Submissions by rowantree (Rowan E.)
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction Closest thing to birdsong.
NON-FICTION PROSE
Published
17th Jan 2021 5:20pm
17th Jan 2021 5:20pm
@mom’s dismissals and doubts about me helping with rent when my loves are struggling
i know what I’m doing
I know who I love
I consider myself a decent judge of character
I am incredibly picky about who i choose to commit to
and I have chosen them
because they have again and again demonstrated respect for me and my boundaries and a value of my presence that runs deep.
No one in the past has ever taken advantage of me
That’s not just luck;
I am scrupulous and attentive and mindful of with whom, and how, I involve myself.
Sure, someone might break the trust I think I have made
and take advantage of me, ...
I know who I love
I consider myself a decent judge of character
I am incredibly picky about who i choose to commit to
and I have chosen them
because they have again and again demonstrated respect for me and my boundaries and a value of my presence that runs deep.
No one in the past has ever taken advantage of me
That’s not just luck;
I am scrupulous and attentive and mindful of with whom, and how, I involve myself.
Sure, someone might break the trust I think I have made
and take advantage of me, ...
#love
51 reads
4 Comments
LOVE POEM
Published
1st Dec 2020 7:07pm
1st Dec 2020 7:07pm
lovegrow
You are my pride, my bliss and pleasure.
It is nothing to drive to you through weather
that makes me blind and frozen-feathered,
terrified, tired;
since you showed me bravery, I might as well be flying,
bird's-eyeing every thing that once pinned me down
to the sorrowful, soaked ground.
You are the sunrise to me, and I remain
painfully grateful to wake to you each day.
You're a tapestry of commonplace and magical things,
an irresistible reminder that my back boasts wings -
all that you are, that you can't help being ...
It is nothing to drive to you through weather
that makes me blind and frozen-feathered,
terrified, tired;
since you showed me bravery, I might as well be flying,
bird's-eyeing every thing that once pinned me down
to the sorrowful, soaked ground.
You are the sunrise to me, and I remain
painfully grateful to wake to you each day.
You're a tapestry of commonplace and magical things,
an irresistible reminder that my back boasts wings -
all that you are, that you can't help being ...
#happiness
#love
#lover #freedom
#lover #freedom
96 reads
3 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
24th Nov 2020 5:33pm
24th Nov 2020 5:33pm
!!!!: Audacity
I've happily hopped fences
for glowing ghostly roses
and their freezing dew's
kisses.
On chosen nights
I climb the gates,
step between wrought iron spikes
and sneak spirit-dances in the stillness of graves.
Undoubting, feeling nothing but alive,
I have trespassed,
escaped
to devour nights with my love
and let the moon taste more of me.
Upon waking, I remembered my power.
I stopped to delight
in the commonplace claws of daybreak.
Today I did not flee; I am
bleeding bright...
for glowing ghostly roses
and their freezing dew's
kisses.
On chosen nights
I climb the gates,
step between wrought iron spikes
and sneak spirit-dances in the stillness of graves.
Undoubting, feeling nothing but alive,
I have trespassed,
escaped
to devour nights with my love
and let the moon taste more of me.
Upon waking, I remembered my power.
I stopped to delight
in the commonplace claws of daybreak.
Today I did not flee; I am
bleeding bright...
#happiness
#hope
#courage
96 reads
1 Comment
SELF POEM
Published
18th Jul 2020 7:38pm
18th Jul 2020 7:38pm
!!!: Rivers
Suddenly,
being needed is heaven,
and heaven is right here and now
in the Texas hills
by the Guadalupe
with little ones to look after
even when they are pure ruckus
and the day is too hot and still.
The sweat comes
and flows, a flood to fill
the driest emptiness.
There's a river
dripping down my back
and shaking me by the shoulders -
carving my heart
into something smoother,
older,
snaking under shirt,
winding over breast
leaving goose-pimpled ...
being needed is heaven,
and heaven is right here and now
in the Texas hills
by the Guadalupe
with little ones to look after
even when they are pure ruckus
and the day is too hot and still.
The sweat comes
and flows, a flood to fill
the driest emptiness.
There's a river
dripping down my back
and shaking me by the shoulders -
carving my heart
into something smoother,
older,
snaking under shirt,
winding over breast
leaving goose-pimpled ...
#happiness
#river
127 reads
3 Comments
SELF POEM
Published
16th Jul 2020 4:37am
16th Jul 2020 4:37am
!!: The First Breath
Standing naked in the shadow
of the devil's belly,
in my dark lean-to,
I take a moment to release myself.
Not taking breaths,
but letting them in.
I realize
I am cold in this shade,
this black bite of turmoil,
and that it is dark enough
to see the shapes of whatever I want
and to keep myself haunted,
hungover from that goat man's gut
constantly hanging over.
Where the childhood wings were ripped out of my back,
I ache, finally -
I notice I'm clothed
in a chain
and a loose, heavy...
of the devil's belly,
in my dark lean-to,
I take a moment to release myself.
Not taking breaths,
but letting them in.
I realize
I am cold in this shade,
this black bite of turmoil,
and that it is dark enough
to see the shapes of whatever I want
and to keep myself haunted,
hungover from that goat man's gut
constantly hanging over.
Where the childhood wings were ripped out of my back,
I ache, finally -
I notice I'm clothed
in a chain
and a loose, heavy...
#hope
#freedom
#escape
105 reads
1 Comment
EROTIC POEM
Published
16th Jul 2020 3:30am
16th Jul 2020 3:30am
Seen
Angelic lips glow; a shimmering pout
drips coral softness from a perfect mouth
Someone walking switched to standing,
and a starving stare is landing
there, lighting a whisper
where the want has gripped her --
purest cruel call
of want pours all
cheapest
secrets
out.
drips coral softness from a perfect mouth
Someone walking switched to standing,
and a starving stare is landing
there, lighting a whisper
where the want has gripped her --
purest cruel call
of want pours all
cheapest
secrets
out.
#lust
159 reads
0 Comments
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
158 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
126 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
129 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
135 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
152 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
198 reads
5 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by rowantree (Rowan E.)
