The Nox Anthology - Dark Poets Against Abuse
| Poetic works that look, unflinching, into the corners where light rarely comes... The collection of dark poetry continues - this is an effort by a community of committed writers and artists, who have donated their works in a statement against abuse of all kinds. In lieu of payment for these works, a regular donation is made to CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse), a safe haven organization for victims of domestic and other abuse. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
let me
by Gabrielle
tired
so tired
dark smudges like
bruises
rest under her eyes
sleepless nights of
flirting with the
blade
so cliche
her arms
hang limply
thin under those
big sweaters
you know, the ones
that make your body
disappear
as if you
didn't want it
what is there
to hide?
scars and cuts
and burns
oh yes, burns
the lovely
feel of your skin
melting underneath
a flame
made pure
then why does it
turn black?
her eyes
should I say
they look dead?
no, death is too
good
too easy for her
no, they look
as if she were
an animal
perhaps a deer
perhaps not
caught in a
trap
you want to stab those
mindless eyes
make them go away
they have no place
here
peddle your angst
somewhere else
off this world
vanish
so i don't
have to see you
die
before me
by Gabrielle
tired
so tired
dark smudges like
bruises
rest under her eyes
sleepless nights of
flirting with the
blade
so cliche
her arms
hang limply
thin under those
big sweaters
you know, the ones
that make your body
disappear
as if you
didn't want it
what is there
to hide?
scars and cuts
and burns
oh yes, burns
the lovely
feel of your skin
melting underneath
a flame
made pure
then why does it
turn black?
her eyes
should I say
they look dead?
no, death is too
good
too easy for her
no, they look
as if she were
an animal
perhaps a deer
perhaps not
caught in a
trap
you want to stab those
mindless eyes
make them go away
they have no place
here
peddle your angst
somewhere else
off this world
vanish
so i don't
have to see you
die
before me
feather in the wind
by Gabrielle
tasteless lip
gloss smoothed
over chapped
lips thin
with vague
threats unspoken
trapped on the
tongue
she thinks
that she may
go from the black
into the red
and disappear from
view
vision blurry with
regrets and
a witch that
cackles in her
ear until her
eyes bleed black
acid that smokes
and paints pretty
pictures on
the walls
simple blood
fantasy
indeterminable
lack of fate
she wants to
tell the world
that black is white
and white
is black
and that everybody
can go home
now that the
holidays have
begun
too many blood
tinged christmas cards
and perfume that
smells like too much
alcohol
and too little scent
sometimes she
wishes that she
had a halo
that wouldn't
crack and sting
her fingers with
slivers of gold
glass (or is that
some ethereal
substance that
will come apart
in her hands)
she is an houri
by Gabrielle
tasteless lip
gloss smoothed
over chapped
lips thin
with vague
threats unspoken
trapped on the
tongue
she thinks
that she may
go from the black
into the red
and disappear from
view
vision blurry with
regrets and
a witch that
cackles in her
ear until her
eyes bleed black
acid that smokes
and paints pretty
pictures on
the walls
simple blood
fantasy
indeterminable
lack of fate
she wants to
tell the world
that black is white
and white
is black
and that everybody
can go home
now that the
holidays have
begun
too many blood
tinged christmas cards
and perfume that
smells like too much
alcohol
and too little scent
sometimes she
wishes that she
had a halo
that wouldn't
crack and sting
her fingers with
slivers of gold
glass (or is that
some ethereal
substance that
will come apart
in her hands)
she is an houri
don't you hear me?
or are your ears
clogged with
white noise
like a television
nothing touches you
that way
block me out
with your noise
i want to touch
touch that skin
stretched so
tightly
i feel that it may
dissolve under
my fingertips
i hate you
look at how you are
nothing
why do i
want to be you?
is it really
so good? is
wasting away
so satisfying?
better than
sex
some say
the smell of blood
slippery
red haze
give it to me
i want to
see
i want to
understand
i want to
know
let me
(c) 2005 Gabrielle
or are your ears
clogged with
white noise
like a television
nothing touches you
that way
block me out
with your noise
i want to touch
touch that skin
stretched so
tightly
i feel that it may
dissolve under
my fingertips
i hate you
look at how you are
nothing
why do i
want to be you?
is it really
so good? is
wasting away
so satisfying?
better than
sex
some say
the smell of blood
slippery
red haze
give it to me
i want to
see
i want to
understand
i want to
know
let me
(c) 2005 Gabrielle
and she will
do well in
queen maeb's
court
the one where
blood is distributed
like water and there
is a silver glint
to everyone's
eyes
silvery ethereal
girl with too little
makeup and
a mouth too
generous
requiems ring
in her ears
low and haunting
crushed pearls
in her mouth
tears a stain on
her cheeks
she will sacrifice
everything
to keep the world
happy
even her life
a feather in the
wind
ready to disappear
forever and
ever
amen
(c) 2005 Gabrielle
do well in
queen maeb's
court
the one where
blood is distributed
like water and there
is a silver glint
to everyone's
eyes
silvery ethereal
girl with too little
makeup and
a mouth too
generous
requiems ring
in her ears
low and haunting
crushed pearls
in her mouth
tears a stain on
her cheeks
she will sacrifice
everything
to keep the world
happy
even her life
a feather in the
wind
ready to disappear
forever and
ever
amen
(c) 2005 Gabrielle
____________________________________________________________________________________________
| A Rose is a Rose by Nora Gupton why do we cover and hide carry inside this trespass? this violation? this pain? we have endured the attack and survived the same and still won't address it by name so we talk around it whisper through it but you and i both knew it was rape pure and simple. but it was not plain nor simple a violent attack on sacred temples a sinister play on our intelligence heavily weighted by the negligence of those we seem to make excuses for. and in denial we are reduced even more than our self esteem can withstand. just as a rose is a rose and a man is a man rape is rape and not a misunderstanding or bad judgment or poor planning on our parts. it is an all out assault on our bodies, minds and hearts of the worst kind. even if left on the back burner of your mind it is what it is it seems like instinct to insist to persist to twist it up tight, kiss it away deep but thoughts once forgotten tend to somehow creep back into our memory. replaying the whole ugly ordeal bringing what you tried to misplace real and back into the forefront of your being. you say "took advantage of" when what you are feeling is rape. open your eyes, forget about the escape and start to deal with the reality that a rose is a rose... the difficulty of the first step goes into the positive direction of making the much needed connection with our inner and outer healing. a true revealing of the sister strength that we were all born with. together we can work through this stop this cycle from repeating this pain carrying the burden of misplaced guilt and shame through facing the aggressor and aggression and calling them both by name. (c) 2005 Nora Gupton |
Depression and a Variation on Sauce Bechamel
by John Borneman
she peeled away their union
layer by layer
diced it, blended it with
sweat cream butter and warmth,
stirred it gently over low heat.
she peeled away their union
layer by layer
as he simmered in the other room,
she watched the color deepen,
too scared to stir.
she peeled away their union
layer by layer
down to the bitter core,
the heart tossed aside
with the outer skin.
she peeled away their union
layer by layer
under the running water of her bath,
to control her tears,
dampen the ache in her wrists,
and to diffuse the gentle reddening
of her roux.
(c) 2006 John Borneman
by John Borneman
she peeled away their union
layer by layer
diced it, blended it with
sweat cream butter and warmth,
stirred it gently over low heat.
she peeled away their union
layer by layer
as he simmered in the other room,
she watched the color deepen,
too scared to stir.
she peeled away their union
layer by layer
down to the bitter core,
the heart tossed aside
with the outer skin.
she peeled away their union
layer by layer
under the running water of her bath,
to control her tears,
dampen the ache in her wrists,
and to diffuse the gentle reddening
of her roux.
(c) 2006 John Borneman
Painting (c)2003 Malcolm Deeley
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Nora Gupton is the author of A Skin of Golden, Earthy Brown, a unique collection of
poetry that ranges from woman-to-woman relationships and erotica, to social and
family issues, and motherhood. More of her work may be viewed online at her
website, noragupton.com.
poetry that ranges from woman-to-woman relationships and erotica, to social and
family issues, and motherhood. More of her work may be viewed online at her
website, noragupton.com.
John Borneman writes poetry and speculative fiction when he is not "wrangling statistics"
during his day job. He has been published in magazines such as Star*Line, Flashquake,
and The Magazine of Speculative Poetry. His work has been nominated for the SFPA
Rhysling Award, and accepted by the Arts Council of Indianapolis for their "Shared Spaces/
Shared Voices" contest. His website is at: http://brassman.xtra-rant.com.
during his day job. He has been published in magazines such as Star*Line, Flashquake,
and The Magazine of Speculative Poetry. His work has been nominated for the SFPA
Rhysling Award, and accepted by the Arts Council of Indianapolis for their "Shared Spaces/
Shared Voices" contest. His website is at: http://brassman.xtra-rant.com.
| OR |
| We thank the contributors to this page, and ask that readers respect the copyrights of these creators. Do not reprint or distrubute any of the poetry or artwork displayed here without permission. |
Gabrielle is a strong new poetic voice. More of her poetry may be viewed on her website
at gabrielle.frosti.org., where she is a literate and eloquent advocate of abuse awareness,
and safe havens for dialogue and expression on the web.
at gabrielle.frosti.org., where she is a literate and eloquent advocate of abuse awareness,
and safe havens for dialogue and expression on the web.
