Submissions by rowantree (Rowan E.)
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction Closest thing to birdsong.
SELF POEM
Published
24th Jun 2020 1:11am
24th Jun 2020 1:11am
I. The Final Whine
When I thought less and loved more
I was happier.
When I was happier,
my voice flew
without flight feathers.
Singing was easy
and contagious.
I could make fearful men
join in.
I'd love to understand -
no, to control -
the forces that snared me in selfishness.
I want an instant replay
of when, and why, and how
my body became a cage
and I
this beast inside
that wakes when my heart
starts to tiptoe to my throat,
hoping to see the world for a minute -
hoping to escape -
only to...
I was happier.
When I was happier,
my voice flew
without flight feathers.
Singing was easy
and contagious.
I could make fearful men
join in.
I'd love to understand -
no, to control -
the forces that snared me in selfishness.
I want an instant replay
of when, and why, and how
my body became a cage
and I
this beast inside
that wakes when my heart
starts to tiptoe to my throat,
hoping to see the world for a minute -
hoping to escape -
only to...
#anxiety
#regret
#frustration
#disappointment
#hypocrisy
51 reads
2 Comments
OBSERVATIONAL POEM
Published
1st May 2020 4:03am
1st May 2020 4:03am
grits
Beautiful bowl of grits,
steamy southern comfort -
you make the mornings.
I could never get tired of you.
I feel like the god in your creation story
when I cut off the stove,
spooning down fluffy gold
folds of you
into a big ol' bowl.
You're perfect,
so much so
you beg to be consumed.
Slowly.
I give you
one last drop
of tabasco
and a moment, a scent
cuts in -
fog on my glasses.
I breathe breakfast,
and...
steamy southern comfort -
you make the mornings.
I could never get tired of you.
I feel like the god in your creation story
when I cut off the stove,
spooning down fluffy gold
folds of you
into a big ol' bowl.
You're perfect,
so much so
you beg to be consumed.
Slowly.
I give you
one last drop
of tabasco
and a moment, a scent
cuts in -
fog on my glasses.
I breathe breakfast,
and...
#happiness
#food
#LifeCycle
49 reads
1 Comment
SELF POEM
Published
30th Apr 2020 5:42am
30th Apr 2020 5:42am
bags
they're under my eyes
and shoved into the corners of my childhood room
where I've set up temporary shop.
I had a car full of them
rocking down I10,
thought I might bust the bridge.
I don't want any more
things,
especially as Erykah Badu
sings and soothes me,
saying
let go, bag lady;
it is exhausting
to hold on.
All you need to hold onto
is you, she says,
which is why,
I guess,
no matter how tired I get
I know I picked the right reasons
to stay up too late.
...
and shoved into the corners of my childhood room
where I've set up temporary shop.
I had a car full of them
rocking down I10,
thought I might bust the bridge.
I don't want any more
things,
especially as Erykah Badu
sings and soothes me,
saying
let go, bag lady;
it is exhausting
to hold on.
All you need to hold onto
is you, she says,
which is why,
I guess,
no matter how tired I get
I know I picked the right reasons
to stay up too late.
...
#identity
#travel
53 reads
0 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
29th Apr 2020 6:01am
29th Apr 2020 6:01am
tailchase
I have been chasing my own tail
since this morning
completely lost
in distractions.
I know the scent, and the trail,
and the way,
but I've been finding every reason
to poke at bushes
pick up rocks,
and waste the day.
I noticed this time, though,
that the distractions
weren't working.
they didn't get me to turn back.
or even stop.
I have no clue where this ends,
but for my feet, bless them,
nothing but onward will do.
Here is thanking
the nighttime walk ...
since this morning
completely lost
in distractions.
I know the scent, and the trail,
and the way,
but I've been finding every reason
to poke at bushes
pick up rocks,
and waste the day.
I noticed this time, though,
that the distractions
weren't working.
they didn't get me to turn back.
or even stop.
I have no clue where this ends,
but for my feet, bless them,
nothing but onward will do.
Here is thanking
the nighttime walk ...
#identity
#dreams
#LifeCycle #freedom
#LifeCycle #freedom
57 reads
1 Comment
SELF POEM
Published
28th Apr 2020 5:47am
28th Apr 2020 5:47am
ocean
above my lungs
below my throat
holding up my neck -
there is an ocean,
speaking,
splashing,
a fight
and a harmony
of blues
and sunlights,
always making foam.
sandy skin -
the land it licks -
stands knee-deep in its hunger
to hold the whole damn universe,
and pull everything under.
about my spine,
between my ribs,
and beating all the time,
an ocean swallows everything,
unashamed.
below my throat
holding up my neck -
there is an ocean,
speaking,
splashing,
a fight
and a harmony
of blues
and sunlights,
always making foam.
sandy skin -
the land it licks -
stands knee-deep in its hunger
to hold the whole damn universe,
and pull everything under.
about my spine,
between my ribs,
and beating all the time,
an ocean swallows everything,
unashamed.
#love
#strength
#sea #SelfDiscovery
#sea #SelfDiscovery
73 reads
1 Comment
EROTIC POEM
Published
27th Apr 2020 4:02am
27th Apr 2020 4:02am
lentils
same old
residential
walls - and heat,
it’s late.
I’ve done well today;
the run still flushes my face -
I’m waiting on laundry
and to sink
into my favorite video game -
I’m working on something to eat.
a little pot of lentils,
with basil and a bay leaf.
got em over that heat,
just gentle enough to rouse them.
I’m staring them down
while they tremble
and I can’t help but dream
of some strong eyes on me,
watching me like I’m watching the lentils...
...
residential
walls - and heat,
it’s late.
I’ve done well today;
the run still flushes my face -
I’m waiting on laundry
and to sink
into my favorite video game -
I’m working on something to eat.
a little pot of lentils,
with basil and a bay leaf.
got em over that heat,
just gentle enough to rouse them.
I’m staring them down
while they tremble
and I can’t help but dream
of some strong eyes on me,
watching me like I’m watching the lentils...
...
#lust
#home
113 reads
5 Comments
EROTIC POEM
Published
26th Apr 2020 4:03am
26th Apr 2020 4:03am
the falling off the vine
i find myself
tipsy - that’s not the surprise -
in a paint-stained, pale gray sweatshirt,
my mom’s, now mine - far oversized
outside for the sleep of twilight,
listening to its cricket snores,
wearing absolutely nothing else
I leave a little light on me
And that last gulp of wine ricochets in my head
just enough to yank down inhibitions
like boxers, around my kind of head...
I tilt it back, let
wet lips show
begging quiet
for some inquisitive man
to come see...
the mosquitoes are the only...
tipsy - that’s not the surprise -
in a paint-stained, pale gray sweatshirt,
my mom’s, now mine - far oversized
outside for the sleep of twilight,
listening to its cricket snores,
wearing absolutely nothing else
I leave a little light on me
And that last gulp of wine ricochets in my head
just enough to yank down inhibitions
like boxers, around my kind of head...
I tilt it back, let
wet lips show
begging quiet
for some inquisitive man
to come see...
the mosquitoes are the only...
#lust
#erotic
90 reads
2 Comments
UPBEAT INSPIRATIONAL POEM
Published
24th Apr 2020 5:20am
24th Apr 2020 5:20am
running
I ran a race today
But not on a track -
instead, on a slide
down the ditch of my back,
and I sped round the curves
of my strong little waist,
and clung; dashed my soothsaying
lips to the taste
of myself.
For I ran, once,
to try and escape,
but now, it's in circles
from sternum to nape,
adoring the bones
I was born to hold up -
I may sweeten, slow,
but by god, I won't stop,
for I'm faster than fear, now,
for once in my life -
and I take my time, being ...
But not on a track -
instead, on a slide
down the ditch of my back,
and I sped round the curves
of my strong little waist,
and clung; dashed my soothsaying
lips to the taste
of myself.
For I ran, once,
to try and escape,
but now, it's in circles
from sternum to nape,
adoring the bones
I was born to hold up -
I may sweeten, slow,
but by god, I won't stop,
for I'm faster than fear, now,
for once in my life -
and I take my time, being ...
#happiness
#hope
#freedom
60 reads
3 Comments
OBSERVATIONAL POEM
Published
22nd Apr 2020 4:06am
22nd Apr 2020 4:06am
anole
I love the lizards.
Those green flames
of happy males
that shoot out their necks -
they make me want to dance, too! -
to show off, shake my fire-skin
for the eyes of a wanted mate...
to stake my claim, owning
my body and the too-blue sky,
to be naked
and fly up a brick wall,
dash into ivy,
go wherever I please -
to climb up the skirt of the palm tree
I've been eyeing.
Spring is inside us,
guiding our skeletons,
tossing and turning its heat
in the blood,
making me turn colors ...
Those green flames
of happy males
that shoot out their necks -
they make me want to dance, too! -
to show off, shake my fire-skin
for the eyes of a wanted mate...
to stake my claim, owning
my body and the too-blue sky,
to be naked
and fly up a brick wall,
dash into ivy,
go wherever I please -
to climb up the skirt of the palm tree
I've been eyeing.
Spring is inside us,
guiding our skeletons,
tossing and turning its heat
in the blood,
making me turn colors ...
#lust
#animals
#spring #nature
#spring #nature
51 reads
1 Comment
LOVE POEM
Published
22nd Apr 2020 4:03am
22nd Apr 2020 4:03am
Rita
My little blonde dog
has been behind the good times
for years,
a scrappy, scroungy thing.
Rita, we called her,
after Bob Marley's wife.
Mom brought her home
in a McDonald's bag,
said,
"Look what they were giving out with the nuggets today."
Best friends!
God damn -
everyone's dog is made of love;
she was no different,
but she's always looked
like a little old lady
in the eyes,
so loving, yes, and self-important,
and so certain.
So funny and strange.
Brussels...
has been behind the good times
for years,
a scrappy, scroungy thing.
Rita, we called her,
after Bob Marley's wife.
Mom brought her home
in a McDonald's bag,
said,
"Look what they were giving out with the nuggets today."
Best friends!
God damn -
everyone's dog is made of love;
she was no different,
but she's always looked
like a little old lady
in the eyes,
so loving, yes, and self-important,
and so certain.
So funny and strange.
Brussels...
#love
#family
#dogs #aging
#dogs #aging
50 reads
1 Comment
SELF POEM
Published
21st Apr 2020 4:14am
21st Apr 2020 4:14am
old habits crawl away
I've been a roach in my own house,
sneaking time
and solitude
and food
when none of the others are around -
finger in the peanut butter
every now and then,
just to suck on it...
I've done my best
not to be seen
and not to bother anyone,
to get it when
I won't be a disturbance,
to just eat off what's left.
I'd get
damn lost
in these walls,
in this stealing to live,
again and again.
But roaches don't get guilty,
do they?
So I've been growing into...
sneaking time
and solitude
and food
when none of the others are around -
finger in the peanut butter
every now and then,
just to suck on it...
I've done my best
not to be seen
and not to bother anyone,
to get it when
I won't be a disturbance,
to just eat off what's left.
I'd get
damn lost
in these walls,
in this stealing to live,
again and again.
But roaches don't get guilty,
do they?
So I've been growing into...
#addiction
#freedom
59 reads
0 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
21st Apr 2020 3:48am
21st Apr 2020 3:48am
Calling all my monsters...
Any of you monsters
I've spat upon,
shouted at,
hidden from,
slapped numb and bitten back -
all of you young monsters, who
I've turned away from bed -
whose claws I kicked off balconies
the mornings after
when you were hideous and brave
from being overfed -
I know now
you were throwing your bodies down
to trip me
because I wasn't ready
for my path -
I know
you only meant
with every slice you made in my heart
to let the guilt leak out,
to tell me
I haven't been...
I've spat upon,
shouted at,
hidden from,
slapped numb and bitten back -
all of you young monsters, who
I've turned away from bed -
whose claws I kicked off balconies
the mornings after
when you were hideous and brave
from being overfed -
I know now
you were throwing your bodies down
to trip me
because I wasn't ready
for my path -
I know
you only meant
with every slice you made in my heart
to let the guilt leak out,
to tell me
I haven't been...
#forgiveness
#identity
#acceptance #SelfDiscovery
#acceptance #SelfDiscovery
56 reads
0 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by rowantree (Rowan E.)
