TODAY SHE ASKED

Today She Asked

Why am I more forgiving of others
than myself?

She pressed me and asked me
Why am I more forgiving of others
than myself.

I stared into her face,
thinking of all the ways I wished
I answered her.

That maybe I deserve my misery.
That maybe I haven't earned forgiveness.
That maybe I have more faith in my family than me.
That. That. That. That. That

I don't know if I can forgive myself yet.

She thinks I am better.
Let her think this.
I'll be better off. Better soon.

Being A Woman Requires Rose-Colored Glasses

It’s supposed to make any
and All red flags look like flags.
I wasn’t supposed to ask
why there were so many of them.

I asked about the ones
Stepped over and Stepped on
only to be offered
my old glasses back.

If I put them back on,
I could forget those blood-basted palms.
Wet, Slick, and Soft.

I can’t touch them.
Not again.
It took so long for me to notice.

If I touch them again,
I don’t have to cleanse them.
Not This Time.

Lady Liberty’s glasses were stolen
whereas mine were gifted.

My prescription wasn’t updated this time.

Idalis Wood is a graduate student of Linfield College with a degree in Creative Writing. As an aspiring writer, Idalis hope her words can inspire and make a difference in the lives of others. Behind the Lines is her first published book of stories. During her time as a writer, she has published a handful of short stories and poems in magazines such as her alma mater’s magazine Camas, Underscore Review, The Paragon Press, Shift: A Journal of Literary Oddities, and even Adelaide Literary Magazine. In addition to writing stories and poems, Idalis has dabbled in writing plays and while in college, took a course in screenplay writing. Whatever she can write, she dabbles in, but her preferences are fiction and poetry. Idalis is currently married and living in Oregon with her husband Devin, who is often the first to hear any news about her writing submissions.