A sample of When The Bee Stings
When the Bee Stings
Raquel Franco
Thought Catalog Books — thoughtcatalog.com — New York • Los Angeles
Copyright © 2021 Raquel Franco.
All rights reserved.
Published by Thought Catalog Books, an imprint of the digital magazine Thought Catalog, which is owned and operated by The Thought & Expression Company LLC, an independent media organization based in Brooklyn, New York and Los Angeles, California.
This book was produced by Chris Lavergne and Noelle Beams with art direction and design by KJ Parish. Special thanks to Bianca Sparacino for creative editorial direction and Isidoros Karamitopoulos for circulation management.
Visit us online at thoughtcatalog.com and shopcatalog.com.
Made in the United States of America.
ISBN 978-1-949759-32-7
Acknowledgement
Thank you to the poetry community for always lending a helping hand, whether it be editing or reading my drafts. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.
To girlfriends who hold your hair back, spill the tea, and make sure you don’t do anything stupid without them. We are stronger together. Help your sisters and give eachother grace.
To Thought Catalog for giving me the opportunity to present this collection to you in the most beautiful way. It has been a dream come true.
To my babies, Gabriel and Penelope, who saved me.
To God, for without Him I would be nothing.
To you, dear reader, you are not alone in this world. It is an honor to have you here with me. Thank you for your support.
The bee does
more
than sting.
She builds.
Wishing on Peter Pan Boys
I know your spine is carrying
cracked mason jar memories
of a boy who handed out promises
like penny wishes in the fountain
at the park,
told you to just have faith
and trust and a little bit of pixie dust
but wishing on Peter Pan boys
isn’t worth your neck
hung heavy,
isn’t worth the loss
of your crown,
so unfold your shoulders
and set all your ideas of Neverland
on fire.
Burn
These men,
they fear your tongue.
Want to slap a label
over your mouth
and call you mad.
They fear your bonfire.
Ready to use their own body
of water to watch you drown.
Resist.
Keep shouting, ferocious throat.
Keep swimming, shark bite.
Keep fueling, tinder ready.
Burn. Burn. Burn. Burn.
When I Wear Red Lipstick
I line my mouth in beeswax, oil
courage. Press my lips together,
lit up like The Big Apple
painted in red.
He tells me I look like an exit
sign, doesn’t like when I wear
lipstick but I never asked
for his opinion.
I am all prowess, Cupid’s bow,
poison-tipped, aiming for
his pearly white teeth.
When I wear red lipstick
the temperature of my bravery
rises. I am tea kettle boil,
confident like a man dressed
in a pinstripe suit. My mouth
reminding me of all the power
a woman can possess, a smooth
criminal.
It is a brave thing
to allow your heart to love
after someone has carved
out a piece and left
you jagged.