Day to Day - Alyssa Brockob

Let’s pretend I’m a false realist
living in a country house
painted whiter than my skin.

Taking one part
milk
two parts tea
with my antipsychotics. . .

red or blue?

It doesn’t matter the color; it’s what’s inside.
Cyanide or morphine?
It could be either or neither but the color will never say.
Shade has no lips to speak.

Coffee:
black at noon.

Read the paper:

God Save The Queen!

Why does god only save the Queen?

Perhaps my windows are stained glass
portraits of F. Fitzgerald and Rosa Parks.

Another sip of coffee:
black
as societal
issues sink my lungs in defeat, 
a horrendous ache in my
temples is reincarnated.
Glints of red window glass catch my attention from
the corner of a wandering eye
reminding me instantly that I’ve taken

​the wrong pill.
Alyssa says, "'Day to Day' was written with the intent of slowing down movements that are most thought of fast, or rather not thought of at all. I also wanted to exaggerate the aesthetics of a routine--how small, unnoticed things can too be alluring."

Alyssa is in 11th grade at Atlantic High School. The editors enjoyed the unique subject of the poem and the dream-like experience while reading. Alyssa also wrote "Lemonade" for the Hot Dish Challenge.

*Picture provided by Pexels