I’m tired Mom
so tired of trying to convince people to do what’s right
I’m tired of men using
women’s bodies for their amusement
and the surprise they always show
when they finally get called out
like sexual harassment isn’t a problem
until you say its name 3 times in the mirror
I’m tired of trying to have civil conversations about gun control
when all they’ll say is
touch my guns and you’re dead
as if living in an apocalyptic fantasy LARP is normal
I’m tired of my rights getting chipped away
in the name of their God
as if the Bible says to punish the women
and the non-whites
and the gays
and the poor
Jesus must be so proud
at this point I’m out of steam Mom
my soul drained of any urge to continue the good fight
how good can it be when it’s always losing?
instead
I’m going to hand them the reigns
and watch the world burn
I may die
but at least my last words can be
I told you so
Category: [writer stuff]
anything related to reading, writing, and wordcraft
on the bad days [poem]
I pretend my way through every interaction
working my smile through muscle memory alone
each laugh feels like an echo
of the poorly recorded laugh track
from an old school sitcom
I struggle with small talk
as if I’ve forgotten the English language
leaving me to ask people to repeat themselves
almost every time they speak
I jerk myself out of thought spirals
the moment they start
but it still feels like I’m swirling down the drain
maybe the sewers are where I belong
a dragon’s hoard [poem]
when people break your trust you have a choice
become hard or become cautious
hard means you’re safe in your castle
an untouched treasure in the depths of the dungeon
cautious means you’re vigilant
eyes tracking every flicker and flinch around you
the closer they get
the tighter you’re wound
trust is a commodity worth hoarding
so when I say I trust you Love
I’m telling you that your presence makes me unwind
a subconscious reaction
to the safety you’ve come to represent
thief [poem]
no one noticed
when you stole the moon and
tucked it in your back pocket
most people are too focused on
the brilliance of the sun
to miss the lunar glow
a prayer for wisdom [poem]
Athena
goddess of the good decision
hear our prayer
lead our thoughts to the solutions
best suited to our goals
a spear flying directly toward its target
a clear bull’s eye
success
three [poem]
there have been three nights this year
where I forgot about my poetry
while lying in your arms
it’s no surprise though
that loving you takes up all of the words in me
and makes me silent
voodoo doll [poem]
a stitch slips into the fabric
and the needle pricks my fingertip
call it an offering
payment for the spell
justice woven in my blood
a little doll to dance away her bitterness
until cooler heads prevail
siren [poem]
the song grows quiet this time of year
the urge to sing
background noise as my breath
puffs white clouds into being
the silence is soothing
hunger gnawing at someone else’s heart tonight
I’m an open book [poem]
do you like to read Love?
I always wanted to find a man who
enjoyed a good story
the kind of audience that could
swallow the angst in the middle there
someone who wouldn’t
put me down to get away from the scene
painted across my pages
the purest scent of home [poem]
when I murmur I love you against your skin
I’m purring as best as I can in this human form
my nose pressed against your chest
so I can breathe you in
until it’s only you
filling my senses to the brim
Hestia [poem]
the thrones came with our victory
after the wild titans fell to Zeus’ lightning
and proud Athena’s shield
I didn’t play much of a role in the war
my duty is to the Eternal Flame
without which none of us could exist
mortal and god equally reliant on its sacred fire
it was Dionysus who finally noticed
how I avoided my seat among my siblings
how I left to tend the nearest hearth as an excuse
how I never wanted power in the first place
only purpose
he took my place amongst them
no selfless act but a kindness just the same
Dionysus gained validation amongst his kin
I gained freedom from their constant web of games
even after all these centuries
after temples grew silent and sacrifices grew scarce
somehow the Eternal Flame still burns
I guess my efforts haven’t been in vain
perhaps that is why
even the gods themselves pay homage to me
first and last in all proceedings
for I have kept the fire
when all else has faded to ash
and memory
when your muse takes a holiday [poem]
try random word association
make a list of your favorite adjectives
and leave it in your back pocket
then wash it in the laundry
the bits of paper might attract your muse
or they might just attract weird looks
a list of things I’m thankful for [poem]
1 – I live up here in Washington
and it’s cold and wet
and perfect
2 – I have several books to my name
hundreds of poems etched into being
and time to write the words
beating through my body
with every pulse
3 – I still know how to love
even after the hurt and the hollowed out dreams
I turned them all into terracotta pots
and planted my new hopes there
4 – I live up here in Washington
with its green and grey
and beautiful
Larissa Lee 