tseyun - Hello Poetry

youth will drain out of this skin in waves, and you come to me in light light *light light*, smash our teeth on collarbones grooves where knuckle grows into jaw, sacrifice love on the cornerstones when you sing of safety and a land I have never reached. when father calls me daughter and I bleed split lip syrup thick, two glazed eyes of the celestial city passing by push us in as we pull ourselves out here, here in between these fingers in the palm that lies gapes *gasps gasping* for air all for a promise, the prayers on the tip of my tongue amen, *amen, amen.* (a.h.z)

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Jun 2, 2016

Jun 2, 2016 at 8:49 PM UTC

saviour

youth will drain out of this skin in waves, and you come to me in light light *light light*, smash our teeth on collarbones grooves where knuckle grows into jaw, sacrifice love on the cornerstones when you sing of safety and a land I have never reached. when father calls me daughter and I bleed split lip syrup thick, two glazed eyes of the celestial city passing by push us in as we pull ourselves out here, here in between these fingers in the palm that lies gapes *gasps gasping* for air all for a promise, the prayers on the tip of my tongue amen, *amen, amen.* (a.h.z)

24

I have long forgotten how to play and still we dance, dance, dance amidst your winning hand, this lucky streak euphoria, she has left for the eons all eludes me, my memory of the last time I had a taste of any life we’re in castles apart, far and wide here there are lovers I have yet to hold but all of them look like you, and the silhouettes they tell me there’s only ghosts in my speech, defeat on my tongue; lost before the knights can ever come the bishops, they bless the one who bleeds light but I am only the moon to you, here by the skin of my teeth in every absence that you present no more than a pawn in the game when you crown yourself king. (a.h.z)

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Jun 1, 2016

Jun 1, 2016 at 1:59 PM UTC

checkmate

I have long forgotten how to play and still we dance, dance, dance amidst your winning hand, this lucky streak euphoria, she has left for the eons all eludes me, my memory of the last time I had a taste of any life we’re in castles apart, far and wide here there are lovers I have yet to hold but all of them look like you, and the silhouettes they tell me there’s only ghosts in my speech, defeat on my tongue; lost before the knights can ever come the bishops, they bless the one who bleeds light but I am only the moon to you, here by the skin of my teeth in every absence that you present no more than a pawn in the game when you crown yourself king. (a.h.z)

21

when you have watched me all my life and never warned of ashes in the west, our prodigal son that returns again my unrepentant lover lies in sallow skin silhouettes only dance at night the sun never sets in the east, but china she screams from the earth when you leave me wondering if warmth burns like ice or fire with both hands smiling, you drive it all a stake through my heart father, my samson home is four walls of the lion’s den mother, my delilah home is four walls of the lion’s den all I know is sacrifice. (a.h.z)

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May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016 at 2:59 PM UTC

wiles

when you have watched me all my life and never warned of ashes in the west, our prodigal son that returns again my unrepentant lover lies in sallow skin silhouettes only dance at night the sun never sets in the east, but china she screams from the earth when you leave me wondering if warmth burns like ice or fire with both hands smiling, you drive it all a stake through my heart father, my samson home is four walls of the lion’s den mother, my delilah home is four walls of the lion’s den all I know is sacrifice. (a.h.z)

16

I carved you out of marble and stone but I think it is midas in your blood and the back of my hands are bruised from all the years I’ve tried to let go you still own me without even trying my tongue is tied in cherry knots when they told me to soften the centre to make it easier to swallow, but then they did not know you the sea is black with all the blood I’ve spilt and distance only amplifies the pain, when where I am only requires liquid luck to get to where you are; the spirits, they kiss my eyelids and paint our past gold the same years that destroyed me glorify you. you. you. you. the mantra in my head, the miracle that rose again you measure each pulse in my blood as I repent of the one I have loved so much more than all of those who came before, yet you know I never drink with the intention of leaving, only of love – only for you. (a.h.z)

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May 31, 2016

May 31, 2016 at 2:56 PM UTC

eidolon

I carved you out of marble and stone but I think it is midas in your blood and the back of my hands are bruised from all the years I’ve tried to let go you still own me without even trying my tongue is tied in cherry knots when they told me to soften the centre to make it easier to swallow, but then they did not know you the sea is black with all the blood I’ve spilt and distance only amplifies the pain, when where I am only requires liquid luck to get to where you are; the spirits, they kiss my eyelids and paint our past gold the same years that destroyed me glorify you. you. you. you. the mantra in my head, the miracle that rose again you measure each pulse in my blood as I repent of the one I have loved so much more than all of those who came before, yet you know I never drink with the intention of leaving, only of love – only for you. (a.h.z)

25

I. you took all the words I could never pronounce and slipped them to me under the roof of my mouth. yet with time even stone erodes under water, and earth gives way to its core. a cave, a house; the idea of ‘us’ dwindled down to nothing but thin smoke, fumes rising from burning fire wood. as the flowers bloomed in spring, only your shadow took the place besides mine. II. un deux trois, the numbers slip off my tongue in unfamiliar curves, a lilting curl in an accent too foreign for mine. perhaps we have always been strangers, born from the gap in adam’s ribs and the silhouette of eve’s body. dust to dust they wash and repeat; mantras ticking like metronomes atop grandfather’s piano. the melody still plays even though he is gone, paradise calling him far, far away. III. she barely reaches my chest, small hands tugging at the edge of my shirt. her eyes are focused, brows furrowed in concentration. ghosts remain forever familiar; we have shared the same face, known the same pain. as my gaze glosses over the crumpled sheets and red pens strewn across the floor, she trembles against me. i reply the only way i know how, dropping to my knees and embracing her. as she begins to fade away, the truth rings in our ears, loud and clear – we both turn out okay, i promise, i promise. (a.h.z)

0

May 28, 2016

May 28, 2016 at 7:56 PM UTC

all but farewell

I. you took all the words I could never pronounce and slipped them to me under the roof of my mouth. yet with time even stone erodes under water, and earth gives way to its core. a cave, a house; the idea of ‘us’ dwindled down to nothing but thin smoke, fumes rising from burning fire wood. as the flowers bloomed in spring, only your shadow took the place besides mine. II. un deux trois, the numbers slip off my tongue in unfamiliar curves, a lilting curl in an accent too foreign for mine. perhaps we have always been strangers, born from the gap in adam’s ribs and the silhouette of eve’s body. dust to dust they wash and repeat; mantras ticking like metronomes atop grandfather’s piano. the melody still plays even though he is gone, paradise calling him far, far away. III. she barely reaches my chest, small hands tugging at the edge of my shirt. her eyes are focused, brows furrowed in concentration. ghosts remain forever familiar; we have shared the same face, known the same pain. as my gaze glosses over the crumpled sheets and red pens strewn across the floor, she trembles against me. i reply the only way i know how, dropping to my knees and embracing her. as she begins to fade away, the truth rings in our ears, loud and clear – we both turn out okay, i promise, i promise. (a.h.z)

4

if our paths met again a string of red will take its place, crimson and bleeding god once spoke and then there was us tell me everything over these star bright scars how in one hand these constellations spark light, and in the other the orbits glow forever water recedes in these lungs, the sea she knows watch our moon wane here I will be the shore give my all when the tide takes (a.h.z)

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May 28, 2016

May 28, 2016 at 7:55 PM UTC

of fate

if our paths met again a string of red will take its place, crimson and bleeding god once spoke and then there was us tell me everything over these star bright scars how in one hand these constellations spark light, and in the other the orbits glow forever water recedes in these lungs, the sea she knows watch our moon wane here I will be the shore give my all when the tide takes (a.h.z)

18

words are not enough I can tell you the imprint of our scars are intertwined, locked and I have fallen for so many so fast at once they spill out, ricochet off the edge as my vision blurs waterfalls rushing through corners of my eyes one day I will tell you all the words I cannot say tear open this cage and let this beating heart bleed remember in its place my soul now sings a song that goes on and on forever – love. (a.h.z)

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May 28, 2016

May 28, 2016 at 7:51 PM UTC

chorus

words are not enough I can tell you the imprint of our scars are intertwined, locked and I have fallen for so many so fast at once they spill out, ricochet off the edge as my vision blurs waterfalls rushing through corners of my eyes one day I will tell you all the words I cannot say tear open this cage and let this beating heart bleed remember in its place my soul now sings a song that goes on and on forever – love. (a.h.z)

20

here my smile unravels at the seams curving against the spines of my ribs and oh i, wish i could mean more but concrete only bends beneath my bones watch what dances across these glassy eyes the skin on my face melt, melts, melting chaos dark matter toxic waste cursed, those batteries father threw out when i was five the same year we moved away when oceans tore home into two, and split the land apart almost as cleanly as you do, did, are doing to me (A.H.Z)

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Feb 1, 2016

Feb 1, 2016 at 10:47 PM UTC

bare

here my smile unravels at the seams curving against the spines of my ribs and oh i, wish i could mean more but concrete only bends beneath my bones watch what dances across these glassy eyes the skin on my face melt, melts, melting chaos dark matter toxic waste cursed, those batteries father threw out when i was five the same year we moved away when oceans tore home into two, and split the land apart almost as cleanly as you do, did, are doing to me (A.H.Z)

13

mama, he's a wonder though see him seek my touch from ice to flames, heaven to hell and back again mama, what do i do his gaze ignites, firelight in the depths of my heart buried within ash from all those years ago mama, you never warned me these shadows return in guises; legends say there were ten suns till they shot down nine but isn't it funny how i'm left with none? (A.H.Z)

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Jan 31, 2016

Jan 31, 2016 at 9:35 PM UTC

fool's gold

mama, he's a wonder though see him seek my touch from ice to flames, heaven to hell and back again mama, what do i do his gaze ignites, firelight in the depths of my heart buried within ash from all those years ago mama, you never warned me these shadows return in guises; legends say there were ten suns till they shot down nine but isn't it funny how i'm left with none? (A.H.Z)

17

these crisscrossing streets were once ours, our screaming neon, the dazzling infinite lights but time she weaved herself between the clench of my fist in the shape of his absence, that grows, grows blood only multiplies while we splutter, incoherent with the clarity - your heart, it does not beat for me anymore. (A.H.Z)

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Jan 25, 2016

Jan 25, 2016 at 9:31 PM UTC

what more do you want?

these crisscrossing streets were once ours, our screaming neon, the dazzling infinite lights but time she weaved herself between the clench of my fist in the shape of his absence, that grows, grows blood only multiplies while we splutter, incoherent with the clarity - your heart, it does not beat for me anymore. (A.H.Z)

18