I want to tell you a story
But I don’t want any of
The blood stains on it
I want to tell you
Of grape Nehis
And sticky couch cushions
But there are belts
Welting the skin
Until it spits blood
I want to tell you
About how big daddy
Swore the devil was
Trying to stop him getting
His marriage license
But there are prayers
Hitting the ceiling
Pinches in the pews
I want to tell you
About how everyone
Told my dad’s brother
He could screw up a one car funeral
And he did
But there are bigger mistakes
Nails too deep in coffins
I want to tell you
All the stories of
What it means to be poor
Southern white trash
But there is still
So much trash
To wade through

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Chloe Adams (she/her) is a poet and educator in Northern California. She writes poetry about mental health, navigating romance, and exploring familial identity. Chloe has been previously published in Free Verse Revolution, Querencia Press, Driplitmag, and Pile Press. You can connect with her further at @chloes1amwrites on Instagram.