Student Publishing Program ::

Julia Zheng

Incognito

Cascade of soft, thick hair
Falling gently down the erect back
Carriage like a queen’s
Chin tilted up
Dignified smile upon full lips
Step akin to dance
Hips swaying gently
Legs fashionably thin
Yet rounded
They have never stumbled
She does not walk
She glides

Draped across her shoulders
Is a poncho
Not to shield its owner from the harsh rays of sunlight
Nor to deflect wind and weather
No - it is an eloquent testimony to beauty
In the light it looks golden
Threads crocheted together
As delicately and intricately
As the dew-threaded
Crystalline strands
Of a spider’s web

A cool breeze sifts the wrap
And supple bones swim
Beneath almond skin
As slender, pointed fingers tug gently upon the tendrils
Sliding slowly across the black fabric
Tassels clinging to grooves
In her shirt
Loose fibers tussled
Like the scattered stems of dandelions

Her name is called
She whirls around
Hair and clothes pulled outward
Like an exotic dancing gypsy
Blessing the admirer
With a regal nod
Someone’s day is made
With simply the look in her eyes
A glance full of laughter and radiance
Drawing all those flailing moths
To her flame

A warm touch
Might pull you into embrace

Check for knives.

[TABLE OF CONTENTS, LHS CLASS OF 2009 EDITION]