Like Ikea Furniture
(a poem in collapsible parts) Prompt 6/16/2025
It looked so perfect on the showroom floor,
smoothed grain, clean lines,
the perfect shade of country green
under the bright lights of display,
with a name I could half-pronounce,
the strange funny feel of it on my tongue,
just familiar enough,
like a distantly remembered nursery rhyme.
The box was heavy for its size,
stamped with "assembly required";
how I loved the fantasy
of a completed project!
But it didn't come with the tools
to be put together,
and the pamphlet of instructions
was writing in under-rug language
in sweeping disordered lines.
The cheap dowels of ego
snapped,
nothing locked into place,
wobbling,
the veneer chipping in corners
under the weight of reasonable expectation;
"fragile" masculinity.
As I tried to tighten and draw the boards close
his holes splintered.
Every drawer barely able to open,
stuck halfway,
jammed up by shifting blame.
I put it in it's place in the hallway,
watched as it collapsed,
like a cheap suit shrunk
even when dry cleaned;
A costly lesson
in saving for something
truly worth it.
About the Creator
Ellie Hoovs
Breathing life into the lost and broken. Writes to mend what fire couldn't destroy. Poetry stitched from ashes, longing, and stubborn hope.
My Poetry Collection DEMORTALIZING is out now!!!: https://a.co/d/5fqwmEb
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Many people wonder how, too. You are not alone, and I am an expert. I will teach you how, too! First, you need to remit a small application fee and fill out an application describing the nature of your financial situation and how often payments will be made, as this will have great bearing on how well I teach you how, too.
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Comments (2)
Wow—this piece hits on so many levels. The imagery is vivid, the metaphors layered with emotion and social critique. It starts with something as simple as a box on the floor, and gently unpacks the weight of expectations, fragile pride, and disappointment. It’s poetic, real, and quietly devastating. Thank you for crafting something so raw and relatable. 💔🛠️ —AbdulMusawerArya
You wrung so much from this metaphor, nicely done.