Basic
the walls are beige
the jeans are light blue
the journal is leather
the bible verses are serif
and the posters are in cursive.
the white converse are on—
or, on a lazy day,
the sandals are on—
the hair is up
and when the hair is down
the hair is extended and
straightened to perfection.
the photos are bright
the lipstick is earthy
the coffee is fresh
the money seems endless
the girl is white
and she says,
“be gentle with yourself,”
to the other girls
who are gentle with themselves
and nobody knows what it means
but the pretty white girls say it
and even though it would be hell
sometimes i wish her being pretty
was enough to make me listen.