eighteen shades
I am eighteen shades of blue
eighteen shades and
my kneecaps they’re throbbing
my wrists my veins
my
eighteen shades
eighteen
I am so very sore
my lips are frozen to the bottle
my toothbrush is in
my jean jacket
front pocket
eighteen shades of blue
of why
of when
eighteen shades of
your blue
your baseball cap
my heart my blood
my veins
eighteen and
my veins are so cold
my bra is blue
my hands my head
eighteen shades
of you saying sorry
of me forgiving you
you told me you cared
eighteen shades of blue
my gum in the palm of your
yellowing hands
stains on my socks
they are blue
eighteen shades
of screaming your name
I am blue in the face
I am on the bathroom floor
it is cold
eighteen shades of
you kissing her neck
my eyes my lashes
bleeding blue down my face
eighteen
your veins
eighteen
mine
eighteen shades of
blue by joni mitchell
your veins
eighteen shades and
part of you pours out of me
she sings
I am eighteen
and eighteen shades of blue
and i am so blue
eighteen

Phoebe Lyons was the only Girl Scout in her troop that didn’t know how to braid. She likes her squeaky bike and her dented guitar, but likes to write most of all.

Molly Lichten is a young, talented photographer. View more of her work on Flickr and Facebook, or visit her website, Molly Lichten Photography.