kelly-scanlon - Hello Poetry

The weight of all I’ve been carrying is crushing me stones I’ve put on my own chest mortared into place with the dross of lies and failures and regret pebbles in my shoes sand in my lungs Is my struggle my strength? When I put those stones down when I go barefoot and no longer wheeze will I be strong enough to face what comes next? Or will my no longer blockaded quarry heart wither in the light?

0

Sep 1, 2020

Sep 1, 2020 at 2:38 PM UTC

Worry stone

The weight of all I’ve been carrying is crushing me stones I’ve put on my own chest mortared into place with the dross of lies and failures and regret pebbles in my shoes sand in my lungs Is my struggle my strength? When I put those stones down when I go barefoot and no longer wheeze will I be strong enough to face what comes next? Or will my no longer blockaded quarry heart wither in the light?

11

When a white flag is covered in blood, it looks like a call to arms. Maybe no one in your life rallies for you, but do you rally for you? So bleed on that white flag; call yourself to arms.

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Aug 28, 2020

Aug 28, 2020 at 1:19 PM UTC

Forward, march!

When a white flag is covered in blood, it looks like a call to arms. Maybe no one in your life rallies for you, but do you rally for you? So bleed on that white flag; call yourself to arms.

6

I get sadder than my usual sad I get nervous-er than my usual nervous I tremble like… a sad nervous person When I’m anxious, the poetry abandons me Just like I want to abandon me My feet stick but my head floats U p & a w a y See, there she goes, that girl Her head always in the ****** clouds

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Aug 25, 2020

Aug 25, 2020 at 7:43 PM UTC

For want of a psychiatrist, a poet is lost

I get sadder than my usual sad I get nervous-er than my usual nervous I tremble like… a sad nervous person When I’m anxious, the poetry abandons me Just like I want to abandon me My feet stick but my head floats U p & a w a y See, there she goes, that girl Her head always in the ****** clouds

9

We are waiting for Godot. I am Godot, there is no Godot, We are all Godot, Godot is each of the players, Godot is the box of the stage, Is the audience, the usher, the curtain. Does Godot have a white beard? Does Godot own sheep and goats, have a hayloft? What are you going to ask Godot? Oh, if the boys are his sons or changelings? We are waiting for Godot.

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Aug 25, 2020

Aug 25, 2020 at 3:48 PM UTC

Godot was delayed at the dog race, busy being Smith's hare

We are waiting for Godot. I am Godot, there is no Godot, We are all Godot, Godot is each of the players, Godot is the box of the stage, Is the audience, the usher, the curtain. Does Godot have a white beard? Does Godot own sheep and goats, have a hayloft? What are you going to ask Godot? Oh, if the boys are his sons or changelings? We are waiting for Godot.

10

anger grief resignation hopelessness dread i choke on feelings stew clumsy i lift the ladle i shove another mouthful in here hungry monster choke faster

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Aug 25, 2020

Aug 25, 2020 at 1:16 PM UTC

feelings stew

anger grief resignation hopelessness dread i choke on feelings stew clumsy i lift the ladle i shove another mouthful in here hungry monster choke faster

5

I don't cover my laptop camera Let them see this fishbowl life At least someone could be seeing Are you in there? Are you entertained? Are you a ghost in the machine? Maybe you're FBI or NSA? Help, I've taken myself hostage I need a negotiator or a ****** Look just please look **** you look

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Aug 25, 2020

Aug 25, 2020 at 1:12 PM UTC

Exhibit K

I don't cover my laptop camera Let them see this fishbowl life At least someone could be seeing Are you in there? Are you entertained? Are you a ghost in the machine? Maybe you're FBI or NSA? Help, I've taken myself hostage I need a negotiator or a ****** Look just please look **** you look

9

They used to burn people like me alive, stone them, drown them, leave them for the bears. But you don't need to worry. I burned my flesh to ash long ago, buried those bones under a cairn with no marker, my lungs have been screaming since I was born and now the water is a relief; I am the bear, mauling itself. Would anyone like a bearskin rug? Here, I won't be needing this anymore. Take it. Take it. Please

0

Aug 25, 2020

Aug 25, 2020 at 12:06 PM UTC

When you realize you are the madman in the mirror

They used to burn people like me alive, stone them, drown them, leave them for the bears. But you don't need to worry. I burned my flesh to ash long ago, buried those bones under a cairn with no marker, my lungs have been screaming since I was born and now the water is a relief; I am the bear, mauling itself. Would anyone like a bearskin rug? Here, I won't be needing this anymore. Take it. Take it. Please

8

my entire life has been one long unread red suicide letter

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Aug 25, 2020

Aug 25, 2020 at 1:41 AM UTC

{;.?}

my entire life has been one long unread red suicide letter

3

If all the corks from all the bottles of wine I’ve drunk were to fall into my lap I’d promptly be buried and likely suffocate. If in their crates all the bottles of wine I’ve drunk were to appear clean and unbroken I could build a house. If corks and bottles and crates were not lost to me floor mat sea glass bricolage I could scrape the sky.

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Jan 1, 2020

Jan 1, 2020 at 2:53 AM UTC

The Cork House

If all the corks from all the bottles of wine I’ve drunk were to fall into my lap I’d promptly be buried and likely suffocate. If in their crates all the bottles of wine I’ve drunk were to appear clean and unbroken I could build a house. If corks and bottles and crates were not lost to me floor mat sea glass bricolage I could scrape the sky.

9

If we could compress What we carry, page by page For origami Flaw, fear, hope, anger Strung up as ten thousand crane Kami no kami Blood deckle edges Papercut decoration Fidget, crease, balance Void telling highlight Strong, vulnerable, reveal Awe when you step back See these cranes in flight Spread across the vast expanse The skies of yourselves

0

Jan 1, 2020

Jan 1, 2020 at 2:26 AM UTC

Siege of Cranes

If we could compress What we carry, page by page For origami Flaw, fear, hope, anger Strung up as ten thousand crane Kami no kami Blood deckle edges Papercut decoration Fidget, crease, balance Void telling highlight Strong, vulnerable, reveal Awe when you step back See these cranes in flight Spread across the vast expanse The skies of yourselves

15