When I Bought My First Pair of Roller Skates by Victoria Sykes
they gripped the blood
out of my feet and
swung me through the
dorm halls like a drunk wind.
I cruised indoors
illegally–taunting
the restaurant workers
on campus
Get the hell out of here!
until they kicked me out.
When I brought the skates
to my parents:
I think I might join derby,
they looked at them and me and:
If this is your way of telling us
you’re a lesbian,
you can leave.
So I left.
I’ve grown fond
of the taste of metallic
bloody salt in my mouth,
purple knees
inked arms
and lesbians.