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      March 4, 2017Marilyn MonroeAlex Clifford

      She was origami—flesh like onion skin—
      creases etched deep then deeper, bones
      became paper, marrow like cellophane, folded
      smaller, smaller until she hid from herself.
      Creases deeper now, tighter, breathe,
      she was claustrophobic buried beneath
      bottles of Redisol, until she hid from herself.
      Then dissolved like snow on hot asphalt.
      She was claustrophobic, pressed between
      celluloid and drawn with lipstick, until
      she dissolved like snow sinking farther and
      farther into the filtered black and white photos.
      She was shaped between fingers beautifully
      sculpted until she was the consistency of smoke,
      lighter than air, until she fell farther and farther until
      her ghost of Nembutal and champagne lay
      beautifully sculpted on the floor. Wilted like
      wisteria on the hardwood, blond hair fanned
      around her head. Nembutal and champagne like a ghost
      on her nightstand, illuminated by lamp light.
      It’s lighter there. Lying on the hardwood floor, she
      became paper, marrow like cellophane
      her skin illuminated by lamp light. Crumpled
      beneath the weight of her own palms
      She was origami.

      from 2017 RYPA

      Alex Clifford (age 14)

      Why do you like to write poetry?

      “In 4th grade, I picked up a Shel Silverstein book from the school library and spontaneously decided that I loved language. The concept that rhythm and sound could morph even the terrible shriek of rubber on linoleum to something beautiful was so astounding that I spent the next two weeks reading poetry in the library during lunch. I consumed Gary Soto, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes and Robert Frost, instead of my ham sandwich.”