Literary Magazine

Medium

My most genuine experience in high school
Is one I hate to say
It brought something back
From the past that refuses to stay
I am not Skinny
I am not Fat
I am not the tallest or the shortest in my class
I am a Medium

I am so jumbled I don’t understand where the weight ends
And muscles begin
Yet in the morning I have a six pack
And can see my ribs
I am Wheezy I am Nasal
Yet when I wear a tank top
I am Brazen

I have known Mediums to shrink or enlarge
To fit where they can
Finding somewhere they might just belong

I’ve not known myself to manipulate too well
So I must ask about my looks
Wincing at the thought of the phrase
“You should be wearing a bell”

I’ll eat under 1000 calories

So maybe I’m one who shrinks
Shrink by my birthday…
Shrink by prom…
Shrink by summer…
Shrink by fall? …
And is there anyone dumber
Dumber than me
Who has become so deformed that they cry over spilled kidney beans
That was my day
My one ration

So if you must ask about my journey in high school
It was alright

Except for the part where I learned
A Large can become Small
A Small can become Large
But a Medium with always be Medium
They can only hope to adapt.