Poems of Clarity.
By: Graham Hartley
Hello friends! Happy Autumn! I want to stress how important mental health is to the world and how seriously everyone should take theirs. I feel as though I neglected mine through the past few years and have taken great care to change that fact. My healing has been slow, but noticeably progress has been made. I love you all! Have a great month!
Perfectionism
Perfection speaks in soft syllables hidden in progress.
It speaks to greed.
And a tenacity that bleeds.
the red blood of body sod
drips the demure sanguin of god.
Condescending voice urges me on
not for love
not for symbolistic dove,
but for deep pride
that scars even deeper.
Save me oh earth.
teach me to breath with the bees
And change with the current.
teach me once again what it means
to be happy.
Grove
Head of blonde
and eyes of green
stand as a strand upon
ring meadow.
circular tree line,
provide the comforting walls of home
beyond urban brick.
Prairie grass bobs
to the music of the falling leaves.
And I stand there.
my hand in yours.
To Check a Box.
Placing lead on paper
I yearn to leave the three-sided
enclosure surrounding my mind.
It's just a mark
two lines on a page,
and yet, I feel the world
watching,
listening,
laughing.
I'm told it's my duty.
I'm told I matter.
The world speaks this way,
but refuses to listen.
"I Voted."
Whatever that means.
Expected
Grey cage
no fall beige
save for the barred window
outside the world dances,
waiting for me to weigh in.
I must let them down.
The world I want to join
is not the world expected of me.
Let me out.
River's Clarity
Rushing water waves,
cleansing murk paves
my soul schooling heart saves,
Blood in heart pumps
with endless love dumps
into precious river, my throat lumps.
Reflective regions rein wrongly
on my self image,
but the water's moment obscure
all mirrorment.
I can lose myself within those currents.
Vacancy
woods are seen as empty
but are scarcely vacant.
they thrive with life
in every corner imaginable,
some still not found.
how queer that throughout the vastness
of the forest,
the echoing chirp
of a far off bird
could be the first
witnessed of its life.
Tweeting into joyful air
Letting the wind carry its cries
To you.
Fond moment will follow you.
Let them.
Appreciate them.
They chose you.
About the Author
Hello friends, my name is Graham Hartley and my pronouns are he/him/his. I am a student at Depauw University and some of my personal hobbies include playing the Handpan and writing poetry. I love competing in poetry slams and I cannot wait to share some of my pieces with all of you, I hope you enjoy it! Peace and Love.