Student Publishing Program ::

Anisha Vachani

Remote (In) Control

Let’s-
Let’s rewind.
While we still can.

Let’s-
Let’s stop. Step
Back. Before
We get too deep
Under.

Breathe.
One.
Two.
Sev-
No.

Was it always like this? I don’t
Think so.

I don’t think
We always matched our approved clothes,
Looked to see who was watching before laughing,
Planned what we would say and whom we would say it to.

I think
Once upon a time I
Was happy. Really happy.

So let’s-
Let’s switch to
Reverse . . .

Let’s go, you and I.
We’ll go to the place where two little girls dance.
Short legs skipping in lopsided circles, going
As far as they can ever imagine
Arms outstretched, reaching
To touch all they can ever imagine
And faces uplifted, smiling
At the blue sky up above, the most perfect heaven they can ever imagine. . .

---------

What are you waiting for?

It’s – it’s stuck. I can’t. I CAN’T. I can’t control it.

We’re stuck- in FAST FORWARD. Someone make it stop, please . . .

[BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS, CLASS OF 2008 EDITION]