Student Publishing Program ::

Helen Walsh

Stretch Marks

Iris’ stamp of teenage rebellion,
The tattoo of a prowling panther
Stretches across her expanding belly.
Growing, along with the baby.

When this baby matures
Into a teenager
What acts of rebellion will occur?
Piercings?
Tattoos?
Head shaving?
Hair dyeing?
Iris did them all,
She has grown now,
And she has the stretch marks to prove it.

“I don’t have stretch marks,” she’ll tell me,
But she does.
They’re invisible,
But there.
My struggling sister, Iris,
Has blossomed,
Put down the rebel’s torch.

[TABLE OF CONTENTS, LHS CLASS OF 2011 EDITION]