I had a beautiful diamond ring,
a chunky orange-petaled flower thing,
and in a low-ceilinged dark apartment,
full of friends, Jennifer Anniston, hair
blonde and straight, asked to try it on,
and I was so fond, I said, “Sure.” So
she went into the bathroom, to have a look,
and my ring she took, and came back smiling,
handing me the flower, and I felt my power
drain, to see one orange petal replaced with glass.
I called it out among our friends, this crime that
happened from my lend, to which she replied,
“But they like me better.” I still insisted
she give it back, my gorgeous diamond petal.
The friends were quiet. As a riot of betrayal.
But she replaced the rock in my ring
in my dream.
To all who have taken my orange petals
and given me glass, I finally see the friends
you are. And to myself, who tries to maintain ties
with Jennifer, hoping for an apology and continued
connection I say, “She loves me, she loves me not.”
Sarah Susanna Wood grew up in Richardson, TX and got a B.A. in Plan II from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. in English from the University of North Texas. She currently tutors writing at Collin College.
