only wears combat boots now,

the line her peers drew now smudges so soon under her

newly hardened skin.

If only she was strong enough to pick up the stick,

drag it in the gravel.

Her line dividing townies and the ones who got out.

She's still only 5 foot 4.