Plaid Skirt

that girl, the one 
in the plaid skirt

that girl, she’s 
just an introvert

that girl, the one 
with a small waist

that girl, sweet as 
strawberries she tastes

that girl, the one who 
wants to go to Japan

that girl, go and ask 
her to do a handstand

that girl, the manic 
pixie dream

that girl, the one 
night fantasy

that girl, who writes 
poems in coffee shops 

on her 
lonesome

who thinks she's 
invisible and 

convinced herself
she's a no one

that girl, the one
walking by herself

you don't know 
how much she 

wished she could 
be someone else

that girl, the one that 
knows about constellations

that girl, wandering about 
in her imaginations

that girl, the one I 
saw at a concert

somewhere bruised 
up badly and hurt

that girl, fear her 
when she's mad

that girl, comfort 
her when she's sad

she knows how 
heartbreak feels

and will get upset, 
skip her meals

she wears knee 
socks to cover up

with a big sweater 
that's slightly tucked

that girl, the one 
running up the stairs 

in the black tights 
with rips and tears

that girl, the one 
that wants to love,

even when push 
comes to shove

that girl with 
bandaids on her knees

that girl, sets herself
 apart to be freed

that girl, pushed 
down into the dirt

that girl, the one 
in the plaid skirt

- Leah Rae