Waking Up in a Concrete Building

Sat in rows dressed for summer, we convene to talk about winter and death. There are four screens in the room.
                           one in front
 left								right   
                           and behind 
that/reflect my face and body. I feel like an angry dog, wishing, anxious, snarling, wanting to claw at the animal. In the tomb of my ancestors, carefully collecting pieces of cream porous bone to dash out my brains, asleep and awake and dreaming—a staircase, with its finality!— The spirits that track scum within my veins (The professor says that Loneliness creates Weight) are restless and full of impure intention. Relieve me of dogs, winters, ghosts. Let me catch myself upon the concrete wall and maybe I could grasp what it is I’m supposed to be thinking about. Anchor me against the day, forlorn with torn, torn nails. It were
                as if my plastic chair was wood
                          and the ground before me scattered with
                                locks of a girl’s hair, every few seconds
                                     I am executed. My brains fried
                                             beneath the metal dome, cold
                                                   and shining like the hand of God.
                                                            Twitching, extending outward, I

release

foam from my mouth
wishing to feed someone’s children
baby, baby birds. My executioner
asks again if I had something to say,
and always, I will say

continue.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Jama Avatar
February 7, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Congratulations on your win in my contest. "carefully collecting pieces of cream porous bone to dash out my brains," the imagery and darkness in this line is one of my favourites in your poem. I love the intricate details and darkness of your write.
mysore Avatar
February 6, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Such a powerful write! You say 'continue' to the executioner!! Oh my, +FAV Congratulations on your win dear poet. A fresh voice, perhaps I am reading you for the first time. Great. Happy writing dear poet.
Empress Avatar
February 6, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Dear chloe, what a deeply moving and engaging write! From the very first line till the end, i was hooked and your use of diction and how you’ve played around with words as well as how you’ve written “The professor says that Loneliness creates Weight) are restless and full of impure intention.” and so many more! Has an energy that fits the prompt so well! Congratulations on your well deserved top win! Pleasure reading your work! Sending you light always
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