written By
-inspired by Athena, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Wallace Stevens
I skipped class to frequent the Dairy Queen
and order a vanilla soft serve cone, with sprinkles.
I am the emperor of ice cream, I glean
from Wallace Stevens. I dipped my nose clean
in white gelato, called myself a lifeguard, wrinkles
lining my jaw. I skipped class to frequent the Dairy Queen,
molded sorbet into a foamy crown, teen
fantasy crowding my sense of fancy. Twinkles
of fame: I am the emperor of ice cream, I glean
from experience, from my time behind the scene
scooping balls of sherbet and serving crinkles.
I skipped class to frequent the Dairy Queen,
told my teacher a Blizzard warrants a snow day, its sheen
thick surface too dense to be considered ice cream. Symbols
pop up like popcorn: I am the emperor of ice cream, I glean
from a penguin sliding inside a tub of mint green
pistachio custard, until the curd turns periwinkle.
I skipped class to frequent the Dairy Queen
I am the emperor of ice cream, I glean—
