To Meet Me

Poem by Luisa Kay Reyes

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“Do you like yourself?” he asked me. 
In a manner most calm and simply. 
Yet, I sat there speechless and dumb
As my heart felt both empty and numb.  
 
Being poor in a well-off school
Had deemed me socially most uncool. 
The high academics were worthy
But the students showed little mercy. 
 
We experienced different cultures
Learning their arts and literatures. 
Half of one and half of another
In groups I was always “The Other”. 
 
Then we started moving around
Exploring many a state and town. 
But being the new girl in school
Is a fate most humble and cruel. 
 
Time after time of starting anew
Makes one feel sad and a little bit blue.
There’s a click that thinks they’re high class
Though elsewhere they’d be really quite crass.
 
Sensing my paralyzed silence
My counselor broke my reticence.
“If you were someone else and met you . . . “
“would you like you?” he queried on cue. 
 
Suddenly an excitement burst forth
As I realized I really had worth. 
To meet me would be a dream come true
A good friendship would quickly ensue. 
 
Delving into classical ballet
We’d practice our plies every day. 
Indulging in movies from the thirties
We’d also watch some from the forties. 
 
Making up tales and stories to write
We’d outline the plots with earnest might.  
Singing arias from operas of old
Our voices would sparkle like gold.   
 
Studying our music at the piano
We’d set the tunes for our next show.
Gratitude, Charity, and Esteem
Reading Jane Austen, we’d highly deem. 
 
Between us there’d be no jealousies
As best pals we’d have no rivalries. 
My goodness!  It would be such a blast
To have a truly good friend at last. 
 
With my spirits soaring high to the sky
A delight I can’t merely deny
While feeling this burst of energy
“Yes!” I reply most excitedly. 
 
For to meet me would be a real feat
A balm to my soul, quite a treat.
Filled with an inner contentment
My joy is now bright and resplendent.  

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Luisa Kay Reyes has had pieces featured in "The Raven Chronicles", "The Windmill", "The Foliate Oak", "The Eastern Iowa Review", and other literary magazines. Her essay, "Thank You", is the winner of the April 2017 memoir contest of "The Dead Mule School Of Southern Literature".