shutired

[shutired]

Let your Light Shine

The desert's mirage awakens a fuzzy dream

Desk in the back, a little girl once more

To those of the present, I was not whom I seem

Tripping over shoelaces, knees red and sore

Those days have grown far ancient,

I stumble across fate's foreign land

Why, still, do you remain so patient?

I look up to you, my guiding hand

On this travel--each path--my own doing

Golden sand envelopes each step

Those of the past, stoutly booing

For in your arms, I ceaselessly wept

The serene waters mark my journey's end

Let your piano ring into the skies

Play it to the ballad I've penned

May the clouds rejoice in jubilant highs

While letters may never reach me

Your past compassions, as firm as twine

I've kept your closest teaching to a tee,

„Let your light shine"

A/n - To pay homage to teacher appreciation week, this poem honors my middle school English teacher. She taught me to never give up. While home life wasn't too great for me, she always made sure I was doing okay and helped me in any way she could. I will never forget everything she did for me not just as a teacher--but as a person. I can't even put into proper words how much she means to me. For the person I became today, I thank her.

[shutired]

O Fortuna

The seven seas roar

Fortuna, unwavering

Sail, a monument

All land beneath his belt

My captain, consecrated

[shutired]

sweet winter's child

swaddled to earth on a winter's day

eyes, the shade of stolen night

fast asleep in the soft cradle, she lay

face illuminated by the candlelight

years later, she wishes to stop the clock

mom becomes monster when the sun goes down

body too weak to even pick up a rock

of what happens at night, she can only frown

pillows can't drown out the yelling

bandages can't coax away bruises

bad thoughts make their intrusive dwelling

nights wasted on unwanted muses

the people of the shadows play hide-and-seek

behind no solitary wall can she hide

she cowers, not daring between her fingers to peek

a cinder block around her ankle, tied

trusting others becomes a futile resolve

her appetite becomes as empty as her heart

she's trapped and forever not absolved

her skin--scarred, and body--pulled apart

she screams and shoves everyone away

herself is the only one to trust

the clouds swirl a ghastly gray

sweet winter's child turned to rust

[shutired]

The Tell-Tale Heart Reimagined

Amidst the door of the dilapidated house, the lights go out. The iron scent of fresh blood lingers in the air–a fellow unwelcome guest. With every creek of the warped floorboards, dust scatters like startled wildlife.

Spiders and moths emerge from each cranny–desperate for the shallow warmth of the lantern he held. The fuzzy cocoon of cobwebs around my face kept the secrets of the house confidential. Only x-ray vision could reveal what lay beneath the polished aspen.

I jolt not at the candlelight approaching or the low breath, but at the pitter-patter of nearing footsteps. I feel boots press into my limp body. I feel the wounds in my chest deepen as if impaled once more.

The mites underneath my flesh rush to the scarlet ooze. Each speckle of dust tickles my skin. Every piece of flesh severed aches as though I were in eternal fire: one which only he between us banished.

No amount of penance, no pint of blood from stigmata could ever atone for this sin. This transgression, all in the name of greed. Liquid gold, a pool in which I am stationary.

“Peccavimus,” he pray in vain.

Yet as spirit slips from my head, no forehead left to anoint.

[shutired]

the doctor's office.

the bluish depressions of ripe bruises

the pitter-patter of blood drops

hardened scabs caked upon tender flesh

the sound of wheezing fills the air

germs play tag in pursuit of control

bones snap, akin to glass

muscles tear layer by layer

the smell of the sick is unavoidable

walls as pink as cotton candy

operating lights brighter than the sun

tools scratching in cacophony

closing your eyes won't help

take a swig of ale!

lay back on the table!

strapped down like a madman!

fear upon thy countenance!

pills melting on the tongue

elixirs down the throat

Beethoven lulling thee to rue

red marker dotted on the chest

eyes rolled back

body limp as a doll

hands twitching

a small incision wouldn't hurt...

"oh bliss! bliss and heaven!"

slice, slice, slice

the scalpel cleaves all lethargy and imperfection

per layer of skin, an impertinence: removed

a husk of a man lay on the operating table

bandaged, bloodied, but no longer lame

may thee be declared redeemed!

Prost! to a new man

crimson coat

dirty gloves

a twisted smile

the antidote behind a glass case

[shutired]

till betrayal do us part.

The touch of your fingers is fleeting

Bracelet beads scattered across the floor

My whole life spent foolishly believing

Hand-in-hand since our first meeting

Playing hopscotch--one, two, three

The touch of your fingers is fleeting

Kindred friendship together, weaving

Sitting together at the lunch table

My whole life spent foolishly believing

The words now incessantly repeating

How you hate me so, you told them all

The touch of your fingers is fleeting

Dressed in black, now grieving

I can't climb out of this hole

My whole life spent foolishly believing

Reveries of colored flower greeting

Melted ice cream drips from my eyes

The touch of your fingers is fleeting

My whole life spent foolishly believing

[shutired]

just clowning around.

A swish of the brush–my makeup is done

I give my gloves a tug and my sleeves a roll

Ladies and gentlemen…

Peddling around a unicycle

Twisting balloons into dogs

It’s showtime!

A puff of smoke–a swish of the glass

Feet propped up on a wooden end table

Ladies and gentlemen…

Costume sprawled across the floor

A painted-up buffon in the mirror stares at me

It’s showtime!

Persons disappearing from the deck with a shuffle

Balloons popping at the hands of shotguns

Ladies and gentlemen…

Miming authenticity to fools

Telecaster manipulating their puppets by strings

Lives balanced on stilts

Ladies and gentlemen…

[shutired]

ascent of eminence.

The mountain was giant–a skyscraper

I hiked up the perilous mountain top

The snowflakes would hit the ground with caper

For a nice climate, the flowers would swap

My reflection shone in the frozen lake

Snowmen huddle together in jury

The soft whistle of the wind, to me, spake

A nearby blizzard swirling in flurry

Trees swayed like an audience—to and fro

The stars shot across the shiny night sky

Fresh footprints now imprinted in the snow

Now at the peak, I bid the ground goodbye

I set up my camp and soon fall asleep

I dream of my trek and a thousand sheep

[shutired]

hey babygirl

hey pumpkin