Portrait - Third Place Poetry by Lori Pettibone

Portrait

Third Place Poetry

by Lori Pettibone

If I were to draw a picture

of me

and you,

I would first draw

a hill.

And I would be at the

bottom of the hill

struggling

to get

to the top.

With blisters on my hands

And torn pants

And sweat dripping

from my forehead.

With dirt

mixed with

blood

staining my clothing

from the times

I had tripped

and fallen

then returned to my feet

to try again.

Struggling

every inch of the way

Struggling

And in my picture

You would be at the

top

looking

the other

direction