My neck’s grown tired of always
holding up all the darkness in my head
but I am accustomed to backstroking
against this current; the absentminded
muscles I’ve developed tell me so.
Once I was a baby,
once I didn’t know the ache of unhappiness
but only the forgettable way my small mouth
formed words no one understood.
When I turned into a woman
my heart went all soot and damp earth.
People made it so. The ones I chose to love in fact.
Each unhinged my ribcage and stuffed it with warm deceit.
I’m a modern day Medusa
stuck staring at unwell-adjusted me,
busy chiseling the corners of my mouth
into the slightest of smiles.
That was beautiful sad and exactly how I feel at times… well said
Thank you, Erica!
this is so very beautiful and haunting. and oh how i relate.
Thank yoy, Lucy. It’s a shame how many of us do!
Reblogged this on newauthoronline.
Powerful words – Cheers J
Thank you.
“but I am accustomed to backstroking
against this current; the absentminded
muscles I’ve developed tell me so.” This particular part speaks to me. Powerful poem!
Thank you so much, Hector.
“my heart went all soot and damp earth” . . .why do I feel exactly that way some days. Love this one!!
Thank you!! It’s unfortunate that so many of us can relate to that feeling!
That it is, but good to know we’re not alone in that feeling. 🙂
Beautifully written. And how striking 🙂