Walking home a different route
from the library, you kick a pebble or two

a woman turns, sees you,
walks faster crossing the street

what scares her about you?

You want to ask but don’t
keep walking in your worn-out sneakers

try to shake off her fear
push your hands deeper into your pockets

at fourteen, test your invisibility
sinking into your hoodie

frightened for what is waiting
for you around the corner.

Mamma always said,
watch for what is waiting around the corner.

Margaret R. Sáraco’s poetry and fiction, has appeared in many anthologies and journals. Nominated for a Pushcart Prize and twice recognized in the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Contest, she is also a poetry editor for the Platform Review. Her poetry collections, If There Is No Wind (2022) and Even the Dog Was Quiet (2023) are available through Human Error Publishing. https://margaretsaraco.com