To My Black Sunflower Dress A poem

IMOGENE’S NOTEBOOK

To My Black Sunflower Dress

A poem

Natalie Gasper

Imogene’s Notebook

Natalie Gasper

Published in

Imogene’s Notebook

A ballerina in a white tutu, dancing in a field of sunflowers.

Photo by chiến bá

She threw you out before she knew

you, before she saw the picture of us

at my eighth-grade graduation, the first

time I was brave enough to wear heels

and walk down an aisle of my peers

to accept an award. She doesn’t remember

the late summer day when we went out

to dinner and a movie with friends, including

my first crush who told me I looked beautiful.

All she remembers is the day my breasts

grew bigger and my thighs got longer

and my once-slender body no longer fit

inside your petite frame. I must have been

quite a sight to the Vietnam Vets, or maybe

it was the Salvation Army, as I tore through

every trash bag on our porch trying to find

you, to rescue you as you once rescued me,

my black sunflower dress, the first dress

I ever loved. We never got to say goodbye,

so give a little of your magic and your luck

to the next girl who wears you.

Natalie Gasper

Imogene’s Notebook

Written by Natalie Gasper

Editor for

Imogene’s Notebook

Writer I Poet I Reader I Daydreamer I My poetry is in dozens of journals. When I’m not writing books, I’m writing about writing. Twitter @NatalieGasper

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