Peace Sign

A Prose Poem by Karol Nielsen

I used to dream of winning a Pulitzer Prize and getting a book-to-movie deal starring Jennifer Lawrence. I thought I would buy an apartment with the earnings. Instead, my parents helped me buy a coop in Manhattan before my first book came out. My dreams became more humble. I relished every small honor my works received. I became even more humble during the pandemic—after I left Manhattan for a year and a half to work remotely from my parents’ home in Connecticut living a much smaller life. When I moved back to the city, I started to make the peace sign—which evolved from the victory sign during the Vietnam War— raising both hands for every small success while standing in front of the nearly floor-to-ceiling mirror in my living room. Wrote a new poem, peace sign! Revised my work in progress, peace sign! Went for a walk in the park, peace sign! Had a good hair day, peace sign! Now that I celebrate humble victories I am more at peace.

Karol Nielsen is the author of two memoirs and three poetry chapbooks. Her first memoir was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Her poetry collection was a finalist for the Colorado Prize for Poetry. You can view more of Karol’s work at https://karolnielsen.com.