Extension of Violence,
Cute as a Button
Janet Kuypers
9/1/19, the 1901 date Vice-President Teddy Roosevelt
used the phrase, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”
I always seem nice to people
when going out, I put on the
charm, act ultra-pleasant, am
quietly cute-as-a-button
when I walk down the street
I then curl each key from my
keychain between each finger
so that I’d be ready to attack
anyone who came too close,
then I’d wrap my purse straps
eight ways around my wrist
so that if anyone tried to take
it, it would be an extension
of my arm and a new weapon
as I fought back with a fervor.
Because, as I said, I’m a charm
on the outside, but inside is a
bomb
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