By Gigi Krembs
a spelling mistake. reciting my ABCs with a bright green lunch box in my right hand and stuttering my lmnop’s. eating peanut butter jelly sandwiches with the crust cut off. a spelling mistake. learning how to play piano. tying my shoelaces the wrong way. kids laughing and pointing their dirty index fingers like lollipops towards my stumped face. my teacher asking me to stick behind to “talk”. another spelling mistake. taking the green minibus home and wondering if the towering mountains could just fall down! sitting down at my wooden table with my father who does not understand my math problem. yelling at me. not knowing my lefts from my rights. embarrassing. playing four square at recess and never winning. hiding in the bathroom eating my lunch and sinking into the grey dirty floor. isolating. growing up with tiger moms who live in the jungle and feast on their children’s shards of homework for breakfast. waking up. brushing my teeth. looking in the mirror. laughing and knowing that if I were in a dectionary I would be a speling mistake.
Author Bio
Gigi Krembs
Gigi Krembs is a junior studying English with a concentration in creative writing at the University of San Diego. Her poetry draws readers into richly textured worlds, weaving themes of memory, heritage, and sensory depth. In “Whispers of the Taj,” she explores intergenerational bonds and the delicate interplay of memory, while “Salt on Salt” delves into the complex, layered nature of human connection. Her work reflects a curiosity about identity and emotion, blending vivid imagery with introspective reflection. Gigi dedicates her work to exploring the artistry of language and the nuances of human experience, using her unique voice to bridge personal experience with universal emotions.