a literary magazine.
Inked and Ringed
I am not like you
That’s what my body
and my jewelry says
But it isn’t true.
I can cover my arms
in every shade of ink
etched by artists making
paisley flower petals bloom
among twisted vines
racing up my arms
anchored by a bumblebee at my elbow
But we are still alike.
I can wear a diamond studded
ring through my nose
resting just above a
petulant magenta mouth
signaling my defiance
distrust and dislike
of the society you built
But I am lost sometimes, just like you.
Remember your rebel days
protesting, rallying against
old white men while in your
tie dye shirt, fringe jacket
and faded hip hugger jeans
that made your parents gasp and cringe
while psychedelic noise assaulted the peace
Style and sound are the only difference.
The circle will form, and I will
have an exquisite daughter who
dismisses me, discounts me and worries me
who dresses in strange clothes
adorns her body with symbols
representing ideas of her own.
She will remind me of you.
Bio:
Charlotte Zang lives on a farm near the Chester River in Chestertown, Maryland. Her work has appeared in Mused Literary Review (Spring, Summer, and Fall 2012), Voice Lux Journal (Dec. 2020) as well as the Bay to Ocean Anthology in 2020 and 2021. She published a chapbook titled Night Travels on Amazon. Charlotte writes for a living. Her articles have appeared in local publications such as Kent Island Neighbors and The Metropolitan Magazine. She enjoys interviewing executives from around the country, telling their stories through LinkedIn profiles and business articles. Her work includes creating social media content, press releases, email blasts, newsletters, website copy and more for a variety of clients. (www.zangwriting.com) She assists authors in the publishing process by editing, proofreading, and marketing their books. In addition, Charlotte is a real estate investor who is captivated by historic homes.