The Slam: Slammables

Prom

by Alone

I faked a smile and told you your dress looked perfect, your hair was lovely, and your makeup matched your dress like they were made by the same company. I told you you looked beautiful and that he wouldn't be able to keep his eyes off you.

And then I went home and cried, because everything I said was true.

Slammings

Good opening line -- the idea to say "faked a smile" set me up to believe that you'd be lying to the girl. But there's not enough backstory to this. Why were you crying?

critiqued by springzhu
May 26, 2010

I'm pretty sure he was crying because the girl was dressing to please someone else, maybe a boyfriend, and he loved her already. Anyway, I really liked the poem: a short burst of emotion that opened a small window into someone's private world. 

critiqued by sparrow_lvnv
May 31, 2010

Odd, I just automatically assumed that it was the girl's friend helping her get ready, and she feels sad because of her envy of her friend's good looks and the fact that she's not going to the prom (probably interested in the same person). 

critiqued by Aaron Lawrence, St. Louis, MO
Jul 14, 2010

I really like how short and simple it is, but it still manages to make me feel sympathy for the main character. It also illustrates how so often people lie to make others feel good and hurt themselves in the process. I got the message on the first read through. Thanks for sharing it.

critiqued by 101mutts
Jun 11, 2010

This is so sad and beautiful, especially the last sentence. It really rings true. You captured my own feelings exactly. I also like the way you surprised me at the end, because at first I thought he/she was lying. It's even better this way (although much sadder). Good job (and good luck, since this seems to be based on personal experience).

critiqued by fountain-pen, France
Sep 30, 2010

Oh, I really like this. No matter if it's another girl with the same love interest or a guy who loves this girl, you've captured the character really well. Personally, I interpret the speaker as a guy mainly because of the (very realistic) awkwardness of the sentence "your makeup matched your dress like they were made by the same company." It seems more like something a guy would say! Anyway, your poem is short, beautiful, and leaves just the right amount open to interpretation. Thank you!

critiqued by Blubelle, Canada
Aug 6, 2011