Before Breasts
by Carla Carlson
(published in Mom Egg Review, July 2012)
I was happy, and slept all night long. Everyone loved me. I climbed like a monkey, stubbed my toes. I had no time for washing my ankles or combing my hair. I had my mother and father, two sisters, my brother, our cocker spaniel, our calico cat, a piano, kids on the block, kick ball, hopscotch, a creek with frogs. I dreamed of gobbling scoops of ice cream, with hot fudge, whipped cream, sprinkles, a cherry on top.
What a poignant poem; I am not sure I have ever written the word "poignant" before in my life, but this poem is just that and required the use of this word.
With a title like "Before Breasts," I was not sure what to expect. Certainly not:
I was happy, and slept all night long.
But the second I read this sentence, I thought, yes! Childhood, before the pains and awkwardness of tween and teen years.
The rest of the poem, just 5 more sentences, provides the speaker's reason for that happiness: love, activity, nonchalance, family, pets, hobbies, friends, games and nature. Then the last sentence actually made me yearn for an ice cream sundae, something I have not eaten in years (decades?) and would not be able to finish if I did order one. The poem ending with "a cherry on top" is a perfect ending to this poem--Carlson uses this childhood saying both literally and metaphorically. Brilliant!
Is the poem saying that the speaker no longer has any of these things? No love, family, friends? I don't think so--I think the poem would have been much darker. I believe it is just a look back on a period of time when responsibilities and worries were few. The fact that the poet differentiates the two time periods with the change in her body--specifically, breasts--makes this poem very relatable to anyone who grew up female (I am sure male readers can substitute "breasts" with a puberty change boys go through). Even if your childhood was not as carefree, we all experienced a difference once our bodies started maturing.
This very short prose poem is wonderfully nostalgic. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
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