Miss Nebraska

Hilda Frey was captain
of the cheerleading squad
at Franklin County High School.
She lost her virginity
the night of Senior Prom
to Joe McWilliams,
who drove a red camero.
 
Back in ‘76
she was Miss Nebraska.
She sang the National Anthem
and twirled the baton
in a blue bikini
up at the state fair.
 
When folks come by
Hilda triumphantly
retells of the time
she traveled to New York>
to represent the
Distinguished Women’s Council.
 
What she doesn’t say
is that her husband
ran off with his secretary
when the boys were
four and six
 
with no good bye
except for a post-it note
left on the kitchen table.
 
And all she knows now
of her eldest son
is that he’s out west
somewhere
with his third wife
and owns an auto shop
where they live upstairs.
 
And she hasn’t heard
from the younger one
since two Junes ago
 
when he sent her a postcard
from the Himalayas
where he went to find himself.
 
 
She pretends
that Joey
is in the navy now
and his big brother Ted
owns a business overseas
 
and that’s why they don’t visit much
even on the holidays.

Blazing

Chased you to the Prime Meridian
where you were lounging in a beach chair
with a straw hat and a pack of Salem's.
All I wanted was to remind you
to think of me when you read your horoscope

Annie Banks is currently a freshman at Mount St. Mary's College.  She plans to pursue a degree in English and become a professor.  In addition to her studies, reading the classics and writing for the college newspaper occupies most of her time. On campus, she is in the process of organizing a poetry society for aficionados of verse. Several of her other interests include painting and theatrical arts.

Email: Annie Banks

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