Sidekick

The disappointments didn’t come

hard and fast. They rolled like

a Spanish “R,” long and smooth.

Chasing the ice-cream truck,

being locked out of the funhouse,

being the second or third choice

for everyone I’ve ever met…

There’s a place for me and it’s

the wise-cracking sidekick

that you don’t mind disappearing

in the third act. I’m the heroine’s

plucky, tragic friend.

Cute and dismissed.

It’s ok; I tracked Venus and Vega

with my rickety telescope tonight

and we’re all very, very small.