everyone blames the poet
when there’s not enough blood on the page
flowing around the crevasses of every mind that begs the poet to bleed a bit more
grabbing hold of a soul here and a heart there
because everyone wants the poet to take it all away so they don’t have to stay there anymore
pausing when you read a word
wincing from the pain
laughing when you know you can’t feel anything that isn’t written in the blood of the poet
you take the poets words and walk around in a haze
just bleed a bit more
till the fire goes out and the wave stops rolling and the wind mellows to a breeze
everyone blames the poet
when the answers are so well hidden
like a flawless shell you spot when you’re walking that thin line between there and here
when the pretties aren’t neatly tied in a bow and handed to you
you have to walk a little longer
you have to bleed a bit more
everyone blames the poet for not supplying the world with wings but they keep saying jump
just jump
cut open a vein and let each word drip out
slowly
effortlessly
puddling on the page for everyone to read
everyone blames the poet when they watch the waves come in and wash it all away
but we know
they’ll just bleed a bit more
Becky Brewster
I'm a mother of three,
I write, I learn, I teach, I begin again, I am awake and unafraid... I am becoming.Top Posts
Search
Blog Stats
- 67,128 hits
Categories
- A Moment Changes Everything (25)
- Badass Courage (30)
- Beginnings (53)
- Endings (20)
- Friendship (73)
- Motherhood (52)
- Poems I thought I would share on the main page (81)
- Short Fiction (12)
- The Stuff (87)
Here’s what I’m currently reading
First Pages
Oh, the places I go…
I generally don’t say “bleed more,” but rather I say “communicate to me – this is not your therapy!’ You’re a great writer and I look forward to reading your words because you have the right balance of the internal and the external. Too many “poets” just tear themselves open (too internal) and then leave it to the reader to try and figure it out, which strikes me as colossally narcissistic.
I tend to over-explain (too external) my writings.
I just *love* you(r writing). – Your pal, el Mosk
Thanks Mosk.
I think there is a thin line when writing poetry you want to share your soul but you want it to have meaning and connection for those who read it.
Thanks for all the nice words.
poetry..the death of 1000 cuts…smiles…is it ever enough? the repetition in this becomes a bit more haunting…like the zombies are calling for more blood…
Now I feel I need to write a zombie poem… hmm, more blood. 😉
Thank you Brian. I’m not quite capturing what I want to say, these are my thoughts along the way.
Both powerful and haunting, this just reaches out and grabs a hold of me.
Thank you so much Kathryn. I am very grateful to hear such a lovely thing!
great write — and I love Brian’s words — poetry..the death of 1000 cuts
love it.
Thank you Louise!
Also, I sent you that post a while back, hope you got it!
You’re describing my very thoughts, Becky, lovely poem!
Thank you Estrella, that makes me smile.
the blood and tears and heart and soul of the poet in every word ~ if for no other reason than we put our words out there for everyone to see and we can’t help but put some of ourselves in each one.
i love your poetry, b ~ always have! love you!
Happy Holidays, sweetheart!
♥