It starts with an itch...then a scratch...then a full-on back grind against the edge of a door
Rampantly, ritualistically, like Baloo from The Jungle Book, I drag my back raw against the door
Rubbing and ravishing the skin until that sweet release from the burden of irritation comes
It starts with an itch, then a scratch...wait, we've been down this path before
There has to be a way, a method, whether sane and delicate, profane and maddening
An approach to end the itch and the hold it has over me, keeping me its slave
There has to be a way, a technique, whether insane and harsh, serene and relaxing
It starts with an itch, then a scratch...not this again, I can't go through it again
Only one solution that truly works, exists, but cover your eyes, the squeamish among you
Nothing but feathered skin, blood and expossed flesh awaits as I take off my back.
*
Thanks for reading!
Another acrostic that may well make it into a book...I'm testing the waters.
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About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (11)
Love it
So many different meanings this poem could have. ♥️Well done❤️
I missed this one..This was really weirdly compulsive and I liked it a lot! (Originally I couldn’t think of anything to say for a few minutes after 😆- so we’ll just go with that.)
Hehe, really fun.
This poem made me itchy, haha. Clever repetition of the "It starts with an itch, then a scratch" line--definitely emphasizes how the itch is a constant irritation. And then, of course, there's the unexpected ending!
You just had to get us thinking about that itch & scratch again, didn't you? Couldn't you have captured it a little less perfectly so that we might not find it so compelling? Arggggh! Well done, btw.
Oooh, that got real dark, real quick. Love it!
I loved the jungle book reference Paul! I wasn't ready for this charming acrostic to end this way but I'm not opposed to it! the amount of fun you had writing this is evermore apparent! 💜
I love Baloo! The ending was satisfying but ewww 🤣🤣🤣
I find it interesting that you used all those tags so we’d have no idea what type of poem this was. I’m sure everyone will interpret it differently. My interpretation was so personal to me.
Love it!!