New York: A Sestina

2006 7th-8th Grade Poetry Winner

I was fresh from Germany, and had no idea how to get a Metro Card 1
The bus driver gently refuses my bills. A young girl waves me over, talking on her phone 2
I swap the bills for the card, and scrutinize this friendly girl. She wore a lot of eyeliner 3
On her knapsack, I spy an interesting badge: "A village in Texas is missing an idiot." 4
I assume the subject is George Bush. She is also wearing navy blue Converses 5
I hear snippets of the Dave Matthews Band. 6

I look around. The young man across from me is wearing a shirt that says Ramones. "A band," 6
He says. Feeling bleak, I look at the one thing that shows I belong in New York, my green card 1
He, too, is wearing those shoes. But they are black, and the C is rubbed out on the logo Converses 5
I hear a ringing. I answer my phone 2
It is my sister, who I'm on my way to visit. "You can get through," she says. "You're not an idiot." 4
I wonder who she is now. Is she like that girl with the phone, wearing a lot of eyeliner? 3

Does she wear all black, like I hear New Yorkers do, to match her eyeliner? 3
Does she listen to the Ramones, the young man's favorite band? 6
Still, she is my sister, and I'm reassured by her words. "You're not an idiot." 4
Getting off from the bus and walking to the subway, I realize I still don't have a Metro Card 1
I look for the girl with the phone. 2
She's not there, but the nice Metro Card vendor sells me one. She is also wearing Converses 5

I look down at my fashionable-in-Germany Pumas. Maybe I should get Converses 5
As I wait for the train, I think of my girlfriend. German women don't wear eyeliner. 3
When I get on, I think to call my sister. Out of service, reads my phone. 2
"Doesn't work underground," an old lady told me. I sit beside her and turn on my favorite band 5
After a few minutes, the lady thinks to hand me a card 1
"Psalm of the Day," she says as she leaves. "Read it. Don't be an idiot." 4

Finally, he puts down his phone. 2
I motion to his shirt. It says, "3y3 5p34k 13372. What's it to you, idiot?" 4
|v|3 7[ ] oh3, I sign. K0074, he signs back, and points to his rubber wrist band 6
It says "13375p34k5. I smile and notice my Leet-speaking friend is wearing green Converses 5
I look at his eyes. Even men seem to wear eyeliner. 3
What bizarre but friendly people! I muse as I get off. I'll extend my green card. 1

I'm here. As the door opens, I note my sister's engagement band. 6
She hangs up her phone. 2
After I hug her, I hand her a birthday card.1
"See, you made it," she says. "You're not an idiot." 4
I survey her. "You need Converses." 5
She laughs. You've caught on." I look at her eyes. "And eyeliner." 3

Notes

1. A sestina is "a verse form first used by the ProvenÁal troubadours, consisting of six six-line stanzas and a three-line envoy. The end words of the first stanza are repeated in varied order as end words in the other stanzas and also recur in the envoy." (www.dictionary.com)
2. 3y3 5p34k 1337. This, translated from Leet to English, means, "I speak Leet." Leet is a form of Internet slang, in which spelling and grammar are often mixed up. Leet is believed to have originated in online gaming communities, and comes from the word "elite."
3. |v|3 7[ ] oh. This is also Leet. It means, "Me too."
4. K007. This is also Leet. It means "Cool."
5. Language written in Leet is often called "13375p34k," or "Leetspeak."