Poetry by Elisabeth Horan

I'm Coming

you look like hell, 
but i wouldn't say it 
to your face
i'm wondering where 
the laugh lines went -
replaced with metal 
solder drippings, 

prison tear

tattoo 
committee 
in-service;
invisible master
spoon jab 
toilet fuck

sold down the river, 
like so many slaves - 
mouth of dirt cheap
to worry vile;
antagonize
your brain, 
lobes gone 
paralyzed. 

he is quick 
with his whip, 
lashing out in leather
licks 
cerebellum kisses
Punisher
warden
Murderer
robbins
(you know who this is)

keeps you locked 
away from me
in a cavern. 
i'm sending in a troll, 
the gollum
with payment of 40 baby teeth; 
a goat, and
my 200 foot long 
braid of gold
ive got to save 
you from your 
solitary confinement
you already seem

tired,
more bald -
certainly
worse for wear. 



​

Grab hold

imploding
is harder than 
using a knife -
writing a note,
giving up life

the chasm 
will close
grab hold of 
some handle
my hair, my spine
i can handle 
your weight
so can others - 
trust

staying takes 
an effort like 
floating on water
with sharks 
below and blood 
dripping

as much as the flail 
comes to mind,
limb
flutters 
instinctual panic
don't do it
settle, calm; 
take a look around -

leaves are falling
bread needs baking
levees need mending 
canyons catcalling.

you could go, you are right, for
then it might stop the hurting -

but there would be no wayward light -
no broken wings
no charcoal smudges;
no bad hair days, neither
your dad's vinyl;
even mittens by and by,
unravel

only clear blue abyss
and you 
still floating above it.
i wouldn't come too.
i would stay here in 
the mess-fuck world
missing and 
thinking of you.

Bio: ​Elisabeth Horan is a poet, mother, student, lover of kind people and animals, homesteading in Vermont with her tolerant partner and two young sons. She hopes the earth can withstand us and that humans may learn to be more kind to each other and to Mother Nature. She has recently been featured at Quail Bell Magazine, Dying Dahlia Review and The Murmur House. Elisabeth is a 2018 MFA Candidate at Lindenwood University and teaches at River Valley Community College in New Hampshire.  Follow her @ehoranpoet.

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