The Voice

The Voice is a poem by Hopewell Valley Central High School junior Lola Banta & was published in Panorama, the literary arts magazine.

The Voice

She got out of bed.

Get back in.

She walked across the room to her closet.

Get back in bed.

She sifted through her clothes, deciding what to wear.

Nothing here looks good on you.

She went with a simple black dress and knee-high black boots.

People will think you’re weird if you only wear one color.

She went with a simple black dress and blue ballerina flats.

This color combination is so random.

She went with a simple black dress with a navy jacket and blue ballerina flats.

Zip up the jacket to cover your fat stomach.

She zipped up her jacket even though she was already hot.

Get back in bed.

She went to the bathroom.

Get. Back. In. Bed.

She put on some makeup.

You look ugly with that much makeup on.

She took off her makeup.

You look ugly with no makeup on.

She put back on her makeup.

This is just a you problem, makeup or not.

She put up her hair.

Your forehead is ginormous.

She let down her hair.

Wow, talk about greasy roots.

She put half her hair up and the other half down.

You somehow made it worse.

She put on a hat.

It’s an ugly hat.

She went downstairs to eat breakfast.

Get back in bed.

She made a healthy meal, consisting of eggs, bacon, toast, juice, and tea.

You’re already so fat

She threw it in the trash.

You’re so unhealthy.

She grabbed an apple and some water.

Get back in bed.

She caught the bus to get to school.

Everybody is looking at you.

She rode in the back, silently reading.

They’re all watching.

She arrived at school and went to class.

Go home.

The teacher asked a question and she knew the answer.

Don’t raise your hand, if you get it wrong you’ll be a laughing stock.

She was called on anyway, and she gave the correct answer.

Teacher’s pet.

After a few more classes, she went to lunch.

Eating alone again? Everybody is watching how pathetic you are.

She bought a burger and ate it in the bathroom.

Fat, fat, fat.

She bought a salad and ate it in the bathroom.

Go home.

She went to her afternoon classes and received a B on her science test.

You’ll never go to college with grades like that.

She went home on the bus.

Another terrible day, and it’s all your fault.

She started her homework.

Go to bed.

She started her homework.

Go to bed.

She. Started. Her. Homework.

GO.TO. BED.

She decided to start her homework after a quick nap, she was just so tired.

Why can’t you ever do a simple task?

Her mom called her down for dinner.

You aren’t hungry.

She wasn’t hungry.

She sat up in bed at three am completing her homework.

This is all your fault.

It was her own fault for waiting.

She went to bed once she finished.

You don’t deserve sleep.

She woke up the next morning at seven.

Go back to sleep.

She got out of bed.

Get back in.