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Blue Marble Review

Literary Journal for Young Writers

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Swerving Through Route 30 Lines

By Maddie Katarski

Mom was a performer,

belted “Heart” lyrics,

harmonized with Ann,

played the air guitar with Nancy.

 

Her eyes were fire again,

after years of being told that no one listened

burned her down to the wick.

 

We always listened as the words grazed

against our ears like satin,

“Now wouldn’t you, Barracuda?”

 

She looked back at us

from the rear view mirror

and told us we could be whatever

we wanted.

It was a lesson worth learning.

 

Mom stopped

singing

when the tape stopped

playing.

My sister and I became

the music she wanted

to hear.

We carried the tune

on our backs when she couldn’t.

 

My sister chose to be Nancy,

I was Ann. We were together

barracudas.

 

 

Maddie Katarski is a junior at the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, where she is studying Literary Arts. She hopes to someday pursue a career in writing. She is the editor-in-chief for her school’s newspaper. She has been recognized as an Honorable Mention in City Theatre’s 2017 Young Playwright’s Contest. This will be her first publication.

 

 

Filed Under: Poetry Tagged With: Issue Seven

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