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ARIEL HOLDEN

The Giant

As a child I wanted hair like

the children in "Village Of The Damned"

Sleek, cold, and ice white

With only the power of my mind

holding it in place

Lurking eyes below could cut like razors

Not sharing their secrets

but eating them for breakfast

A warm coat of cat skin

kept my winter fears in check

With every bowl of ramen I made

I felt closer to god

Further away from life

Garbage on the kitchen floor

was like an offering prayer

Crushed ants like eager pilgrims

surrounding the temple mound

When I finally let you come over

After many years of questions

and my father ran naked, yelling

out of his bedroom

Like the Giant after Jack

Screaming at us to be quiet

I was understandably embarrassed

Couldn't you see that?

Please don't come over again