Melancholia

 Melancholia 

Sometimes my soul aches, in the morning light
Dappled as it arrives through the curtains 
My dad says it’s a beautiful day and, indeed, 
I perceive it as beautiful..trees, people 
But something cold runs through my blue veins 
As I inspect my wrists to make sure they’re mine

I find my eyes unsure of where to settle
Glazed over like a foggy mirror 
Seeing but not seeing
I ask them not to take my picture, 
For behind my eyes water sloshes around 
As if in a glass, threatening to pour over 

Choking out words for people, all alive in conversation 
I feel I am peeking in at their world, mute 
As it rolls by in laughter and togetherness 
As the sun comes up and falls away again
I walk down the road that has become a desert 
And I keep walking, watching, waiting 
For the next mirage that I can try to hold onto

~For Craig Cornish’s Contest “Anatomy of Melancholy”
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

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Rodrigues Avatar
May 15, 2023 at 6:19 AM
Congratulations, Jeremy! Favorite line: For behind my eyes water sloshes around As if in a glass, threatening to pour over
Martin Avatar
August 5, 2023 at 5:04 PM
Thank you!!!
Martin Avatar
August 5, 2023 at 5:04 PM
Thank you!!!
Alex Avatar
May 14, 2023 at 7:32 PM
"I find my eyes unsure of where to settle Glazed over like a foggy mirror Seeing but not seeing" - beautiful illustration. Congratulations!
Martin Avatar
August 5, 2023 at 5:04 PM
Thanks so much!!!
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