Poetry By Kelly Curtis

Unsaddled

There was a time
when I needed you,
anyone, really –
to fill a void.

But voids have a way
of mending over time,
becoming stronger
than they ever were before.

Nothing drains me now.
Whole without you,
so much more, without your
threats and neediness.

Unsaddled from your
so-called love.
Who needs it?
I don’t have time for that shit.

​


Inspired by Boy Shooting at a Statue

“Children shouldn’t
Play with guns,”
They say.
But children
Will be children…
A stick,
a rock,
a finger.

It all serves
the same purpose.
They will always find
a way.

“History will never
find a way to end.”
We chase our tails,
Looking for
someone
to blame

Maybe the answer
is just that humanity
follows the
darkest course,
Time and
time
again.

​*“History will never find a way to end” is a line from Billy Collins’ poem, Boy Shooting at a Statue.




Love

Your intensity
Claws its way
Down the translucent skin
Of my arms –
Scratching, drawing
Tiny droplets of blood.

My mouth yawns open,
Eyes squeezed shut –
Tight against my cheekbones.
The scream is silent,
Stuck in my throat,
As I choke on it.

I chop my way free
Of your grip,
Gasping for air.
Jerking away,
A snapped rubber band –
Stretched, but not broken.
​

Kelly Curtis is a recovering middle school English teacher, who lives in western Pennsylvania.  After eleven years in 8th grade, she has recently decided to embark on a new career as a writer and editor.  Kelly is an animal lover, with a penchant for reading. She hopes to become a published author, as well as a certified Cicerone.

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