It was all early morning maws of digital donkeys
beep baw, beep baws. And you’d wait. And you’d wait.
Wait ‘til Alexa’s granddaddy welcomed with a hello
you’ve got mail. And you’d be the first one
to tell your whole family Princess Diana died.
Slow walk back to the Compaq in your home office
like you’re bigger than Prince, before Perez & Paris.
You—no not you—Tara, 16F, modeled after your friend
with the fine hair & manicured fingers, cooked up
fun with strangers in anonymous chatrooms, played
cutesy & like a cobra—Blocked. The occasional breaks
to drink two liters of Diet Coke a day, addicted
to the plastic bottle’s concave gulp. Otherwise quiet
occupies the home feeding your girl hobbies.
Katherine Shehadeh is a poet based in Miami, Florida, where she is pursuing her MFA at Florida International University. Her recent poetry appears in Witness, Laurel Review, Maintenant & others. Find her on Instagram @katherinesarts or on the www at katherinesarts.com.
