Home » Poems » Hiba Junaid » Hurt The Same

Hurt The Same

Stuttering heaves of prickling breaths
the wind I swallowed is laughing at me
or is it the oxygen it boasts that mocks the lungs that crave
ammunition, cogent, to birth veristic life?

Whatever it is, I’m past caring
yet the people who pretend they are stalk my feet
their mouths speak of giving up the search
but they forget that I’m dead, not deaf, not blind
mindful of the gazes tracing the lines of a corpse
steps following steps on ceaseless trails 
spears and crossbows in hand, hunting wild geese
quiet desperation louder than the forest we’re in
hunger crawling at the flesh beneath our skins
I know you’re tired, and I am too

The chains tethering us to each other
some ingot, some forged
cage our necks and seal our fates
they hurt the same, hurt the same

So when we reach that cliff we knew was coming
I’ll feign surprise at the “told you so”
slug the bile of regret and rue
spew the ire in irony 
and curse myself for the curse you’re in
empty apologies for empty promises
you wish I’m sorry but I never am
not enough to turn back
and say goodbye to that buoyant dream
the thought of which became a dream
not enough to make the leap to ebullient seas
and drown in the red of your wounds 
that taste black cherry with cuts of my own

Soles glued to the fickle quicksand they call time,
there is the painting of swollen eyes tattooed on mine 
paralyzed,
I try to enounce the pain I’m in
except my tongue becomes treacle, 
and moulds words I can’t recognize, don’t mean to say
but I know that they hurt the same, hurt the same.

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CayCay Jennings

Date: 3/14/2025 10:08:00 AM

Hey, my new friend. Ironic to read the word 'corpse' in your poem after our conversation. I'm curious, where do you live? Please go back to my poem so you'll see my response to you. I noted your talent yesterday and this write further proves it - you are a profound writer who ponders life in great depth. 4th line from bottom, renounce, 2nd from bottom, molds. I'll have to look up veristic. Loving you ... CayCay

Hiba Junaid
Date: 3/16/2025 8:26:00 AM

No, please don't feel bad. I was actually touched that you offered something constructive. Just a small misunderstanding. Thank you for your comment <3

CayCay Jennings
Date: 3/14/2025 1:03:00 PM

I feel quite ignorant at the moment. Thank you for 'learning' me.

Hiba Junaid
Date: 3/14/2025 11:23:00 AM

Thank you so much CayCay! Enounce is actually a word! It's rare though but you can search it up. And moulds is British English for molds haha. I technically live in an urban city, but it's blessedly quiet in my neighbourhood. I really appreciate your kind comments.