My measuring stick of beauty was breaking my neck over a fat booty.

Twisting. Turning. Turning and twisting.

A double take left an impression on my mind

so vivid we were already dating by the time I said, “Hi.”

Her passions nor her purpose mattered to me.

When I learned her name I visualized her with no clothes.

Maybe that’s why love eluded me.

Too caught up in her physical to explore

her mind

her fears

her goals

her insecurities

her quirks

her non-negotiables.

All it took was two ears

a closed mouth

and an open communication.

Until words no longer mattered

and I understood from the look in her brown eyes

a snippet of her soul.

–

Rashaun J. Allen (@rashaunjallen) received his MFA in Creative Writing and Literature from SUNY Stony Brook. He’s eyeing agents to help publish his coming of age story, Christine’s Dream – A Memoir of Love, Loss & Life. He is the author of A Walk Through Brooklyn & In The Moment and has been published in TSR: The South Hampton Review. When not writing he runs for the thrill of crossing the finish line. Find more of his work at www.rashaunjallen.com