Wednesday, October 19, 2011

I love these women




My new favorite song by CocoRosie, my chosen soundtrack to clean my room to.

Revelations

Moved away from Richmond for a little while. Was expecting to take this time to get my life and my head together, but instead my room is a disaster, and I've been spending my life on the couch for the past few weeks melting my brain with reality TV. Slowly slipping into insanity due to unhealthy habits and a sluggish lifestyle is not my idea of relaxation. I like getting things done, waking up each morning with a purpose and a plan. I'm happiest when I can go to bed after a day of serious productivity. Lost sight of that for a minute, but last night I took a trip with some friends to Spirits and Lyrics, a poetry spot in Manassas, Va and had a great time. It was intimate, fun, and very comfortable, and we were well received on the open mic. It reminded me of how much there is out there in the world. More people, more places and more experiences than the ones our everyday lives present. It's up to you to create your happiness.  I want to get back to getting shit done. I don't want my ideas to be in vain, simply welling up inside me never to be expressed. I am ready to get back to grinding so I can get back to the city and do big things. No more wasting time. More poetry coming soon. 

Sunday, October 9, 2011

One Hundredth anniversary poem

These days we wear the years
like old clothes
hanging from our skins.
Hand-me-down body parts
our younger selves
with carefree hearts
left for us to age in
like all our ancient kin.
Limbs weary, soft and weathered
beneath our argyle sweaters,
loosely worn around us,
just another hanging skin.

We sit on the porch, drink lemonade
trying to remember our lives

wondering how we got this way
so ancient and so tired
wondering what will become of us,
where we're going when we die

I look at you, and you look back,
smiling your sweet, toothless smile.
We are wondering how long we've got
with what's left of our bodies
and minds.

We sit on the porch in the shade
remembering our lives

Recalling those days
when all was bright
and we knew our reflections
when clothes fit tight
like our skins and convictions
      before they ever cracked.

We didn't give it much thought
back then
How easy it was
to shed the layers we cocooned
around ourselves most mornings
emerging as
whatever we wanted to be.

When we were young,
the rest of our lives
was some far off place
without times or dates
where we would meet again
in our argyle sweaters
at a slower pace,
and I would look at you
and remember all my days.
But we never really expected
to get here.

The last time we made love
we were like a couple of virgins.
Nervous fingers
feeling in the darkness
for something forgotten
but so familiar.
We moved together.
The years
started
to melt
away,

and we were young again
for a moment.

We lay there
naked as babies.
You looked at me
with your sweet, youthful eyes
You are still so sweet to me.
We may be two old cracked books,
but between our dusty pages
there is still life.
We haven't lost the urge.
That never goes away-
the desire to merge.
We spend our lives
in search of something
as familiar
as being in the womb.

The first time we made love
it was at a party.
You didn't know me at all,
but I saw you
watching me dance
from there on the wall
like I was something you were trying
to remember.
My dress was the color
of lemonade.

I grabbed your hand
and said
Baby,
there will come a day
when we wear age
hanging from our weary skins,
so let's use our bodies
while we've got em
because time leaves traces
of where it's been.
We are two blank books
to fill with memories
between our unmarked pages.
One day these bones
will be cracked and dusty.
One day
we will burn out
and fade
into a darkness
so strange but so natural
like being born.

You looked at me
and smiled
like you'd been here before
with me.
Like you knew
in some far off place
there's a front porch
with our names on it
where our ancient selves
with weathered hearts
are waiting to remember
the rest of our lives.




Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Transitions

Currently in the process of moving. This is a time of transition for me and others. Life is a series of seemingly unrelated events that are all intricately woven into your unique experience. Everything affects everything. Everyone affects everyone. There are many changes coming on in my life, and I know that they are all connected in some way. Have had a lot of time to think this summer. Packing up my bedroom feels like packing up my life. Friends have called my room by many names, from the Mud hut to a Sanctuary, but one thing remains consistent; the appearance of my bedroom reflects the terrain of my mind, wherever it may be at that time. When my room is immaculately clean, my mind is  in order, and I know what I have to do. Conversely, if my room looks like someone threw a grenade in there and left, my head is a war zone. Packing my room, packing my life, I had to scrutinize who I've been for the past year (all my life, really) up against who I am and also who I want to become. This was hard, as some pieces needed to be discarded, others rediscovered only to be preserved in bubble wrap for future use, and finally, some necessary accessories had to be donned on the spot, in preparation for the road ahead. One thing is certain: in life it's important to decide what's worth bringing and what to leave behind. Sorting through the rubbish can be painful, but it's necessary to make room for what's coming. The things you leave behind may be hard to part with, but it's for the best, because they would only weigh you down on your journey. And the things worth bringing are never too heavy to take with you.