breathed his last at three twenty-two
cool metal table and sterile walls forming his final resting place
blue crewneck sweatshirt hugging his visible ribs and spine
oblivious to circumstance but sensible of tear-stained faces
and the eyes of the beautiful boy who loved him in youth
now glazed over with sorrow.
“Sometimes I think I was born backwards.
You know, come out my mum the wrong way.”
Who is Effy Stonem? A
girl who rarely smiles, let alone
speaks
She’s mysterious, misunderstood
messy
A toxic girlfriend
and even worse
friend
Her semi-gothic looks, mirror
Tracy Freeland from “Thirteen,”
Her reckless actions, follow
those of Alaska from “Looking for Alaska.”
If you really want to understand
Her
simply listen
to Lana Del Rey’s “Carmen”
Because underneath her, classic
smokey eye
icy exterior
is a teenage girl who
battles with herself
her mental health, dealing
with it
the best way she can
Effy’s character became something
many teens related to
at the time
adolescent battling a mental, disorder
and not always
using the best tools
She was
far from perfect
She was
still loved, if not, adored
She was
the, “It Girl”
Found Poem / From: Covington, Anne Harper. “Grunge and Gothic: The Art of Embodying Effy Stonem”. Strike Magazine. https://www.strikemagazines.com/blog-2-1/grunge-and-gothic-the-art-of-embodying-effy-stonem
Any feedback on this poem and what could strengthen it is appreciated!
If I could stand in the midst
of it all
that is,
Be
Present
in the midst of my country,
my city, my neighborhood.
my home
my Skin
Be
Within
the universe of my psyche
and unfurl into the night skies,
navigate between constellations,
tumble safely through time,
run full speed through
the breadth of my imagination,
drink the waterfall of kisses
that comes from
embracing my ancestors
and
Be
Still
in the midst of all the sounds
entering my head over time,
catching every vibration from the air
hearing the music
and the songs
that carry me everywhere
and If I could do this
Be
Peaceful
in the midst of it all
and not see Earth as
a grave,
but rather
an avalanche of splendor
Then I might know
what it means to
Be
Alive
_________________________________________________________________________________
The line “avalanche of splendor’
comes from the poem “Appalachian Elegy” (Sections 1-6)
by Bell Hooks, which inspired me.
I don’t know if I have the wind in my hair,
or if my hair is in the wind, but I know
I’ve been cutting it close every time
the light turns yellow, the approximate color
of my hair before it turned brown and then gray
as the elephant I remember being in another life,
or maybe I’m remembering being a snake or
a wall or someone with a very big nose,
which I used to sniff the expired yogurt
in my fridge, which smelled okay to me,
but which I tossed out anyway, along with
my speeding tickets, which will surely
catch up to me eventually, unless I expire first.
My mother crosses her arms
to block my hug, and turns her face
from my kiss. I have waited,
she tells me, but you never write.
Not even a postcard.
You never remember me.
Never mind yesterday’s visit,
or even today’s.
I am sorry, I say.
And I am,
for everything
but that.
Wake up, talk
Speak up
This is your chance
This new day, this moment
Use your voice
That voice you own
It has a home within you
All yours, all your life
Your thought, an idea
Rising up to be heard
Speak it, share it
Just express it
Share your word
your speech your light
Some kind of insight
A story, your story
Whether brand new
Or an exception to the rule
Your voice, our voices
There, to be heard
skin thrumming as acceptance washes over the body,
i had some people in my life
but i never showed how much i loved them
some kinda fear of intimacy
standing naked
feelings
raw
&
revealed
cellulite and all no Botox could hide
the real deal
flaws and all
deep mirrors of my soul
yes
you meant alot to me
more than i could show & tell
so now i hope you know . . .
those of you, all of you, on the other side
you bring me smiles . . .
memories
crying out loud laughter . . .
wishes i could do over
wisdom
i’m still learning how to use
We make each other
swoon, smile, blush, and breathe heavy
And when storms do come
they leave behind dams, life boats,
and storm windows…for next time.
