Middle School Dance
To all the boys
who asked me
to dance and to
all the boys to whom
I said yes and to
all the steps we took
right and left and to
the one who bought
me a corsage of roses
to match my dress and to
the one who asked me
if I wanted a kiss and to
the one I kissed even though
I didn’t want to kiss and to
the one who kissed the girl
I really wanted to kiss—
I wish my wishes were kisses.
Source: Poetry (January/February 2025)