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Posture

Tanya Lei's Unofficial Challenge: Who do you Actually want to Be?

By Paul StewartPublished 19 days ago 1 min read
Posture
Photo by Dylann Hendricks | 딜란 on Unsplash

I wake to find all I was is gone in an instant.

No longer the unreliable narrator,

the fuckup, the addict.

No longer deceived by my own

charred conscience.

-

As I stand, staring down the ravaged,

flesh-peeled reflection in the mirror,

a strange sensation stirs me,

gives me pause.

-

No shame, no pain, no longer stained.

By blood, piss, vaginal residue and cum.

-

The burden has shifted,

so much that I feel I’m missing

something.

-

As my posture straightens,

not regret, the plaything of the past,

not the hangover of bad decisions—

something different,

uncharted territory.

-

As a smile cracks my face,

I no longer curse my manhood,

no longer feel the need for ablations,

or to curse my vice-riddled libido.

-

Control of self.

Unexpected glory.

Thanks for reading

Author's Notes: This is for the wonderful Tanya Lei's Unofficial Challenge: Who do you Actually want to Be?

artFree VerseinspirationalMental HealthGratitude

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 (4)

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  • Harper Lewis17 days ago

    Gritty and real and painfully honest. Chef’s kiss.

  • Aspen Marie 18 days ago

    I remember this feeling, albeit a different combo of shadows. Becoming the person you want to be is a wonderful feeling ❤️

  • Marie381Uk 19 days ago

    Fabulous I just want to be me 🏆✍️🏆

  • We always want to be seen on our own terms, though that seldom happens, excellent words

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