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a space for youth writing on mental health & identity
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a space for youth writing on mental health & identity
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![]() [Content warning: mentions of grief, mentions of death] I. I thought my life had ended in the same breath as yours, pulling my words like milk teeth; A plier yesterday, bare hands today. I recycle my spit, preach to unholy, unknown gods and sink into a seedy cavity in prayer. There is no definite distinction between where I begin
and you end. This is that oddly you-shaped space, where we become onto one another and Our tongues swell with light, pulp turning into new flesh. II. You invite me into the sunken bowels of the earth “Let's play cat's cradle” The way you breathe those word The way you breathe those words into the crook of my neck, sticky like the August heat that stands stagnant between your body and mine. We sit knee to knee, and my god I have hands. Hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, methane. The heat and the swell, love and consumption are synonymous. When the liquefaction begins, and the ground consumes you I hope you fill the veins of the dandelion, I hope it reaches the golden head. A metamorphosis of blood, flesh, rust. Heat accelerates decomposition, the distance between my body and yours. But it ensures the closeness of you and livor mortis, rigor mortis, algor mortis. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and magnesium. The bloat of summer and decay of winter. Split the atoms again, you know this ritual all too well. Start the oration, let the throat swallow your mother tongue. Bury the white cross and consider this madness. III. I’M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS YOU WERE JUST A KID, IS THAT LOVE? IS IT REALLY LOVE IF IT CHEWS TO THE BONE AND CONSUMES THE MARROW? I’M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS BUT YOU SPEAK OF GRIEF LIKE IT'S THE ONLY REAL THING THAT HAS EVER TOUCHED YOUR LIPS, LIKE YOU’RE A PROPHET. I’M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS SHE’S IN A BETTER PLACE SHE LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW, CAN YOU SEE THE SUN LIKE HER SMILE? Comments are closed.
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Unless otherwise noted, all pictures used are open-source images in the public domain. Archives
September 2023
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