You speak in riddles because
You ache to speak.
You ache for space
To expand and contract.
You cast your words into the chasm,
To be caught by one
Whose breathing holds your breath.
When your foot finds the brink
You ask the air
Questions.
© 2013 Katherine Grace Bond
Poetry is dangerous. The instructor urges extreme caution. Bring paper, pens and words (caged if necessary). Hear the work of young poets, published and unpublished and then let your own words out. Cut through the steel bars and let loose what you really want to say.
Teen Poets is part of the Bellevue College Summer Teen Program’s writing classes. I’d love to see you there!
Register for Teen Poets
Okay! Let’s play a game!
This is what poet Shane Guthrie calls an “infection set” of poems.
If you are the first commenter, write a poem that begins with the first line of the poem above: “You speak in riddles because”
If you are the second commenter, write a poem that begins with the second line: “You ache to speak”
…and so on.
Don’t worry if you finish your poem and someone has already commented ahead of you before you can post it. Life is made of such happy accidents. Ready, set, write!
You speak in riddles because
you doubt anyone would listen
otherwise.
The language draws
curiosity out
from others, in a way
that you never could yourself.
Your tongue has become
so accustomed
to the twisting tangle of verbs,
that you cannot
remember
what your own thoughts
sound like on your tongue.
You ache to speak
But that is, of course, dangerous
Silence let’s them assume you are like they are
Speak and you will be denounced
Roundly and terribly denounced
By people you thought were your friends
Still
One can’t help it
Being yourself, and needing to say
To share
Even when no one wants it
So you will speak
You will be denounced
They will leave you in the dust
And that is when you’ll finally meet your friends
The brave and denounced like you
And the cowards who are about to be
As a clarification, when I do an infection set, I usually do all the lines myself, so a 40 line poem becomes 40 poems… This is more infection by committee, fun stuff.
I suppose that could make it an epidemic–if we’re lucky!
Great poem, Emily! (And Shane, of course.)
You ache for space
feeling the emptiness inside
fighting the bounds
of public domain.
Shouldering your path
through the
unforgiving throngs,
your heart beats
for room to
roam.
Looking at the sky of
blue, you think,
“Can’t
you
meet
me
somewhere
warm
and
quiet?”
To expand and contract,
You’ve spread yourself thin
With a plan to enact
A plan to win
A swift turn of the key
To start ignition
A missile over sea
Contains Fission
A similar rocket
Is coming right here
The tower chimes zero
Armageddon near
Smoke is the fashion
of the heat around
Burning loyal passion
Down to the ground
Only one day has passed
Not a life in sight
The remainders dare ask
“Why do we fight?”
The best titles of lore
can all answer this.
“What do we fight for?”
That answer’s amiss
You cast your words into the chasm,
Thoughtlessly.
No one takes you seriously after all–
You’re a pretty face,
A study in grace.
Skin puppet with “impeccables,”
Who cares for your ineffable
Thoughts. plans, ideas, dreams,
Ambitions, goals, hatreds, schemes.
A statue in a gallery,
An object of antiquity.
So continue to cast your words into the chasm-
Maybe an echo will find an ear.
Rob, this would be an awesome spokenword! Do you ever go to open mics? http://poetswest.com/venues.htm
Connor, we’ve missed you. I hope you can sign up for poetry!
That sounds like an EpicWrite poem.
Nice, Emily K! I love the one-word lines. The rhythm really works. Room to roam. Yes. It’s your time, girl!
Thanks Katherine! I don’t know where I came up with the words…I suppose I was freestyling. I don’t do much poetry so it was a little hard.
Connor, you are incredible. I couldn’t make mine stay that tight and focused. Your poem is truly astounding. And it rhymes!!!