This We Knew
A poem for nights and winter
“It was not like before
when the leaves turned over in their season
to days of ice
and men and women huddled around in their rituals
of dying days
Clocks and rivers ran
in their courses
as the ruddy fish
in their secret matings
swam swollen against them
to breathe deep
in the fecund waters
Then somewhere under the spheres
(on a Tuesday I think)
the elk ran left at the willow tree
when they always turned right
The ravens perched sleepless
upon the highest branch
and for the first time afraid
The scribe stops for a moment
and remembers starlings
and a knot somewhere
unties
and none knew this
save the eagles and the prophets
Something has begun
but this we knew”
About the Creator
Kevin Rolly
Artist working in Los Angeles who creates images from photos, oil paint and gunpowder.
He is writing a novel about the suicide of his brother.
http://www.kevissimo.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Kevissimo/
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Day 4 of Quitting
If this is how sobriety feels, maybe it’s better to go through life a little buzzed… this, along with other hits like, I want to kill myself, I wish I was dead, and I’m going to throw myself off a bridge have been the only thoughts on rotation these past few days. I promise myself that if, in a month, I still feel like this (‘this’ meaning despondent, full of rage, and simultaneously numb) I can go back to smoking. Until mid-February though? Nicotine is off the table.
By sleepy drafts5 days ago in Longevity
Comments (10)
Loved this. Congratulations on Top Story (although I'm well behind the time curve call, still happy for your TS)
Congrats on Top Story!🥳
Super! We need to pay attention, don’t we? 👏
Engaging and expertly written, your story held my attention, leaving me eagerly anticipating what happens next. The way you skillfully blended emotions and suspense makes it a truly captivating experience. Please take a moment to read my work as well!
This is amazing, Kevin. Both the artwork and the poem. It's painting a picture for me of a 2nd person finding this "paper" in the woods and attempting to make sense of what the scribe was seeing when he wrote the words. Really, really well done. Congrats on the TS.
Thumbs up for your effort! Keep the outstanding work—congrats!
Perfect picture, style with the poem. The imagery is an emotional ride with glimpses of what this is truly about, which quite frankly I don’t know.
I’m hung up here, “and remembers starlings and a knot somewhere unties” Because it is a juncture, but it means so many things, and I want to know what the scribe knows… this is just beautiful. I want to ask questions about your inspiration, but don’t want to ruin the magic you’ve created, where you’ve walked the reader to a deep well and suggested they look down, if they’d like to, to define what they see in the knowing of changes.
Amazing art visually and poetically!!
Your media is so amazing. It took me a second to realize the poem is on the art piece. I have often thought using unconventional items such as coffee is a sign of extreme creativity. Your poem is hauntingly beautiful. Great job and congrats on the TS!