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Jellybean Jar Brain
No, you probably don’t
If my lips spoke
my brain, I’d say
I just want to shut up and reach
across the seat
while we’re watching a movie.
I’d say
Let’s cut the bullshit.
Then I’d slice
triangular holes in your throat
and maybe your ribcage too
for good measure
for good measure
while the credits rolled with cheerful hip hop.
I’d say
It doesn’t matter if it actually happens
or if it’s metaphor.
Then I’d say
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean.
Don’t you?
When we were engaged, I had never tried
an avocado.
It almost seems crazy
now.
I love
avocados.
It also seems crazy
that we were engaged
and that I straightened my hair
and didn’t read
books, only magazines
with multiple choice quizzes
that determine what kind of jungle animal
is representative of your sex appeal
but never really work
because your answers never match the answers in the bubbles
and you have to guess what your answer would be closest to
in a hypothetical situation.
I guess it’s hard to reconcile
certain phases of my life.
I mean,
the avocado
is practically its own food group.
avocados are from all that is holy and delicious. and why you'd ever straighten the jew-fro that i so love is absolutely beyond me. i wish i could have known this other you, just to see the difference with my own eyes and mind.
i've always tried to explain how little those multiple choice quizzes worked, and i always sounded idiotic. but now you've done it, i don't have to. i'm not attracted to "sporty guy" or "business hottie".
also i like your usage of the word 'slice'. it's one of my favorite words. email me for a full list of favorites. they're all very crispy words.
Beautiful, Hannah.
Isn't it funny how you can look back at yourself two years ago, or in the last town, last job, last life, and think "who is that? She seems vaguely familiar. Do I know her from somewhere?" and there isn't even the slightest pang of loss or regret.
My need to straighten my hair is almost too strong to resist. I barely even remember what my curls look like.
I haven't used my hair straightener in years. And god but I hate those magazines. We all learn to make choices – whether to remain stupid or admit we are is generally the killer.
Whoever devises those quizzes should be strung up. Lol to my wise sister who knows enough to know she doesn't.
Beautiful. I love the way you always answer hidden questions in my heart.
Your blog is what inspired me to create my own blog, and I hope that I can inspire people the way you do.
WhereForArtThouRomeo
Oh, I do love these poems!
Kate x
There's so much truth to this. Sometimes we look back at times in our lives and it is surprising to see how much we've changed. I loved this piece. The mix of metaphors thrown in with simple facts. Beautiful.
You Jewish girls have no corner on the curly hair market. I straightened mine for years at at time off and on through my life. I will never straighten it again. It grows out of my head like it's supposed to be. I did buy a curling iron to try to tame the tendrils around my face, but after a week I had so many curing iron burns, I got the message. It's supposed to be this way.
I love your poems. And oh, it's too easy to cheat on those mag quizzes. Who needs it? You know exactly who you are whether you realize it or not. The trouble comes when you (and the rest of us) morph into someone new we have to get used to.
Both poems show your anger at a broken relationship, Hannah. In this instance, anger is good. It means you've cauterized your own wounds, and stopped both the bleeding and the infection.
I have to ask you a question, though. Did he really compare unfavorably to an avocado?
I don't think I'll stop saying 'Jellybean Jar Brain' for some time after this
my ears ring with
words that don't fit together
when I think of change
and relativity
to fully appreciate
that you were ever
not-you,
with some time in between,
requires more than just a comment
and the closing made me laugh
so bravo
love avocados.
when i was young i tried to chemically straighten my hair once. i begged my mother for the treatment as a birthday present. it did not work. my hair rebelled and the next day it was a giant poof again.
i really really liked these, hannah. your words are good. as is your hair. i am quite envious.
I can't wait until you publish your book.
Some days, I can't believe I used to be the one sitting there with those magazines, filling out those little bubbles. On other days, I'd give anything to go back to it. You know what I mean? I thought you might.
Hannah,
For a private person you confide your heart very intimately. You make me smile in self-recognition too often…No "FLUFFing".
Avocado piece is simple (the good meaning) perfection.
The last line made me giggle at the "thumb my nose at you" current.
Awesome Hannah, 'natch.
You took me to my bedroom floor, Seventeen open, and dreaming of some junior high crush. Loved this. And loved that I once knew that girl too.
I also love avacados……
I would have to say that you are like an Avacado.. because like the avacado you are practically in your own group. You are no ordinary person who writes ordinary stories…And you don't think of things and see the world like most people do.
What you see and what you write is beautiful. Your posts have wonderful texture and make me happy happy when I read them.. Much like an Avacado does
Hopefully you don't take that the wrong way.. It was meant to be a compliment!