I start with a quiver
I start trying to forget how deeply it makes my heart skip
My brain on a high wire
Since the beginning of any summer, I’ve been unable to catch my breath in the hot, humid air
It breaks my brain, splitting in two, I can’t speak in the heavy heat without almost sobbing
The atmosphere crushing my speech, cutting it apart like cold butter with a burning hot knife
Quicker, quiver, I shiver
Like it’s the middle of winter
in past summers, it feels like I was closing up shop
Hiding from everything like I was a refugee
My thoughts get sliced by my heart
I needed to find that separation from church and state,
Heart and mind,
Trauma and memory
Heavy quivers that change my chemistry
Its halts my speech when I try to remain confident turning into sludge
If Regina Spektor could sing my blues, it would be, “Quiver, Quiiiver… quiver, ah-haaaa…”
Like a sliced moon, hanging there in the dreaming, crushing sky
I wake up like a new creature
I drive by opening the windows to the hot summer wind,
My hand outside the window, I don’t quiver anymore
Am I starting to feel safe? Is it really ok? Can I breathe without a quiver?
The quiver halts in my brain to my lips
I can sing my blues just fine on my own.
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Comments (7)
This is great!!! I found this through the VSS and I plan to come back soon to explore more of your verbal artwork. ⚡💙⚡
I love the feeling of freedom this displays - to be okay to breathe freely once again. Beautiful
Love the vibe here—so vivid and real! Sometimes the heat melts the hardest parts of us and that’s how we learn to sing our own blues loud and proud. 💖
Damn, you came in thick with this line. I love how sharp and vivid it was. Perfect way to describe how the atmosphere can crush your speech, '...like cold butter with a burning hot knife' Hard hitting, trying to find the separation from church and state. That's true summer does feel like closing up shop. I like the way the word quiver could be used to show us just how powerful an emotional reaction can be. The way it affects the body outside, for another to see. Finally a release from closing up shop. You opened the window wondering if it means you're feeling safe, finally able to sing your own blues— a hopeful ending. I love this analogy. Fantastic work Melissa 🤗❤️
This was felt so empowering and liberating! Loved your poem Merly!
I could feel the hot wind in the car and the release. Felt getting out of a toxic situation. Great imagery!!
I really enjoyed reading this visual poem especially this line: Quicker, quiver, I shiver