Monsters surround me swimming
with gap toothed punctuation.
“You can’t” dribbles from chins
sitting on stiff necks of dead imagination.
Their words strike my shield
and slide to the ground melting
into a pool of inconsequence.
It isn’t the first time doubters
sought to slay my dreams
by breathing their noxious
negativity into my air of faith.
I grew up being fed porridge
made of never sprinkled
with “Why can’t you be
like everyone else?”
I was seven years old when
I realized I had the ability
to eat other people’s shadows
who blocked originality’s sunlight.
They were merely dark fluff
attempting to build a wall
to keep me from being me.
Dressed in beaded whatever
I bypass the monsters’ diet
of contrary comments
and dine on sustenance
rich with “I can.”
©Susie Clevenger 2013
Today I was prompted on New World Creative Union's Wednesday Wake-Up Call to share some wisdom or life lesson I learned and at Real Toads Out of Standard ~ The Irony of Hamilton Cork we were prompted to use a quote verbatim by Hamilton Cork. I thought I would attempt to complete the mission of both in one poem, and this is the result.(This is the quote from Hamilton Cork I chose. "“I was seven years old when I realized I had the ability
to eat other people’s shadows.”)
Comments
sitting on stiff necks of dead imagination."
This is so dark and so freshly worded, Susie!!
I love the ending, too so powerful...I like the direction you took this sentence!! I almost picked this one, too. :)
sitting on stiff necks of dead imagination."
An image i wish i had written! And the rich food of ican.
K
fabulous music video as well!
♥
I grew up being fed porridge
made of never sprinkled
with “Why can’t you be
like everyone else?”
It is obvious from your writing that you were fed the right kind of porridge and your individuality shines through.
You 'can' indeed!
Anna :o]
http://sharplittlepencil.com/2013/01/31/chanteuse-in-sneakers/
Great write, Susie!!