Back to Jonathan Penton's Artist PageTo the Artist's Page                    Back to the Unlikely Stories home pageTo our home page
PlumsTo Jonathan Penton's previous piece     And I Am Still NakedTo Jonathan Penton's next piece


Don't tell me
about your case of unrequited love,
the girl that you've been pining for
since high school--
I've heard that shit before.

Spare me your tales of childhood rape
your father's rage
and mother's
fear
as if you were
the only one to suffer

I don't care
about
your existential tragedies
You've grown too
old for all that
adolescent angst
Your stories are
warped mirrors
that do not reflect your pain
you waste
our time
with these
neuroses

Come to me naked or avoid me altogether:
Leave your facades for those who think in words.
Show me the silence
behind
your mouth and body language

We are in a room
too small for
movement
Dance me with your stillness
or shut up.

To the top of this pageTo the top of this page