Puritan U

Your major, poli sci, Puritan U,
where Dad, all done, exiles you : “find the one,”
ambitious, just like him, recognizes you,
his secret sin, a spiritual son.

Reforestation camping trip, in back
of van, with strangers sit. A man, law school,
and you’re 18, female his fans, a pack
that preens: “the feminist”; they drool.

Mistake of sleep, you think, his errant hand
between your legs. Don’t understand. You
will later, sleeping bag. A wedding band
on choking hand. You’re opened and subdued.

One more pretender forces his way in.
Five states away, underneath again.

By Kristin Garth

Biography:

Kristin Garth is a poet from Pensacola and a sonnet stalker. Her sonnets have stalked the pages of Occulum, Ant-Heroin Chic, Rise Up Review, Fourth & Sycamore, Drunk Monkeys, Moonchild Magazine and many other publications. Her poetry dollhouse chapbook Pink Plastic House: Three Stories of Sonnets will be released spring 2018 by Maverick Duck Press.