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Emily Ward Jun 2014
Anorexia is not collar bones.
It is the smell rotting of flesh as you dismantle your body bit by bit.
Anorexia is not a thigh gap, it is your knees so weak they shake as you fall to the ground.

Anorexia is not self control. It is the feeling of utter hopelessness as your life tornados into a blizzard of nothingness.

Anorexia is not fashionable. It is your mother’s sobbing eyes as she sees her child dying
Anorexia is not 80 pounds. It is the weight of a thousand pulsing suns on your shoulders.
A thick black cloud in your mind, and rules spelled out like chains pulling you towards the ground.
No matter what measure of gravity that you have in this earth, it still hurts, it’s still real.
So to you 'pro anas' who so blindly say 'hunger hurts, but starving works' think before you act.
Suffering is an addiction, please do not harm yourself with this affliction.
- *Emily Ward
I wrote this when i was in a unit recovering from anorexia. The main reason for it was to highlight to people who are pro anorexia, the real and disabling effects of this illness. To highlight that it is not a fashion statement or a 'fad' diet.
Barnabas Smith Aug 2012
the ducks were
holding a funeral
out on the marsh
under the sun
silently they stood
while their shadows
moved around them
into darkness
Chained, on the walls of jericho
Horrified, on the roads of monaco
Rested his will in the promise land
Inviting us to repent and take his hand
Startled, by the king of greece
Throttled, by the eastern breeze
Oblivious, like the men of egypt
Precise, like a code encrypt
Herald of so many man,
Endless, like kingdom come.
Righteous and glorious  like everyone.

All of humanity embraces him
None was taken, but save us from sin
Thorns were on his crown, and rags were his robe
Onto crucifixion he walked that rough and winding road
Neglected by Judas and Peter the pope
In his honor, came the christian hope
Only the highest now, can vow upon him and sleep on his coat

Alelujah, amen and forever we pray to thee
Not just for our sins, but of what have become we
Alelujah, amen and forever we pray to thee
So now and forever he will defend for humanity....
A B Perales Jul 2013
I kept my
blood shot eyes
securely hidden behind
my day killing shades
as I took long careful steps
over the flatend headstones.

I looked to the shadowed
areas of the hillside
graveyard,
soon found refuge beneath
a sorrow slumped eucalyptus.
I pulled the pint from
my pocket and took a pull,
then planted myself
down along side the dead.

The whirling Santa Anas brought
forth the aroma of the
marigolds,and dandelions that
had been left for the departed.

I concentrated on the pint,
I thought hard about my
decision to stop
chasing the dream and devote
it all to chasing the Dragon.

It hurt at first when I awoke
to the fact that my dreams
were not my own.
And this life and all it includes
was as false as the Gods we pray to.

I was surrounded by the dead
but the dead paid me no mind.
The dead were too busy being dead
to do anything else but lay there
within the earth in silence.

A memory invaded my thoughts
like a raiding army hungry for
wine and flesh.
The times before all of this,
the times when I felt the need
to be seen with the crowds.
The times when I followed
the flow of the fools and applauded
with them all,
bought gifts with them all
and celebrated a false celebration,
all in time and step  
with the fools.

That memory of me
when I was less then I am now,
following the fools ,
just as blind as they remain on this
very day.
As part of the crowd
I made no impact on it all.
I stood not
apart but Within.
Engulfed and smothered with lies.
I became too much like the
other guy and his best friend.
The smiling head on the television,
and the digitized voice on the radio.
I thought not on my own but
as one with the machine.

All of that person is gone now,
dead and hopefully buried
just as these fading bones
who now surrounded me.
These silenced spirits who
are the only crowd I wish to join.

Its a lonely travel that I've turned
to,it didn't take much to walk away
from it all once I awoke to this.
I left my shadow behind,
and threw their goals away
as I took on the
task of casting flames
upon the serpent.

I never knew how wrong I was
until that veil of television and
radio,material wealth and
religion was pulled sternly from
my mind.
I found my comfort
among the dead whose silent
cheers applaud me.

They know now as they lay
deep and dead
that all of it was a lie.
Their lives were never lived,
their decisions not their own.

I went at the bottle
and played host to death.
And I wondered
were they the winners,
the lucky ones who had found
a way out of this place
where death looms over head
and the struggle to go
on living is a war fought everyday.
This place where good men are
falsely accused and artist are brushed aside,
where sports are king and the lies
are told as truths.

I find my days are clearer
living on this side of the coin,
but easier they'll never be.

I have awoke to this.
To this and all of the lies
that have come from this.

Once you have awoke to this
theres  no going back to sleep.
The Good Pussy Jan 2015
.
                              Auto
                        plus­hophilia
                      Actirasty  Agal
                  ­   matophilia Anas
                       teemaphilia A
                       utogynophilia
                       Climacophilia
                       Formicophilia
                       Knismolagnia
                       L ith o phil  ia
                       Melissaphilia
                       Nas o l i ng us
                       Neb u lophilia
                       Psellismophili
                       a Pteronophili
                       a   Pygophilia
        Savant o                      p h i l ia
    *** ill ag nia               Transfestic Fetish
  ism *******                Vorurephilia
       Xylophilia                    Xylophilia
46 Fetishes you didn't know existed.
huffpost.com

*Xylophilia : arousal to wood
Manda Raye Nov 2018
Something about the comfort of autumn—
in California our leaves go straight from green
to gone, if they choose to change at all.
The sun stays bright but the air starts to bite,
and the Santa Anas blow through to dry up
our last drops of livelihood. Most seem to like it—
the streets littered with death and ready to restart—
but the rough winds always hollow me out,
echo a haunting song off the tunnelled walls
of my bones. It’s about this time I empty out,
and fill instead with cotton mouth. My lips chap
and crack, but I smile silently, and I wait.
Iraira Cedillo Mar 2014
61–80 of 11462 Poems
«2345»Viewsshow detailshide detailsSort by  
66
BY SUZANNE GARDINIER
I'm used to the emperor's bitterness
I can't find the sweet place unless you make me
. . .
Manuela
BY JUAN DELGADO
She wakes to the odor of sheep,
trying to rub it off her hands.
Dressed up in her native colors, . . .
El Tigre Market
BY JUAN DELGADO
As apparent as the rest, the asphalt cracks
are crowded with yellow weeds, the rust goes
beyond its bleeding color, and the lot's rails, . . .
Peculiar Properties
BY JUAN DELGADO
On my cutting board, I discovered them,
the tiniest of ants, roaming dots of lead.
At first, they were too few to classify, hiding . . .
A Point West of Mount San Bernardino
BY JUAN DELGADO
I.

            By the road she hovers in heat waves, . . .
The Evidence is Everywhere
BY JUAN DELGADO
I.

The Santa Anas, childlike and profound, . . .
45
BY SUZANNE GARDINIER
Wasn't that your cheek against mine last night
Gin Streetlight When somebody loves you Impossible
. . .
Fame is the one that does not stay — (1507)
BY EMILY DICKINSON
Fame is the one that does not stay —
It's occupant must die
Or out of sight of estimate . . .
Now I knew I lost her — (1274)
BY EMILY DICKINSON
Now I knew I lost her —
Not that she was gone —
But Remoteness travelled . . .
Tell all the truth but tell it slant — (1263)
BY EMILY DICKINSON
Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight . . .
Crumbling is not an instant's Act (1010)
BY EMILY DICKINSON
Crumbling is not an instant's Act
A fundamental pause
Dilapidation's processes . . .
The Poets light but Lamps — (930)
BY EMILY DICKINSON
The Poets light but Lamps —
Themselves — go out —
The Wicks they stimulate . . .
I would not paint — a picture — (348)
BY EMILY DICKINSON
I would not paint — a picture —
I'd rather be the One
It's bright impossibility . . .
This World is not Conclusion
BY EMILY DICKINSON
This World is not Conclusion.
A Species stands beyond—
Invisible, as Music— . . .
Aubade with Burning City
BY OCEAN VUONG

            Milkflower petals on the street
                                                     like pieces of a girl’s dress. . . .
Listen
Recall the Carousel
BY LAURA KASISCHKE
Recall the carousel. Its round and round.
Its pink lights blinking off and on.
The children’s faces painted garish colors against . . .
Akechi’s Wife
BY FRANZ WRIGHT
On one occasion Yūgen of Ise Province was offering to share, for a night or two, the comforts of his home with me when a distant, 
bemused expression came over his face as though at the recollection of a joke told him earlier that day; then, to a degree I would not have thought possible . . .
Been About
BY NANCE VAN WINCKEL
The rat traps emptied, the grain troughs filled.
The distance between sheep shed
and my own ice-melt dripping on the mat . . .
Listen
Boardinghouse with No Visible Address
BY FRANZ WRIGHT
So, I thought,
as the door was unlocked
and the landlord disappeared (no, . . .
DetoNation
BY OCEAN VUONG
There’s a joke that ends with — huh?
It’s the bomb saying here is your father.
. . .
Listen
«2345»
MdAsadullah Nov 2014
In seclusion when I sit;
And close both my eyes.
I travel way back in time.
Flying time vision defies.

Childhood friends appear.
Faces clear and bright.
I think of Raj, Arsh and Anas;
And they're in my sight.

A day I saw a drug-addict.
My friend Arsh he was.
Distorted image of puerility.
Sunken eyes, ugly Jaws.

Now when I close my eyes.
I see all but Arsh I see no more.
When I think of Little Arsh.
A drug-addict comes before.
Setiap hari kubuka Tiktok.
Selalu kulihat banyak video.
Terus diposting orang orang Gaza.
Bercampur antara duka lara dan suka cita.

Anas sang jurnalis di Jabalia.
Menyiarkan berita bombardir pesawat jet.
Menghancurkan rumah dan sekolah.
Mayat anak anak tergeletak dimana mana.

Hamada sang juru masak di Khan Yunis.
Bersemangat memasak shawarma ayam.
Lalu dia membagikan untuk anak anak.
Mereka tertawa gembira bisa makan enak.

Motasem sang jurnalis di Beit Lahia.
Mendatangi beberapa tenda pengungsi.
Anak anak di dalam tenda tenda itu.
Semuanya kurus kering kelaparan.

Mona sang relawan di Al Mawasi.
Sibuk membagikan bahan bahan kebutuhan.
Beras , tepung , minyak , gula , mie.
Para pengungsi senang menerimanya.

Bisan sang jurnalis di Al Maghazi.
Bertemu banyak rombongan pengungsi.
Mereka kelelahan berjalan jauh.
Sandal dan sepatu mereka sobek semua.

Tito sang badut di Gaza Utara.
Selalu enerjik menghibur anak anak.
Bermain , bernyanyi , berjoget.
Tertawa gembira bersama sama.

Dr Mohammed di rumah sakit Kamal Adwan.
Merasa kelelahan dan ketakutan.
Sendirian mengurusi orang orang terluka.
Sementara rekan rekannya ditangkap semua.

Said sang relawan di Al Nuseirat.
Tanpa lelah memasang tenda tenda.
Memasak makanan dan membagikan barang.
Untuk pengungsi yang terlantar.

Saleh sang jurnalis di Khan Yunis.
Menemukan anak lelaki saat tengah malam.
Menangis sendirian di kuburan ibunya.
Tidak mau kembali ke tenda hingga pagi tiba.

Dahlan sang relawan di Deir El Balah.
Mengadakan acara nonton kartun bersama.
Anak anak berkumpul dan merasa gembira.
Nonton kartun sambil makan popcorn.

Ahmed sang jurnalis di Al Nuseirat.
Merasa kasihan melihat anak anak di dalam tenda.
Mereka kepanasan saat siang terik.
Dan kebanjiran saat hujan deras.

Samaa sang gadis pemain biola di Tel El Hawa.
Duduk di bawah pohon sambil memainkan biola.
Anak anak yang melihatnya tampak tenang.
Terlarut melupakan semua penderitaan.

Youmna sang jurnalis di Shujaiya.
Bertemu anak anak yang terlantar.
Mereka memungut makanan dari sampah.
Dan meminum air dari comberan.

Alaa sang tukang cukur di Al Nuseirat.
Mencukur rambut orang orang tanpa bayaran.
Dia cukup senang mendapat sedikit imbalan.
Rokok , roti , kopi atau ucapan terima kasih.

Hossam sang jurnalis di stadion Yarmouk.
Meliput banyak pengungsi yang berdatangan.
Mereka kelelahan , kelaparan , kehausan.
Terlantar tak punya tenda.

Renad sang gadis cilik di Deir El Balah.
Selalu ceria memasak berbagai makanan.
Dia memasak maqluba tanpa ayam.
Harga ayam naik tinggi tak terbeli.

Doaa sang jurnalis di rumah sakit Al Nasser.
Mengunjungi anak anak yang terluka.
Ada yang tangan dan kakinya buntung.
Ada yang kulitnya mengelupas terkena fosfor.

Israa sang guru di Al Bureij.
Mengajak rekan rekannya membuka tenda sekolah.
Mereka memberi alat menulis dan menggambar.
Anak anak senang bisa sekolah lagi.

Hind sang jurnalis di rumah sakit Al Aqsa.
Menyiarkan berita yang mengerikan.
Tenda tenda di sekitarnya hancur berantakan.
Terbakar terkena bombardir pesawat jet.

Samih sang pemuda pemain oud di Deir El Balah.
Penuh semangat bernyanyi sambil memainkan oud.
Sementara teman temannya lincah menari dabke.
Menghibur orang orang yang mengungsi.

Samara sang jurnalis di Al Zaitun.
Mendatangi tenda tenda para pengungsi.
Banyak anak anak yang kulitnya gatal.
Penuh borok dirubungi lalat.

Abdullah sang petani di Khan Yunis.
Nekat menyelinap kembali ke kebunnya.
Agar dia bisa memanen sekarung buah olive.
Cukup untuk dibagi para pengungsi.

Faiz sang jurnalis di Rafah.
Meliput jalanan yang sepi.
Tak ada apapun selain mayat mayat berlumuran darah.
Tewas bergelimpangan diserang quadcopter.

Hassan sang dosen di Al Rimal.
Tanpa lelah melakukan kuliah online.
Para mahasiswa bersemangat melanjutkan kuliah.
Tak peduli dengan kekacauan , kesulitan dan keterbatasan.

Mahmoud sang jurnalis di Shujaiya.
Menutup hidungnya sambil melakukan liputan.
Mayat mayat membusuk menjadi tulang belulang.
Dimakan anjing anjing liar yang kelaparan.

Abdallah sang relawan di Deir El Balah.
Sibuk mengurusi banyak kucing liar.
Dia mengobati dan memberi makan.
Lalu membelai belai dan bermain main.

  Mousa sang penyelamat sipil di Beit Hanoun.
Merasa putus asa tidak bisa menolong.
Orang orang yang terluka tertimpa bangunan.
Merintih rintih kesakitan menunggu kematian.

Fadi sang relawan di Al Maghazi.
Terus bergerak bersama rekan rekannya.
Mereka memasang solar panel , mengebor sumur dan membuat.
Para pengungsi memuji kerja keras mereka.

Yousef sang petugas medis di rumah sakit Al Quds.
Merasa ketakutan naik ambulance.
Drone pengebom terus mengejar.
Meledakkan jalanan yang dilewati.

Menna sang pelukis di Al Shati.
Menyuruh anak anak untuk mengantri.
Sementara dia melukis wajah mereka satu persatu.
Lukisan semangka , Handala dan bendera Palestina.

Nofal sang jurnalis di Shujaiya.
Mewawancarai seorang pria kurus penuh luka.
Pria itu baru saja dibebaskan dari penjara.
Terus disiksa hingga mengalami trauma.

Maha sang jurnalis di Deir El Balah.
Bersantai di pantai sambil memandangi senja.
Sementara anak anak muda di sekitarnya.
Penuh semangat bermain sepakbola.

Naji sang sopir taxi di kota Gaza.
Menyetir mobilnya pelan pelan sambil menangis.
Dia sedih melihat seluruh kotanya hancur lebur.
Tak ada yang tersisa selain puing puing reruntuhan.

Fatema sang relawan di Al Shati.
Berkumpul bersama anak anak perempuan di tenda besar.
Mereka duduk di tikar sambil membaca ayat ayat Al Quran.
Terdengar merdu hingga meneguhkan keimanan.

Ismail sang jurnalis di Jabalia.
Bertemu seorang pria yang naik kereta keledai pelan pelan.
kereta keledai itu mengangkut mayat anak anak yang berlumuran darah.
Ada yang kepalanya pecah , ada yang perutnya hancur.

Nour sang jurnalis di kota Gaza.
Tertawa senang melihat anak anak muda di sekitarnya.
Mereka bermain parkour melompati puing puing reruntuhan.
Lalu mengibarkan bendera Palestina di atas atap yang hampir roboh.

Khaled sang jurnalis di Beit Hanoun.
Tergesa gesa meliput pengeboman drone di jalanan.
Ledakan bom menghancurkan mobil hingga ringsek.
Orang orang di dalam mobil tewas mengenaskan berlumuran darah.

Ashraf sang insinyur elektronik di Al Nuseirat.
Tampak senang memamerkan barang barang buatannya.
Kipas angin , lampu meja , charger ponsel hingga kulkas.
Semuanya dibuat dengan rongsokan yang dia temukan.

Lubna sang jurnalis di rumah sakit Al Shifa.
Meliput kengerian setelah pembantaian massal.
Ratusan mayat membusuk bergelimpangan dimana mana.
Semuanya hancur tak berbentuk setelah dilindas tank dan buldoser.

Firas sang relawan di Al Bureij.
Naik truk bersama rekan rekannya ke tempat pengungsian.
Begitu tiba mereka langsung membagikan sepatu , mantel dan jaket tebal.
Anak anak senang tak lagi kedinginan.

Jumana sang janda di Al Mawasi.
Menangis teringat suaminya yang tewas tertembak quadcopter.
Dia juga lelah berusaha bertahan hidup tanpa suaminya.
Sementara anak anaknya masih kecil semua.

Rami sang pemuda kreatif di Al Nuseirat.
Mengumpulkan banyak kardus bekas dari tempat sampah.
Setelah itu dia membuat beraneka mainan kardus untuk anak anak.
Mobil mobilan , motor motoran , kapal kapalan dan lainnya.

Wedad sang gadis remaja di Al Mawasi.
Termenung sedih sambil memegang kunci tua dan kunci baru.
Kunci tua itu milik neneknya yang terusir dari rumah sejak 1948.
Kunci baru itu miliknya sendiri yang terus dibawa setelah rumahnya dihancurkan.

Mosab sang pelukis mural di Rafah.
Membawa banyak peralatan lukis dan cat beraneka warna.
Dengan penuh semangat dia melukis mural di reruntuhan tembok yang lebar.
Yang dia lukis adalah sosok Handala sedang makan semangka.

Dokter Ayaz di rumah sakit Al Awda.
Menangis melihat bayi bayi prematur yang tidur dalam inkubator.
Tak ada kiriman bahan bakar untuk terus menyalakan listrik yang hampir padam.
Bayi bayi prematur itu akan segera mati satu persatu.

Aboud sang pemuda kreatif di Al Maghazi.
Mengajak anak anak membuat layangan besar bendera Palestina.
Lalu mereka menerbangkan layangan besar itu di tepi pantai.
Siapapun yang melihatnya merasa masih punya harapan.

Duka lara yang dialami orang orang Gaza masih terus berlanjut.
Tapi orang orang Gaza masih terus melanjutkan suka cita.
Melakukan apapun yang masih bisa dilakukan.
Menikmati apapun yang masih bisa dinikmati.


November 2024

By Alvian Eleven
This afternoon the weather is light rain.
I'm sitting alone at a bus stop on the side of the road.
Smoking and opening my Tiktok account.
As usual I see posts from Gazans.
Various videos about their daily lives amidst the long chaos.

Seven hours ago Anas the journalist uploaded his video.
He was covering the news in a house that was destroyed by bombardment in Jabalia.
While the civil rescue team was trying to save children who were hit by the rubble.
They were seriously injured and covered in blood.

Six hours ago Motasem the journalist uploaded his video.
He found several corpses lying on the street of Al Mawasi.
While stray dogs gathered and eating the corpses.
Until only bones were left.

Five hours ago Said uploaded his video in Khan Yunis.
He was cooking lentil soup in a big ***.
After that he distributed it to the children.
They all ate while laughing happily.

Four hours ago Mohammed uploaded his video.
He was sitting with his cat named Leo. Mohammed complained that he was hungry and had no money to buy food.
He also complained about not being able to give food to Leo.

Three hours ago Hossam the journalist uploaded his video.
He was visiting a refugee camp in Beit Lahia.
There were many children who were skinny because of hunger.
Also children whose skin was itchy due to infection.

Two hours ago Faiz the journalist uploaded his video.
He was seeing several bodies of people lying on Salahadin street.
Those people died by quadcopter fire.
While a car was burned by a drone bomb.

An hour ago Maha uploaded her video.
She was queuing at the Deir El Balah bakery.
There were so many people queuing until it was crowded.
While she complained of being tired

Half an hour ago Mona uploaded her video. She was busy with her friends who were members of the volunteer team.
They distributed lots of necessary items to people who had taken refuge in the tents.
Soaps , shampoos , baby milks , diapers and sanitary pads.

A few minutes ago Zinah uploaded her video.
She complained of being tired because her tent was flooded with rainwater.
The carpet , mattress and belongings were all wet.
While the heavy rain didn't stop soon.

That's how they go through day after day in Gaza.
I'm tired of seeing the long chaos in Gaza that continues every day without stopping.
What I can do is comment words of encouragement to them.
So that they don't feel abandoned by the world.
And they still have fighting spirit to get through the hard , tiring and dangerous days.


December 2024

By Alvian Eleven

— The End —