OK...I write what I know...MOSTLY!!!

I write what I know for the most part. What do I know the best, myself. This should be easy right? Well, not so much when you are as complicated as they come. If you get me in person and talk to me, I'm witty and pretty smart (...or as my mama says, "smart ass."). Now, if you want to get to know me on an intimate level...of any kind...that's where the difficulty comes in. I hold back to some degree because expressing myself comes better on the page. Take your time to get to know me. If you are willing and strong enough...you will survive. :)

When the Flames Burn

Steam rolls,

twists,

and curves

through my

fingertips

and into

                        the darkness.

Water falls

beneath

my toes

and soaks

into

                                    immersed, naked

skin.

The flames

burn around

me.

Small, flickerings

of light, no sound,

but memories.

                                    The water

                                     grows cold,

                                                   like the ice

you left

in my veins.

SO...When you write from the POV of a teenage girl who stutters.

I have many projects going at this time. My latest is a novel in verse from the POV of a teen girl that stutters. This may or may not cause a brief chuckle out of some, but I am being very serious. I didn't want to go for the cliched "chubby" girl, with "four eyes," and the so-called "metal mouth." Although, I just described what life was like for me for a while. I could've taken that approach. However, a beautiful, athletic girl who struggles every day of her life with the fact that her speech is impaired. What an idea, I thought. A teen girl who had it all, but not the words to express herself. The novel plays itself out in a humorous, yet sad kind of way.....worth the read...HOPEFULLY!!! :)
With all that said...Here is the opening poem. Enjoy!

Me in a Nutshell

I stutter.

Maybe not here, in this journal.

BUT,

I stutter.

A cute guy passes and talks to me

I just wave and giggle.

What kind of guy…

no wait, what cute guy

wants a girl who stutters?

Well, let me tell you, none.

They only laugh at me.

So, I stick with my friends.

I mean, I’m not a total outcast.

I’m the flyer on our cheerleading squad,

I’m on yearbook staff,

and I enjoy going to school dances.

Problem is,

no one will date a girl

who stutters.

I’ve never had a boyfriend.

Never been kissed.

Never

Been

Kissed.