Kimberly Vargas Agnese

Ask me


When I was in Kindergarten, 

my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up

And i said,”Pretty.”

And the girl in the mirror shook her head.

When I was in sixth grade,

 my father asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up 

and I said, “Popular.”

And the girl in the mirror frowned.

When I was a mother, 

my daughter asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up 

and I said, “Perfect.”
And the girl in the mirror sighed.

One evening 

when my  looking glass bloomed full of silver haired wisdom 

I caught that girl looking at me as I walked by

so I asked her, “What is it you want to be when you grow up?”

and she answered, “Myself.”

and then she smiled at 

me

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Published by Kimberly Vargas Agnese

My name is Kimberly Vargas Agnese, though I've previously written as Kae Bucher. I was born in the Florida Keys, but grew up in the Bay Area before migrating south to the San Joaquin Valley. As I ride barefoot around Fresno, I consider the paths I've chosen and the crossroads where our country seems to have perched itself. Thanks to my Romani ancestry, many people groups reside within me and my poetry tends to reflect this. I love welcoming the sunrise with my Native American flute. I've been rumored to juggle while teaching students how to write. And if you can't find me, I'm probably hanging out with Jesus listening to parables.

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