When the Words are Placed in My Mouth, or a Self Portrait | Teen Ink
  1. Home
  2. Poetry
  3. Free Verse
  4. When the Words are Placed in My Mouth, or a Self Portrait

When the Words are Placed in My Mouth, or a Self Portrait

March 25, 2015
By Kellemarie BRONZE, Orem, Utah
More by this author
Kellemarie BRONZE, Orem, Utah
1 article 0 photos 0 comments
View profile

All catastrophic teeth and gutter bones
Trenches running heart to leg
Heart to stomach
Heart to brain
A mercy diseased with  dry eyes
And thin muscle and staggering lips and the wolf mouth.
A justice diseased with soft hands
And feathered wrists and a sparrow laugh.
A being that inhales holy and exhales dust
Dust that settles.
Dust that works into the fabrics
Of coats and dresses
Into the warp of  brains and  the weft of bodies.
A censored force of nature
Like a hurricane behind a silk screen
Or a word
Behind the curtain-lips
Of a man too afraid to speak.
That’s what you are.
Balanced. Too balanced. Static.
Too close to too many things.
Terminally still.
Alive. Asleep.
Perhaps we can stir you to wake
Perhaps your consciousness will tip into awareness.

© Jason B., Colorado Springs, CO

Post a comment
Submit your own

Similar Articles

Previous Next
Poetry
To a Brother Growing Up
By imperfection GOLD
Gilroy, California
imperfection GOLD, Gilroy, California
17 articles 9 photos 45 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Dream as though you&#039;ll live forever, live as though you&#039;ll die today.&quot;<br /> ~James Dean (1931-1955), American Motion Picture Actor, symbol of rebellion

View profile
Poetry
Motley Crue: I really hear you
By Arbys GOLD
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Arbys GOLD, Dobbs Ferry, New York
15 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.&quot;Edgar Allan Poe<br /> &quot;A dream doesn&#039;t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. ~Colin Powell&quot; ~ Colin Powell<br /> &quot;Wisdom is not finally tested in the schools, Wisdom <br /> &quot;A poem is never finished, only abandoned.&quot;-Paul Valery

View profile
Poetry
Nothing to say
By niceenouf PLATINUM
Garfield, New Jersey
niceenouf PLATINUM, Garfield, New Jersey
26 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
&quot;As we move on, you forget, we both move on, with no regret.&quot;

View profile
Poetry
Oh, let me be
By Forgotten_and_Lost GOLD
Coffeyville, Kansas
Forgotten_and_Lost GOLD, Coffeyville, Kansas
13 articles 0 photos 2 comments
View profile
Poetry
unnamed
By Mew13 SILVER
Princeton, New Jersey
Mew13 SILVER, Princeton, New Jersey
5 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If there were to be a universal sound depicting peace, I would surly vote for the purr.&quot;<br /> (Barbara L. Diamond)

View profile
Poetry
Afraid of Always Loving You
By MariaMarie DIAMOND
Washington Court House, Ohio
MariaMarie DIAMOND, Washington Court House, Ohio
70 articles 0 photos 181 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Life&#039;s a mountain on a beach&quot;-Unknown<br /> &quot;Will: This is either madness or brilliance. Sparrow: It&#039;s remarkable how often those two traits coincide.&quot;-Pirates of the Caribbean:Curse of the Black Pearl.

View profile

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 0 comments.