[Good: adjective]

Ashley McPhie

Poetry Runner-Up

Good: adjective
(1): of favorable character or tendency
Ex.: I thought good things were supposed to happen to good people

My parents have always told me to be a good person
You told me I was a good person
Once, after I told you I couldn’t love you anymore

this good person you think you are
is because of me 

I craved the feeling of your lips pressed against my ear
Focused on the tingle from your breath 
Not the words that were so loud I couldn’t hear them until after 

As a good person
When you claimed my tears were only meant to manipulate
I forced them away 

But I’m a good person
Not a strong person
So the tears continued to fall like the word

sorry

Dropped from my lips

Am I a good person?

You told me I was a good person
And now when people ask me how I’m doing
I say 

good

Because that is what you told me to say 

You say 

it’s none of their business 

You say 

fighting is normal

You say 

that’s what makes this real

Am I a good person?

As a good person
I learned how to wrap my arms around myself
You didn’t like to be burdened with hugging me after a fight 

My arms wrapped tighter
Hands flexed below my shoulders
Nails needing to bite

Skin needing to feel anything other than your empty stare 

When you look at me like that
I forget to wonder if I am a good person
I begin to question if I am even real 

As a good person, I believed you
Didn’t really mean it
When you said 

I’d rather fuck your roommate than you

Am I a good person?

Now this time
When I say good-bye
And you beg me back once more 

I’ll say
No, thanks

I’m good


Ashley McPhie is a senior English education major. She is from Thermopolis, Wyoming, and is currently teaching the youth of America.