Sixteen Seemed Sweeter

By Persephone Litchfield

"I have so long checked to see if the store has a self-checkout every time I want to buy a book. I am afraid the clerk will look at the book written by a gorgeous twenty-something and tell me, "You are not beautiful enough to buy this book"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Persephone Litchfield
• Release date: Nov 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463658215

Persephone Litchfield

Persephone "Seph" Litchfield is an American playwright. She is known for her writing in "Piece by Fragment" and "The (Almost) True Story of Hope Winter" as well as a few other titles. She is also a University student, a poet, and a songwriter (with music under the name "Persephone Hope").

Book preview

Dedications

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I’ve always loved dedications. I’ve always loved giving my pretend acceptance speech, thanking the people for listening.

I’ve always dedicated my stories to the same people, the same people I will dedicate this one to.

For Ahlani, for being the light in an ever-growing darkness, and who introduced me to possibilities I never gave myself.

For Katrina, who has shaped me into a better person, and taught me how to be the ethereal being I was inside.

For Ellie, who reminded me that I am ever so close to everyone I wanted to be.

To Allison, who gave me the name that shaped me, and gave me the heartache that formed my creativity.

But I also wanted to dedicate this book to everyone in these poems.

To my French and English teacher, who didn’t know how much he changed me

And the friends I loved and lost

I wish I could list out everyone who made me who I am.

So, the closest I can come to that is to dedicate this story to everyone who opened it. Thank you for giving me a chance.

-Persephone

Sixteen Seemed Sweeter

Persephone Litchfield

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I have so long checked to see if the store has a self-checkout every time I want to buy a book.

I am afraid the clerk will look at the book written by a gorgeous twenty-something and tell me,

You are not beautiful enough to buy this book

Plates

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I want to throw a plate against a wall

I want to see the ceramic shatter against my beige paint

I’ve had this feeling for some time now

Like every feeling I’m feeling could be erased if I smashed a perfect plate against a wall

I want to feel that anger dissipate into the air

I want to see the pieces

And not have to put them back together

Because I am tired of putting myself back together

I have been smashed so many times that I don’t even know where the pieces go anymore

I’m exhausted

I don’t want to be put back together anymore

Because no one is there to help me with the pieces

And I’m stuck on my bedroom floor sobbing into a 2 year old notebook

Everyone else’s was filled with love letters and sweet notes

Mine is filled with poems and songs that will never touch anyone’s ears

Sometimes, I wish I was the plate

Sometimes, I wish I could just be swept up and thrown away

I’m tired of fitting pieces that are too broken to recognize

I’m tired of being put back together, only to be broken again

Four Letter Labels

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I.N.F.P.

Introspectively nothing but a failure to be perfect

E.N.T.P.

Entertainingly nowhere near talented person

We are named by lettered labels to tell me who I am and who to love

I.

I'm falling apart

Crushed by each individual finger you crush me with

Pressing on my heart until it stops

So you can figure out why it hasn't stopped beating

N.

Never will I give into these chains

Nailed into my skin as I scream for help

Imprinting letters from an online test into my soul

In attempt to break it down into something identifiable

F.

Failed attempt at a life