Seven Christmases ago
You drew me
In Secret Santa
And drew
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From ノーモア★ヒーローズ

I went home and cried
Cried because I was tied
And tired
I tried
Like pleather for breakfast
Pop quiz

In that dress
I stared
At the frame on the wall
That was the cue for me
To go
To you

Snowman stress ball
Monster keyring
Foot stool
Tile fragment
Hemp oil
Cacti
Fox cushion
Backpack
Orange peel
Plate rack
Hairbrush
Skeleton plush
Spectacles
Ringbinder
Handkerchief
Prozac

As April appears
Manifestos materialise
Posters pop up
It’s student union campaign trail time

My fear of talking
In public spaces
Clashes with my frustration
Of things never changing

So I write “Vote Nina”
Across the campus
As I announce my intentions
Friends look at me in askance

I’m too nervous
And I know I won’t be a good leader
But if I hold others to account
That’s something to believe in

The rhythmic satisfying tick
Measured pings at the line ends
My composition an ode
To notes I wrote
A sheet covers my beat
Generation
All admiration
At least back then
When
I mimicked
Their schtick

Like a gingerbread milkshake
On New Years Day
In Kensington’s Cafe

Better than a buddha bowl
In Pelham Street
Followed by Helmston’s tea

Floating on a Cloud Nine cupcake
Rainbow pastel wallpaper
North Laine by night

Purple hearted bubble kitchen
Reminiscing
A street cat as a friend

Flea market bargain-hunting
Vintage postcards and library afternoons
Volunteering in a museum art room

The euphoria of the city
Throws its arms around me