some days my skin peels,
blisters under the heat, breaks, and
drops off in congealed hearts
marred by feather-scratches and lipstick stains.
the new wounds reveal older markings;
a criss-crossed history bound to my wrists and
wrinkled across my eyes.
those arched.back.screaming.darkness days
but that used to shatter so softly
broke off the ragged edges,
bathing me in a tsunami of saltwater and ink.
{of course it hurt}
somewhere between lines of dripping mascara and puddles of who-knows-what,
I found the middle of things.
I learned white from black,
and placed live petals with the dead ones.
I picked up on little things—
like the six sides of snowflakes and
shaking buds in the spring: naked but still warm.
Mostly, though, I breathed.
I exhaled the toxins that ravaged my lungs and
I inhaled knowing that pain is relative and life is not.
{Oh, how I breathe}
Author notes
remember- every snowflake may be different, but they all have six sides... everyone has a story
all comments appreciated- I'll try to return them
photo is also (c) Marie Meeks
A contest entry
- Identity by Escape--.
300 points, ended May 11, 2007, 39 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 11 of 11
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I inhaled knowing that pain is relative and life is not.
favorite line. i love ittt. -
I really loved "I found the middle of things..."
This is beautiful
in the way you wrote it[structure]
the way you told it [style]
and the way it has it's own voice [originality]
I've already said this, but this poem is beautiful
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thank you so much
.:Marie:.
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"somewhere between lines of dripping mascara and puddles of who-knows-what,
I found the middle of things."
E X C E L L E N T LINES! This was a wonderful penning, loved it! This was an awesome write, wonderful flow and imagery...just excellent and certainly this evening, my pleasure to read
~Tia
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thank you so much!
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i loved this poem. from the very first comment you drew us in, to read your carefully chosen words and see which ones were next.
i think i lvoed this part the best though
"I found the middle of things.
I learned white from black,
and placed live petals with the dead ones."
it was an absolutly beautiful poem.. thank you for sharing it on AP.
Claire-Anne
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I absolutely adore this poem, I guess because I find myself laced in each syllable and I know just how this is. You have wonderful imagery and your feelings come across BEAUTIFULLY. Keep it up. <3
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thank you very much :]
.:Marie:.
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Oh wow. This was a crazy amazing write. Serouisly. The details in this, was awesome. I loved the ending the best;
{Oh, I breathe}
To me, it just fits everything together. Amazing job. Keep up the great work!
Tori -
often, when i write about young women, i compare them to a half opened rose. your poem point out the different facets to a woman in this poem. there is an analogy of a rose to a snow flake and i like the minute detail in that line. the line about "puddles of who knows what" stands out to me. in the context of the dripping mascara, i emotionally was stirred, because i thought that the young woman was crying and maybe the poem symbolized her darker side. her darker side could be cutting, an eating disorder, a dark secret, her tensions of what her seexuality is, family problems, ect... who knows what seems to represent the facet no one knows and maybe the part she doesn't know.
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thank you very much
your interpretation was very accurate :] after years of struggling with bipolar and self injury, I am blooming
once again, thank you
.:Marie:.
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