The Hanged Man
Don't know up from down? Listen to your center.
The Hanged Man dangles in a state of acceptance; he reminds us to yield, wait, and see what happens. He understands two perspectives of the world. He teaches us that sometimes, a sacrifice must be made to gain something of greater value.
Background music: “Here To Warm You (The Hanged Man Remix)” by The Lizzy Co Show
Escape the Sod
1.
As the sun goes down,
Make your way to edge of town,
Where you won’t be found.
2.
With your cape drawn tight,
Scan the boneyard for specters,
They will be your guides.
3.
One will wind their way
In your direction, and they
Will reach out a claw.
4.
Death-cold in your hand,
Hard as the law of the land,
Tenuous as plans.
5.
Ghost gives you a tug,
Leads you into your own grave,
Gives you a warm hug.
6.
“It is not my time,”
You say to the ghastly light.
“Yes,” it says, “You’re mine.”
7.
Your hands turn the dirt
As you climb out of the earth,
Feeling your own worth.
8.
“You can go for now,
But if you want to stay out,
Keep a sweaty brow.”
9.
You give a small nod
To this spirit, lurking, odd.
You escaped the sod.
She’ll
Kintsugi turtles
Are beautiful, not alive.
To be gold, they died.
Fix Your Face
Go fix your face, it’s time to shine, my dear,
Nobody wants to see the scary truth.
A toothy smile, with shining eyes so clear,
Two tools you need to sharpen soon for use.
The sympathy is here for now, you see,
Your friends are asking how you’re doing, true,
But after a few weeks of being free,
You’ll find that they stop asking if you’re blue.
The news will move on to other stories,
I’ll meet new people, maybe so will he.
Some breakups have details that sound gory,
I hope that with some time I’ll find my peace.
It’s time to be as gentle as I can,
Both with myself and with my new ex-man.
Fish Darting
Feelings come and go,
Watch the river as it flows,
Fish darting below.
Change
1.
I wanted to be
A slut, and they told me, “No,
That’s not ladylike.”
2.
I changed all of the
Parts of myself to be more
Like the nicer girls.
3.
I wanted to be
A wife, and he told me, “Yes,
Just have four babies.”
4.
My pussy cried, “No,
I can’t hack it, not for me,
I don’t want it, please.”
5.
I wanted to be
A wife, and he told me, “I
Just don’t know how I
6.
Feel about marriage.”
Then there was a long silence.
Now I walk alone.
7.
I will never be
A wife, but something tells me…
Might still be a slut.
Grief
Scream rises, and falls,
Not always filling the room,
Sometimes a whisper.
Cough It Up
The amniotic goop must be coughed out;
Your home is not inside the liquid, dear.
Your mouth has always been too full to shout;
You never got to speak about your fear.
Revulsion is a thing that lives hidden,
In corners left unswept and poorly lit.
It finds a little place and learns to hide,
Then takes a long breath and unpacks its kit.
Unchecked, the sickness metastasizes;
It spreads its phlegm wherever it will stick.
The badge of sickness you show is a prize;
It gives revulsion’s heart a happy kick.
A jaw forced open isn’t willing, man.
Sometimes, you cope the only way you can.
Mud
The mud clings, lingers,
Sings my past to observers,
Serves as a warning.
Split Seed
1.
There is a relief
That comes with separation
That’s needed for growth.
2.
Seed agonizes,
Splits its very self apart,
Shares the truth it knows:
3.
Let the dirt hold you,
Cool and soft and nutritious,
Giving what you need.
4.
Do not rush the day
You peek from earth to sunshine,
Ease the ground aside.
5.
Take the time you need,
Gain strength, trust the folks you meet,
Learn to be alive.
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All my best,
