Emily Carmen
All Poems Copyright Emily Carmen 2008
SUITCASE
I live from myself like a suitcase,
Withdrawing my accessories each day.
When I was younger I used to be less
Careful: I'd swing from rope
To rope, a regular at the circus;
I didn't mind the stumbles,
Without a net, the ride was more
Exciting.
The crowd would howl with glee
To watch me lose my grip,
Then I would somersault backwards,
Into the arms of
Death, but he would never catch me.
I'd get up and pack myself back
Into my vinyl case,
All ten thousand of me; no
One ever understood, but
My tiny house still stirred
With voices.
I am the center of the earth,
A seed thrust
Downward into the dark.
Tomorrow, I'll be a rusty branch, or
A filament of string woven into some
Love bird's nest,
It's all the same to me.
SHIPWRECKED
Not the contours of land,
Nor winter with its nights of
Gleaming pearls scattered
Through quiescent woods; but
The bare bones of an earth
Once wild with silver wings.
The stone idols have fallen,
Buried
Between my young breasts.
I look up at the sky
Shipwrecked of all memories,
Empty of all good-byes.
WALK
The wind lifts the
Dead leaves and drops
Them onto uncertain ground.
It’s easy to believe that
I was once young and
Delicate.
Walk with me
And recognize
My face returning
To shore after
A lifetime
Drowning at sea.
Link to my book of poetry - Calling It Off
Mp3s - Click titles to play
Click here to listen to more musical collaborations by others using my spoken word.
Musical Collaborations
My poetry as read by Anchor Méjans
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