Poetry by Valerie Frost

                       ​ Matthew Paul Argall CC  



Captain Stockholm’s Hook 

Come with me, enter Never Ever Land.

He sucks me
into his vacuum.
And even with
the power off, and 
the air, not
circulating
around me, I’m still
stuck, inside the vessel.

Stay with me, dance with Peter Pan.

He fills 
my present
and future.
Flows into
every crack
of my walls.
I’ve become a 
host, for part
of his shadow.

Plan with me, see our future together.

I try to find
my way, out.
Even see 
the light, at
the end, of
the port.

But there’s no escaping
a life sentence, when
I’m a captive, of
the mind.

Be safe with me, just take my hand.

I am nobody, and
nothing.

What once was me
seems gone.

Don't question me, believe the lies I tell you.

I’m afraid to think
the grass is green
and the sky is blue.

I’m alone, because 
it’s crazy, and
I know
it’s crazy, and 
so does
everyone else, but
instead of
saving me, they 
just question me
without cease, until
being in their presence, feels 
so uncomfortable, that
crazy ends up, feeling
more like
home.

You won't leave me, I'll never let you go.

When he’s gone, I’m lost –
he was my compass
for identity.

I wonder how it ever
got to this, when
all I ever wanted
from him, was
Love.





On Ambiguous Grief

I went to a funeral today,
for the person I thought you were.

When I passed the exposed casket,
I didn’t recognize who I saw.

I stumble to put into words,
why I haven’t stopped crying…

I wish I could ask you –
you used to know me so well.

​

Valerie Frost is a Garden State native. She holds a BA and MA in Education and is currently earning an MFA in creative nonfiction and poetry at Eastern Kentucky University. She lives and works in Central Kentucky with her twin three-year-olds.  She has work in the Eastern Iowa Review, Headline Poetry and Press, and Dissident Voice, as well as other forthcoming pieces. 

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