#sleeve
thanks J. G. for the inspiration:>
<n><m><l>
you send me!
this very odd phrase:
and it is
the burr, the irritant,
the pea beneath the mattress,
the ***** tissue that doesn’t clang,
yet is clingy
so you return to the crime scene,
re & re~read the particulate that stings
and strings you along,
and the catch phrase that has you caught,
gently kids, smiling teasingly,
you’re hooked,
line and sinker
Why,
you might even make a note
for that poetry bone is
stingling!
twinkling,
and you do not trust your memory anymore
perhaps,
like me,
you feel the invisible tug of the sleeve,
and you reach for the writing receptacle,
while the needle’s pricking is morning fresh,
the injection site not yet reddened,
the infection spreads to your fingertips,
and you stain the clean white tablecloth
with black letter,
till you are purged,
purposed,
and that tugging sensation
is no longer
Sun Feb 1, 2026
9:47pm
Feb 1
Feb 1, 2026 at 9:23 PM UTC
it feels foreign to be so transparent
ancient walls built up to protect my sleeve
which is home to my heart and my peace
the walls comfort me, I can still hear the canaries
they sing in lullabies that heal my child inside
I slowly unravel my life's work to see the canary fly
the yellow hue makes me think of the sun
I smile looking at how grown I have become
I smile knowing that I am worthy of love
I smile just because
Jan 23, 2022
Jan 23, 2022 at 12:14 PM UTC
I think I am scared to love.
I’m not used to being the vulnerable one;
The one that stays;
the one that is brave.
I do not know how to love.
I don’t know how to let my walls down
To let my fears out
To put my heart on my sleeve.
I want to love.
God, I want to love,
but my hair smells of war
and running and running.
Aug 21, 2020
Aug 21, 2020 at 8:45 PM UTC
Dear fellow poets,
Try to vocalize
what you immortalize on paper.
Sincerely,
your courage.
Nov 11, 2019
Nov 11, 2019 at 9:40 AM UTC
It’s to fall,
With your heart on your sleeve
It’s to fly,
Your hair ruffled by the breeze
It’s to call,
And have faith and believe
It’s to trust,
That they will let you breathe.
It’s to choke,
As the tears stream down your cheeks
It’s to tear,
As your heart is slowly squeezed
It’s to leave,
Although you’re ripping at the seams
It’s to die,
Although your lungs still seem to breathe.
It’s to cry,
Even though you assure that you’re fine
It’s to jump,
Even if you’re still healing
It’s to smile,
While you’re trying to forget
It’s to fall,
With your heart on your sleeve.
Oct 7, 2019
Oct 7, 2019 at 8:04 PM UTC
I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve, so it’s ok if you tug on it...
Aug 21, 2019
Aug 21, 2019 at 9:49 PM UTC
i put my heart on my sleeve
then you came along
and set my sleeve on fire
Aug 12, 2019
Aug 12, 2019 at 3:02 AM UTC
After I put on my street cloths,
I put on a silken veil of love.
It blows out in wind of my breath.
Touching all who walk.
Brushing upon Mother Earths mountains.
and sea of sky
I wear it proudly
The mesh invisible
penetrates into my heart
where I wear love on
sleeve and inside hugs.
May 4, 2019
May 4, 2019 at 10:28 AM UTC
Fingertips frozen,
Arms up my sleeve.
But I have to write this idea down.
My hands are already filled with ink.
Everything has to be gold these days.
Golden chain, Golden eyes, Golden soul, Golden ring.
Still want to be the one to speak her name as mine though.
It's cold outside,
But I'm colder.
You poor thing.
Apr 1, 2019
Apr 1, 2019 at 1:15 AM UTC
You stretched your arm forward
and held out your hand
I tore out my heart
gave it over and waited
for you to tear it apart
._ ._ ._
But you took it
and placed it on your sleeve
although I hoped that maybe
you could hide it in a safe
and take care of it for me
._ ._ ._
And so there it stays
my exposed, beating heart
you wear it on your sleeve
vulnerable ._ ._ ._
and you take it with you whenever you leave.
Dec 21, 2018
Dec 21, 2018 at 3:33 PM UTC
all feeling in my body gone
numb
the tears follow
my hand instinctively reaches for the blade
i pull down my sleeve
reminders of yesterday remain
no vacancies
i try again
i lift myself out of my clothes
my battered body reflected in the mirror
joy
my thighs still hold the colour of my skin
and not the rapidly familiar crimson dye
the blade makes its way down
the cold metal devours its target
1, 2, 3
66, 67, 68
83, 84, 85
and on it goes
all done
Nov 2, 2018
Nov 2, 2018 at 4:31 PM UTC
the fire left sparks on my sleeve
You stood ten feet across from me
on the other side of the flames
they reflected in your eyes
the ocean blue turned arsony
and I could see all our memories
burning
Nov 3, 2018
Nov 3, 2018 at 3:43 PM UTC
My heart’s on my sleeve.
Unfortunately for me,
I forgot my coat.
Jul 30, 2018
Jul 30, 2018 at 12:27 AM UTC
Staring through a frosted window
At a girl that is paper thin
Heart on her sleeve, chained to a pen
Crimson blood poured onto paper
Forming words out of alphabet soup
She cannot decide, she cannot choose
The words form themselves
Whether she’s happy with them or not
Mar 21, 2018
Mar 21, 2018 at 2:04 PM UTC
There was this thing
that I still can't forget about you
Two conflicting scents
But both are intoxicating
in their own way
the scent of cheap fabric softener that I fairly used
and
filtered cigarette smell sticking on your jacket sleeves
Maybe if I miss you that much,
I could try to recreate
that smell on my sleeves too
Mar 14, 2018
Mar 14, 2018 at 2:24 PM UTC
I'm scared of commitment,
I fear the feeling of resentment,
I'm scared of the tone in your sentence,
I'm scared of falling too deep,
And your heart cutting me until I bleed,
I'm scared of you covering the heart on my sleeve,
Using my seed as a weapon against me,
I'm scared of believing that my insecurities,
Are the reason for you leaving me,
I'm scared of my love not being enough,
Until you no longer see you and me as us,
And that feeling is tough,
I'm scared of not being able to feel your touch,
While you leave with more to gain,
That's pain I can't explain,
That's too much for the brain,
I fear experiencing the same,
I’ve led others along,
Wrote them fairy tale love songs,
Told them that together we would be strong,
I apologise I know I was wrong.
Jan 14, 2018
Jan 14, 2018 at 2:51 PM UTC
sew
sewn
sewing
stiches
stitched
to my sleeves
tears soaking
simplicity
magnify
times
me
in
i
find myself
me'ing me
perfectly
time hurdles another fence
passport in hand bus stop timed
frequently flown boot soles
composite toed mistletoe
kiss me rosey cheeks
love me dearly
love me
most
love
me
ghosts
learning to sew
?
...
..
.
Jan 5, 2018
Jan 5, 2018 at 11:22 AM UTC
Staring through a frosted window
A girl that is paper thin
Heart on her sleeve, bound to a pen
Crimson blood poured onto paper,
Her words bound to give in
Nov 4, 2017
Nov 4, 2017 at 10:43 PM UTC
The years of being constantly knocked down are forever gone.
No more heart on her sleeve and clenched fists.
The suffocated voice inside her has grown strong.
She speaks louder than ever, and no one dares to go against her.
The fear in her eyes is replaced by vengance.
A fierce, unpredictable rebel is born.
Heading for war.
She's now ready for anything and anyone.
The most beautiful, savage beast anyone has ever laid eyes on.
With fire in her eyes, purple lipstick and Dr. Martens she is now waiting.
To watch her enemies crumble beneath her feet.
And she breaks into that lethal smile of hers that only she possesses.
Jun 28, 2017
Jun 28, 2017 at 4:16 AM UTC
be careful with who you put your heart on your sleeve for;
they might accidentally crush it when reaching for your hand.
l . c
Dec 18, 2016
Dec 18, 2016 at 7:18 AM UTC
Deleted,
Deleted what I feel,
I know what I should do,
But what fate will that seal?
4/24/16
Apr 24, 2016
Apr 24, 2016 at 9:13 PM UTC
Depression…
Where every shirt sleeve becomes a tissue
Feb 22, 2016
Feb 22, 2016 at 10:41 AM UTC
So I have this confliction, deep in my mind
And the memories of us are all intertwined
The words you say, everything feels so divine
It's like an illusion, but I know the stars aren't aligned
Yet I can't help but notice, my heart is racing
I can't help but notice, how I wish I was looking into your eyes
I can't help but notice, this immense feeling you surround me with
But I also can't seem to forget.
I can't forget the promises
I can't forget the laughs
I can't forget the way you held me
I can't forget the way I got lost at the touch of your lips
I can't forget the way you made me smile like no one else
I can't forget how your voice calmed me down unlike any other
I can't forget the late nights
I can't forget the good times, but I also can't forget the bad
I can't forget the times where tears would run down my face at thought of being alone again
I can't forget the times I didn't feel I was good enough for you
I can't forget the times I thought there was someone else
I can't forget the times I worried about you when you were off getting faded
But maybe I choose to remember.
You were there, though
In a dream
In front of me
It seemed like a mirage almost every time
You grasped my hand and I felt whole
You pulled me by the waist and I was lost in your embrace
You kissed me and it felt like it was only us two
You touched my soul, and my heart soared too
And I know you aren't the best for me
But lately I don't care
because I've always been attracted to danger, as I'm sure you are aware
But if there comes a day when I burden you at most,
Please don't spare the truth, you know I hate that so
And if you should feel the need to walk away, do so gently as I am fragile and afraid.
I know I'm not that much, but I promise I'm worth it, you told me life is all about taking risks, right?
Here's a risk, and I'm taking it.
I put my heart on the line,
You only tugged at the sleeves,
Life is an ever repeating cycle and
Love is a game we all play
Hoping we can be together forever someday
But forever and always is just a joke anyways.
Jan 22, 2016
Jan 22, 2016 at 11:45 PM UTC