The Exchange: NEW GROOVE/LODESTAR

The Exchange is the Weekly’s poetry corner, where a poem or piece of writing is presented with a prompt. Readers are welcome to respond to the prompt with original poems, and pieces may be featured in the next issue of the Weekly.  

Hiding Places
by Chima “Naira” Ikoro

and I looked everywhere for those jeans; 
the only pair of jeans that really made me feel like a girl; 
the tomboy’s redemption; my path to a femininity that fit. 
I liked dresses. They did not like me back. 
I told them to take a number and get in line.

Dug through every pile of clothes and every drawer and scanned every hanging garment searched my brothers room mommy and daddy’s dresser the coat closet by the door every basket in the laundry room the lint trap behind the washer and then the basement. 

all over. everywhere.

there are so many places to hide here.

we should really get rid of some of this stuff.

I’m pretty sure I thought I found them, 
but I wasn’t certain—for some reason they didn’t look the same. 
maybe they got washed wrong, or dried wrong. 
maybe I never really knew what those jeans looked like.
maybe I needed a new pair anyway. 

Never found another pair like them. 
I’ve worn a lot of jeans that made me feel 
like someone my crush would call cute 
since then. 
Found out I don’t really care.

Prompt

Do you live in what makes you feel safe, or do you find yourself hiding there? 

This could be a poem, journal entry, or a stream-of-consciousness piece. Submissions could be new or formerly written pieces. 

Submissions can be sent to bit.ly/ssw-exchange or via email to chima.ikoro@southsideweekly.com.

Featured below is a reader response to a previous prompt. The last poem and prompt can be found here. 

NEW GROOVE/LODESTAR
by Kae Osei
after Invictus by William Henley

fear is crippling
and stasis
is a thief.

my hands may be ragged
and voice hoarse,
but hope hangs low from sallows—
and so my new groove:

when I awake in the dawn
with the yearn to do,
I blaze war on stagnation;
peace be my muse.

when times were thundering 
with unrecognizable defeat,
the insurmountable suffering
I say this too, I will beat.

in the face it all,
I hold myself close.
keep my head in the clouds,
get my sunshine dose.

looking at life lacquered,
speak of milk & honey.
find reasons to sing, holla,
shriek, & make funny.

& to the Black Stars, 
who always guide us home,
Black as the abyss I sprung from;
I thank you for my restless soul.