Hello PoetryVoting

Vote

Voting-Boards

Home

HomeFollowingInboxNotifications

Read

ReadLiftedFeedsHeartedHistoryMy poemsNew poem

Explore

ExploreOrbitsWordsTagsClassics
Log in
0
Stars
0
Embers
0
Alerts
0
Inbox

Vote

Voting-Boards

Home

HomeFollowingInboxNotifications

Read

ReadLiftedFeedsHeartedHistoryMy poemsNew poem

Explore

ExploreOrbitsWordsTagsClassics
Log in
0
Stars
0
Embers
0
Alerts
0
Inbox

Skin of My Teeth

Are you the person who reads what I write,

oh so immersed you recite it every night.

Let my words paint you a vivid dream,

which do you prefer a laugh or a scream?

Because I can make both

happen in tandem,

a scribe taken as an oath

instead of a reprimand and

 

I’ve been ready for so much more

I’ve been waiting for a very long time.

From my exterior to my core,

to not use it would be a crime.

At a point of do or die,

I just pray to remember how to breathe.

I’ll keep barely getting by,

right by the skin of my teeth.

 

Don’t you play coy I know that you’re obsessed,

like I’m your toy to pose and get dressed.

Sometimes I don’t mind because it’s flattering,

you’ve been so kind even though I’m maddening.

But you keep on reading

so I’ll keep on talking,

even though I’ve been bleeding

I’ve just always kept on walking.

 

Now I’ve been waiting on my destiny,

instead of seizing my own fate.

Maybe the universe is just testing me,

or maybe the inevitable is running late.

At this rate who even am I?

Not someone I’d love to meet.

I’ll keep barely getting by,

right by the skin of my teeth.

 

I’ve been ready for so much more

I’ve been waiting for a very long time.

A perfect image of what’s in store,

I just hope that the picture’s mine.

Do or do not; there is no try,

climb above not underneath.

But I’ll just keep barely getting by,

right by the skin of my teeth.

Request permission to use this poem
Written by
emmackenzie
36 / F / Ottawa
Published
Feb 26
Lines·Words
40·270
Notes

Anyone wanna pay for a rhyme,

I’ve got both the talent and the time.

Tags
#skin#of#my#teeth#frustration#lost#survival#waste#expectations#financial
Permission

Request to use this poem

Tell emmackenzie how you would like to use it. We review requests before forwarding them.

AboutBlogFAQPrivacyTermsContact
© 2009-2026 Hello Poetry/v27.0 by @eliotyork
Explore
Hello PoetryVoting
Write