A Broken Poem

My heart said: please don't do it

Poem 3 of 30 Days of Poetry

I tried to write a broken poem
but my will resisted, my
heart said, please don’t do it!
stay here where it’s safe,
on the downy cushions
on the level surfaces.
Stay here, glued to ice--
do not unravel old ideas,
fossilized wishes, dreams laying
ass up in the gutter, 
waiting for someone to
admire. Stay still. 
Stay still, don’t move
lest you tumble 
into another acid
love song, into
another soggy wander,
into another blind chance.
This is not the time,
nor the age to 
leap into blizzards, to
pull on your skates, to
scamper or hustle or
paint your dusty
whore. Stay still.
Don’t move.
Get yourself
together.
What good 
ever came from
the dawn?

---

Today is Day 3 of Autumn 2024, 30 Days of Poetry. Today’s word “broken'“ comes from a mentor and friend, Lawrence-based ceramicist Kim Brook. As a sculptural artist I am sure Kim has pulled more than one broken item from the kiln in her time. Thanks to Kim for sharing herself!

The image I took in September 2023 at the Crystal Bridges art museum at the Annie Liebovitz show.

Comments are warmly welcomed. Thanks you. Thanks for stopping by.

— Elizabeth aka “zed”