A Marshmallow by Alex Carrigan

You are a marshmallow:
white, soft, full of air,
and without substance.

You are a marshmallow:
there are so many like you
and you get easily lost in the bag.

You are a marshmallow:
easy to squeeze,
and you melt down when heated.

You are a marshmallow:
you can give some resistance when pushed,
but you ultimately get bitten through.

You are a marshmallow:
you’re an easy favorite,
but only on special occasions.

You are a marshmallow:
you wish those occasions
were more regular.

You are a marshmallow:
you want to be heated,
because then you’ll change.

You are a marshmallow:
when you change,
you compliment.

You are a marshmallow:
even with how bland you are
and easily you get stuck on things,

you are a marshmallow:
so you’ll still be loved
regardless.

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“This poem was from a writing workshop I thought was a fun idea but didn't fit with the rest of my work, so I abandoned it.”

Alex Carrigan (he/him; @carriganak) is an editor, poet, and critic from Virginia. He is the author of May All Our Pain Be Champagne: A Collection of Real Housewives Twitter Poetry (Alien Buddha Press, 2022).