Poetry: Prom By Matt Mercado

Prom

 

I suppose high school prom

was the worst night

of my adolescence.

 

I stood in the gymnasium

watching all the pretty people

step out of their pretty cars,

pose for pretty pictures

in pretty dresses,

pretty suits,

pretty little everythings,

while I stood

alone in the corner,

laughing to myself

because everyone had someone

and I

had asked four girls

the previous week.

 

So I watched everyone dance

while the teachers

watched me not dance,

until one came over

and said,
“Boy,

go find yourself a gal.”

 

But I kept laughing

with my acne scarred face,

my butchered haircut,

and a rented suit

watching all the boys

put their hands 

around the waists of girl

who all said

they weren’t going.

 

 

 

 

 

Matt Mercado is a writer based out Potomac, Maryland who focuses heavily on relationships, failures, and the oddities of people and everyday life. He spends much of his free time with his two year old son and cat Jelly Bean.

 

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