Posted on by Nicole Hylton

For Jane

i am no bird.

i am no

delicate song-maker,

no fragile feather-clump.

though i may be

little and

plain and

unassuming,

do not assume

that i am

what you want

me to be.

though i would

enjoy the ability

to spread out,

to see the world

and live only

for myself,

that is not

who i am.

see me

not for

what you like,

but for

who i tell you

i am.

i am

a woman—

little and

plain and

unassuming

to be sure,

but i am

no bird:

i am no

metaphor

for you to twist and

shape and

force

into the image

you like.

this is

who i am—

do not

coat me in

feathers

or pretty words

to hide

my flaming spirit

because you will only

succeed

in burning

your fingers.

 

Nicole Hylton is a writer-of-all-trades from Southern Maryland. She writes poetry, short stories, and has completed two novellas, Internet Official and Dropping Her Gloves. Her work has appeared in Aethlon and Avatar. She holds a B.A. in English from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, minor in Sociology & Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

 

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The Doctor T. J. Eckleburg Review is a print and digital literary journal. We offer original fiction — short stories, short short stories, hybrid—poetry and nonfiction. We also curate The Eckleburg Gallery — visual artwork and intermedia — as well The Groove including first released, original music by The Size Queens. Our archives include emerging and established writers, poets, artists, musicians and performers such as Rick Moody, Cris Mazza, Eurydice, Steve Almond, Stephen Dixon, Moira Egan, David Wagoner, Zach Galifianakis and many more. We run annual print issues, The Eckleburg Reading Series (DC, Baltimore, Chicago, New York….), as well as, the annual Gertrude Stein Award in Fiction with a first prize of $1000 and print publication.

Nicole Hylton
Nicole Hylton is a writer-of-all-trades from Southern Maryland. She writes poetry, short stories, and has completed two novellas, Internet Official and Dropping Her Gloves. Her work has appeared in Aethlon and Avatar. She holds a B.A. in English from St. Mary's College of Maryland, minor in Sociology & Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.

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