“The Chambers of My Heart” by Peighton Pearson
February 5, 2026
sometimes / my heart looks like Barbados / smell of fresh-squeezed pineapples /
takes my nose by surprise / equal parts cool and warm / the bald middle-aged man /
his skin / the outside of a coconut shell / balding / hairless /
jagged smile / white teeth / hint of the sweet white flesh inside /
the sustenance this brings / he looks at me with enthusiasm /
some might say / i do the same / a song is playing /
want to tell you / it was flute and drums / what you want to hear /
what you expect / much cornier than that / doesn’t matter /
we dance / we step / equal parts cool and warm / even at night
takes me by surprise / look inside / you will see Barbados /
sometimes / sometimes
This poem was written by Peighton Pearson as a 10th grader at Garfield High School, with WITS writer-in-residence Vincent Rendoni. Performed at the Seattle Arts & Lectures Poetry Series event with aja monet at Town Hall on February 5, 2026.