"You stupid great lump of a girl."

I dream at night of whispered sand,
of camel trains and Samarkand.

"No one will ever hold your hand."

I see visions of ancient halls
where tapestry lovers tryst on walls.
Where passion waits impatiently,
with hasty strides for sight of me.

"You're so lazy!"

I have sailed on a lotus flower,
stolen gold from Persian towers.

"You never do anything"

I have walked in dust on the moon,
drifted on the winds of the world,
and all the while in a chair I'm curled.


-The Secret Life of Plain Jane, by Rae Pater