For quiet girls, Maia Marie

for the girls who live in that place for what’s forgotten
with socks, hats, pot plants and homework.

the ones that aren’t the prettiest, or funniest, or smartest.
who are not very brave
or have that extra thing that could get you out the township.

the ones who wait
in suburbs and schools,
in shopping malls or on street corners

with their desire to retreat,
weighed under what’s not theirs,
lines drawn by mothers and grandmothers
and fathers who are not there.

for the quiet girls who don’t get chosen.
in a corner on the playground
knowing they could join if given a chance
but not knowing how to say “I want to”.

who have everything in them
but not years to lay in the ground
or plenty of water and sunshine

so if they don’t grab their one chance to flower,
they never will