Gorilla

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Isabella Terracina

 

sometimes I feel the sting of that creamy mixture

mom slathered over my arms, legs, and upper lip 

that sharp chemical stench burning my nostrils

as I stood, arms outstretched, in the shower

bits of hair washing down the drain

leaving smoothness in its wake. 

 

sometimes I am back in the lunchline, 

and I hear the strawberry blond ask her sharp question           

 why are you so hairy

my arms scruffy like a gorilla,

what they call me, the years that follow,

mom and I in the bathroom

taking care of it. 

 

sometimes I see the nicks on my knees 

the angry red razor burn

the creams and concoctions to make it go away

smooth the skin

make them forget I was ever that ugly word

that creature from who knows where.

 

and I think 

wasn’t second grade too early

to stand in the shower

skin burning

hating the stubble I mercilessly scrubbed away

wasn’t second grade too young

to feel like a dark, hairy 

ugly 

gorilla?

 

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Isabella Terracina is from Metuchen, New Jersey. She is a class of 2026 public policy and political science major, with aspirations of becoming a federal prosecutor. In her free time, Isabella likes going to flea markets, reading Gabriel García Márquez, and spending time with friends.