2 Poems by Erin Jin Mei O’Malley

Street Rules

1. when you walk in
   what you’ve been told
   is the good part of the city
   with another girl, don’t wonder
   if there’s any difference
   in danger.
2. the animal calls will still follow you
   into the alleyways
   of daylight and unalone.
3. thank god
   for the change of sneakers in your purse.
4. over my shoulder blade, I watch a man
   watching me, and my body sharpens.
5. don’t waste time trying
   to determine dog from wolf
   whistle.
6. thank god
   sidewalks don’t have speed limits.

things i’ve been mistaken for & where

1. employee, p.f. chang’s
2. japanese, birthday party
3. korean, movie theater
4. bilingual, chang chow grocery
5. the wrong kind of monolingual, walmart
6. foreign exchange student, football game
7. valedictorian, homecoming dance gym
8. refugee, homecoming dance parking lot
9. diligent, unfunny, inoffensive, insert synonym, bus stop
10. lotus flower, dragon fruit, insert exotic metaphor, bus ride
11. not an o’malley, homeroom (substitute teacher)
12. someone’s bio tutor, play practice
13. someone’s friend, model u.n. conference
14. someone’s daughter, graduation
15. someone else’s, country

i call my own,

Erin Jin Mei O’Malley is currently studying in Germany as a Speedwell Scholar. She has previously served as a Genre Editor for Polyphony H.S. and is the Co-Founder of Sooth Swarm Journal. Erin has attended workshops run by the University of Virginia and the Kenyon Review. Her work been recognized by Hollins University, Columbia College Chicago, the National YoungArts Foundation, the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and others. She occasionally blogs at www.explorationsoferin.com.