i’m made of almost nothing
came into the world with nothing
but skin, bones and organs
unable to control most of those
not even fingers and toes
no smile no talent no song
no accumulated anything
no pride no reputation no dreams
no reason to live
over time i’ve lost everything accumulated
lost pride lost reputation lost dreams
lost reasons to stay
lost a thousand tons of weight off my shoulders
but still fought to breathe
fought to smile fought to shine fought to sing
fought to hold my head up
and yet all the shades between nothing
and lost and found
and want and need
glimmer in every rainbow
the same as it glimmers
in every pot to piss in
Phrase “You are made of almost nothing” altered from “The Dragonfly,” Louise Bogan.
5 thoughts on "i’m made of almost nothing"
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great poem…
I’ve sometimes felt that the pot at the end of the rainbow is full of piss
Looking at life with a steely smile and hope glimmering in your eyes. Excellent!
What a powerful poem. Bravo!
I think the entire second stanza is Perfection. I liked it so much I just kept going back and rereading it!
Thanks, Mary. If I haven’t said so already, I have enjoyed your work this June month.