Poem: "The Green Monkey"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is the second freebie for the October 3, 2017 Poetry Fishbowl courtesy of new prompter elinox. It was inspired by a prompt from acelightning. It also fills the "frighten" square in my 10-1-17 card for the Fall Festival bingo.


"The Green Monkey"


It's hard when you're born
technically human, visibly human,
but so weird you don't fit in --

when your body looks female
but your soul feels male,

when you're so smart that
you finish the worksheet before
the teacher finishes handing them out,

when you can hear things that
humans aren't supposed to hear
or say things that everyone claims
only babies can learn to pronounce --

and you can't help but remember
that experiment with the monkeys
where the scentist dyed one of them
and the others tore it to pieces,

when you keep seeing murders
of trans nerdy freakish people
whenever you turn on the news,

when every time that you go out
you feel people's eyes on your back,
crawling over your skin like spiders,

and you don't know why you
seem to frighten them so much
but it's clear enough that you do,

and you can't help but wonder
if you're the green monkey.

Comments

[elinox]

You really captured the 'outcast among us' feelings for some 'kin.

However, shouldn't line 17 be "seeing" not "seen" for 'when you keep seen murders'?

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> You really captured the 'outcast among us' feelings for some 'kin. <<

Yay! I'm glad that resonated for you.

>> However, shouldn't line 17 be "seeing" not "seen" for 'when you keep seen murders'? <<

Fixed, thanks.

[mashfanficchick]

I both loved and hated this one at the same time, because it was so well-written, but it was a well-written poem about something super sad and scary.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yeah, some of what I write is edgy stuff. I often say "appreciated" rather than "liked" for these.

Re: Thank you!

[mashfanficchick]

I like that idea! Okay: I really liked the way you wrote this poem, and I appreciated its content.

Re: Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yay! I'm happy to hear that. I think it's important to cover the rough stuff as well as the fluffy stuff. Poets hold up a mirror to society. And sometimes, society has a hard time looking itself in the eye.

Re: Thank you!

[mashfanficchick]

I absolutely agree. And you hold that mirror so very, very well.

[curiosity]

The "I just came here to have a good time but honestly I feel so attacked right now" meme fits this like an old comfortable shoe.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm glad this resonated with you.

[antisocialite_forum]

As someone who's othered on *both* sides of my heritage, one side very visibly... Yeah, this resonates.

I can think of a few people who could relate to it too.

- Tom

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> As someone who's othered on *both* sides of my heritage, one side very visibly... Yeah, this resonates. <<

My sympathies. That sounds very uncomfortable.

>> I can think of a few people who could relate to it too.<<

Feel free to share it with them. Once a piece is posted, it's available for everyone to enjoy.