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Casualty of your Cruelty

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For Sara Jama's contest - Casualty of your Cruelty - Inspired by the painting Oil and Gravel on Canvas by Sadamasa Motonaga what is composure perhaps just containment and presentation - an angle you look your best from I'm floating within and outside of this body explosions, implosions, drift, smash, lull, steady... breath goes in and out in and out blood stops / starts / stops / starts pumps on... I trust I will not spill past my [allotted space] a mind held in place by tightly coiled springs any one of which snapping could create external chaos uncontained but I'm ok now I hold steady breathe vision blurs so I close my eyes keep closed open refocus thinking feels like nails - - in wood - - they need to be - -levered out - - I have no strength - - for that - - no strength - - for holes - - that may be left behind///// no one can hold me ~ I'm too much constant flux be ready to run isolate just in case all the while I see and feel future echoes, reverberations !!DEAFENING NOISE!! pushing me one way then the other until I'm still, steady, waiting breathing in and out keeping contained and intact.

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Billie Jama

Date: 4/30/2025 3:31:00 AM

This piece is incredibly powerful—“I’m floating within and outside of this body” really hits deep. The way you express the tension between internal chaos and external composure is so raw. I love the imagery of “thinking feels like nails in wood”—it’s such a unique and vivid metaphor. The feeling of being “too much” yet still holding steady really resonates. Beautifully intense work.

Di11y Da11y
Date: 4/30/2025 3:49:00 AM

Thank you so much Billie! The painting really resonated so well with the prompt. I realised after posting that your Sara had used a nails and wood metaphor that had seeped into my writing without me realising. So I most certainly tag her for first use and the inspiration. I so appreciate your kind feedback, thank you x

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 4/29/2025 12:02:00 PM

What a creative write and picture you have here. "Good Luck" Have a fun day writing away...............

Di11y Da11y
Date: 4/29/2025 1:52:00 PM

Thanks Paula, appreciated

Lin Lane

Date: 4/29/2025 5:35:00 AM

Dilly, I am often mesmerized by the paintings you use for your poetry. No exception here because it certainly is appropriate for the confusion and angst that jumped out at me in your words, just as it does in the artwork. Everything came spilling out that way to me... I'd be ticked too if someone fingerpainted all over my face and hurled a raw egg at me! Bloody hell! It made see red until it ran down my neck. Not sure the, "I'm ok now" is accurate or just a phrase meaning... leave me alone.

Di11y Da11y
Date: 4/29/2025 6:08:00 AM

Haha I did see the egg but it didn't fit with the vibe lol I saw a sophisticated women with an elegant elbow and other arm by her side, a red dress and the tilt of a hip that in the right circumstances could drive someone wild, yet they are internally crashing despite the outer calm and sensual pose. The art work is mesmerising! I just love the concept (if I've understood the process correctly). Like looking into the flames I suppose. In this one stillness (and the ok line) is both transcendence and readiness. I'd screen shot this painting ages ago and wrote half of this whilst on the plane in flight mode yesterday when I couldn't look for new paintings. Thanks for your kind words Lin, appreciated :)

Ink Empress

Date: 4/29/2025 4:37:00 AM

Dear DD, Thats a very interesting artwork, gosh the side eye tho made me smile! Hah! And what a creative poem this is, i love the different exclamation marks etc here which creates some chaos visually when read, and the flow of your word weaving truly is so very lyrical and melodious! Especially as youv written “im ok now” so cool and i love how it gives that vibe that one contemplates but refuses to create external chaos,stays still breathe in and out, “ no one can hold me ~ I'm too much” one of those quotes i will definitely suggest selling , print on tshrt , black! Ill buy! Brilliant take on the prompt inspired by the artwork! Best wishes! Sending you light always

Di11y Da11y
Date: 4/29/2025 4:46:00 AM

Haha never saw the side eye :) my dog is an expert on those lol. There was a school mum with "don't follow me, I'm lost too" on her hoody this morning - you might be right that there is a market! My cousin used to say I should write jingles when we were little - maybe I need to get into some of these ingenious sidelines haha thank you for your kind words on the poem, this type of art is so interesting - art creating itself the same way poems do - fascinating! Light received and processed - thank you!