Mental Health Shmentalhealth!
This poem was born from a "poetry prompt" offered by @winnipegpoetryslam - "poets placing saffron in the moonlight"
Remember me,
dancing,
imagining
the whole world
would love me,
silly little
periwinkle flowers
in my eyes,
the wonders
of my imagination
opening
like sky,
but so afraid
to fly,
unprepared,
unaware.
Remember me,
so pretty,
cleaning
the burgundy trail
made from minutes
that taught me
what love
was not.
Bruises branded
on a tiny throat.
A little voice
choked quiet
as my innocence
woke
with no one
to their to see
but my baby
brown bear,
burned
with bedtime stories
you are not supposed
to tell.
Remember me,
limping
from your room,
the first time
your violence
bloodied
the back
of that crinoline dress
Daddy picked
because he loved me
best.
Sanity
happily snapping
at this rainbow’s end,
so I learned
to imagine.
I am Doris Day.
Sophia Loren.
Marilyn Monroe.
Breaking the bow
in a new beau,
as if his love
could cure
the curdled pages
of my happily
forever after.
Remember me,
sisters.
Broken bones
building empty homes.
Eyes closed,
more afraid
to cry
than hide.
The way of it
scraping
virgin flesh
into shame
with words
I later used
to cut myself.
Presence foggy,
abandoned
in the rain.
Remember me,
brothers.
A juggernaut
boring through
powerless
pink pyjamas,
drinking the drama
like a bottomless
dirty martini,
as if anyone
could save me.
I could not even hear
the poetry whispering
beneath
the deafening dream.
I only knew
how to pretend
I was okay
each time
I took off my clothes.
The smell
of self-loathing
perfumed
by breakfast
kept secret,
separate,
festering
under Disney bedsheets.
The idea of me
out of focus,
numbly chasing
the dizzying voices
of God.
Who was that?
Who witnessed that?
Who said that?
And then that?
Who is that
inside my mind?
The sacred
left me
in the chamber
with too many bullets.
I cannot remember
when I began
this tragic game
of roulette.
Still,
my most delicious dreams
came to me
from angels
cooing,
patience,
patience,
you are loved.
And though
I hated them,
I heard them.
I memorized
the melody
they called
to me nightly.
Sing.
Sing.
Sing to me.
Remember me,
flying
past surviving.
I Am victorious.
The tests of fire
bring whole again
the puzzle pieces
perfected
before I was born.
Then I am shown
a new painting.
Colours
breaking free
across that once
wretched sky,
while I shake them awake
with my Grimm’s lullaby.
They want to hide
from the dark.
They want to justify
the ugly thing
slugging around
my belly,
but I will show them
anyway.
I am protected
by ancient poets
placing saffron
in the moonlight
to make fragrant
this fight
for truth.
I am merely
collateral light,
in case She
is gazing at me,
looking for proof
that Love
can win.
We can stare together
at the stars
and pray
for a prize,
a clue,
a rescue,
for the ancient wounds
wound around
a girl
like me.
~ MIRA
Black's Blog





