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To Adora, From Elliott
To the little girl, I used to be do you remember all those nights when you would stay awake Thinking up all those far away dreams You would stare up at the ceiling planning out how you would do it all
All those years you spent taking care of everyone else Watching your siblings, making sure that they had the childhood you never had. Giving up on all those dreams you had made for yourself Handing them over to your siblings, thinking that maybe they could let them grow. Planning on becoming their superhero, Ready to save their day, Shielding them from all the screaming, The sharp words being thrown like knives. Giving them a haven from the flying fists and broken doors.
But darling I promise you Your life will not have been wasted. I will following your footsteps saving the kids from those monsters that lurk around them. I will keep themself, and make sure they grow
Remember all those nights you would make promises Between you and the world outside that shitty apartment window Telling yourself it would get better, rehearsing it so much it was branded in your heart and brain Telling yourself those thoughts would go away That you could wake up And be the perfect daughter You would wake up and be a girl and believe it Your body would no longer feel so wrong
Spending all those nights and early mornings Praying to that god you were so hopelessly clinging to Begging him to make it all make sense Those thoughts stuck circling in your head All the worries and fears that had kept piling up Tangling themselves together
you were right when you said you’d never see twenty-seven You weren’t even able to see yourself as a teenager The image always seemed so far off, Just out of reach a dream you always had each night but always leaving in the morning light Leaving you with just tiny pieces of it.
You had been off by a few years though There was never a sweet sixteen for you No birthday presents and a new car. You had been long gone before that.
You had barely seen fourteen, Eighth grade was your last. But I think you knew that. I think you had come to terms, Knowing that you would die soon. But that’s how you were always giving, giving, and giving. So I guess it wasn’t that big of a surprise.
What would you think of me now if you saw who you became Would you be proud? Proud that I finally found myself That I had finally realized who I was Would you be happy? Happy that I had made it this far, That I was able to finally make it to sixteen, even though you didn’t?
Because for me to make it, You had to die, I had to kill every part of you. I had to be the one to hold that pillow over your head, I still have the scars from those scratches you gave me. I carry them like war paint, showing the world how I was born.
I had to burn that name you carried for years, Burning it to ashes, spreading them to the world. The name you carried on your back like a shield or a burden Depending on how you looked at it.
I cut off those beautiful brown locks that you loved. Those curls littered the floor of the bathroom, while chopped them off with some old kitchen shears. That beautiful brown color was bleached and turned any color besides that natural tone.
Your skin that was then envy of your family I covered in scars and marks, making it match the way we both had felt. Making your family no longer love it, turning it into something they no longer wanted to see.
I took the breasts that you had always hoped for, And had chopped them off, leaving your chest barren and scarred making it easier for me to live, no longer have those things as a reminder as to who you used to be, while it had made you cry out in shame, for you had lost the things you had been hoping would make you feel as if you belonged in your skin.
but my dear adora, I hope you realize that nothing I had done to this body, that was once yours, was in malice or hatred. it was just something I had needed to do, for me to live happily. please remember I’ll love you forever, my little girl of grey. rest well knowing will live this for the both of us, taking those chances you never did.
always and forever, Elliott Mars Parker.
Take this body I'm imprisoned in,
This prison of flesh and fat
encasing me in something that feels so foreign
these breasts, that still haunt me
always stuck on my chest
reminding me no matter what
That this prison I live in is still female.
Take this skin I wear.
That's not light enough for it to be white.
but too white to be black
this skin that’s made of nightmares and scars
reminding me of all these nightmares, I've lived through.
Take these hands that are so rough and cracked.
Never to be soft enough for any of my lovers
where these jagged nails
are torn enough to rip and tear my cracked skin
Take my hair that’s too white.
To hold these curls of my ancestors
but still too black for my mother's beautiful red locks
take my voice.
That still shakes and cracks at the words,
I've had trapped in my throat.
Burning it raw and ragged
Making it so any words that I still manage to speak
are caked in the blood and pain
of the effort, it took to let me free.
if today was my last
If today was my last How would I spend it? would I take in all the little things, gathering all those little details that I have always missed, my head has always been too full of all these things that keep me up at night. Or would I still just float through it all Still just a shell of the kid I once was, all the vibrancy and wonder having left years ago.
Would I go to the library? to collect a few last lines Letting them live on the tip of my tongue. only to set them free with my last breath. letting the feeling of ink on the page, be the last thing my fingertips will feel. the smell of paper and secrets, invading my senses and welcoming me home at last.
Would I go to the school that has hallways I have haunted? having drifted through them, my eyes empty and my brain always too full with all those thoughts. stopping in the classes to whisper a few final goodbyes even though nobody would notice or hear me pausing the disorder and energy in those hallways, for just a few moments, finally letting myself take it all in.
would I go to the forest wherein the deepest part I could lie on its soft grass floor, in the utter calm of it letting my lungs finally breathe in the crisp air, the feeling of its coldness expanding within them. closing my eyes for the last time, finally letting myself feel at peace and safe, hearing the bird's singing floating around me, their cries being the last thing I will ever hear.
My last words will be uttered so softly that not even the wind would hear them, when they escape this prison of my mind, floating away with my final exhale. My last breath will flow out feeling free for the first time, escaping into the world seeing it all.
child of grey
My father was of ebony. My mother of ivory I am the child of grey. Not enough ebony to be of my father To little ivory to be with my mother
My heart was of half-ice. A cold so unfeeling So a cold almost to the point of burning, never enough feeling to care my head half of snakes calculating and cruel always planning and waiting for the perfect moment to strike
My heart is made of half gold. Tender and caring beautiful and full of love, perfect to suit you my head half made of fire burning hot, always craving for something to fuel it unpredictable and starving for its next game
I am the child of grey. With the head of flame and scales calculating and unpredictable, Ready to strike and always to keep you on edge. And my heart of ice and gold blinding you with its beauty, while slowing killing you with its burning ice
to the sea
Take me to the sea. Where the air is crisp, and the smell of salt clings to it. Where the winds pull in the sound of the waves to the shore where I can finally hear them calling my name begging me to join them begging me to follow them into the deepest depths
Take me to the cliffs. where I can see the whole world in front of me with the deep sapphire sea stretching out to the horizon where it finally ends on the cliffs where the winds whip around me whispering those words of encouragement beckoning me to the edge telling me to take those last few steps To let those jagged rocks at the bottom welcome me home.
Take me to the forest. Where the trees swallow all the light leaving only the darkness to call my name inviting me to explore The air seems to be alive, swirling around me. Calling to me telling me to rest coaxing me to let the darkness and all the creatures in To let them devour me, control me. To guide me and welcome me home
dear adora, from elliott
To the little girl, I used to be do you remember all those nights when you would stay awake Thinking and dreaming up all those far away hopes and dreams You would stare up at the ceiling planning out how you would do it all
All those late nights Planning on how you would save the day Becoming that perfect superhero Swooping in to rescue everyone, Saving all the kittens from trees, Putting out fires Freeing your family from that living nightmare they would never wake from
Remember all those promises you would use to make Between you and the world outside that shitty apartment window Telling yourself it would get better, rehearsing it so much it was branded in your heart and brain Telling yourself those thoughts would go away That you could wake up And be the perfect daughter You would wake up and be a girl and believe it Your body would no longer feel so wrong
Spending all those nights and early mornings Praying to that god you were so hopelessly clinging to Begging him to make it all make sense Those thoughts stuck circling in your head All the worries and fears that had kept piling up Tangling themselves together
What would you think of me now if you saw who you became Would you be proud? Proud that I finally found myself That I had finally realized who I was Would you be happy? Happy that I had made it this far, Being able to finally make it to sixteen, even though you didn’t?
I guess you had been right when you thought you wouldn’t make it For me to make it, you had to die That I had to kill everything that you were Stealing away your name Cutting off those long curly locks, everyone had adored scarring that beautiful skin, that used to be your pride and joy
the bathroom
Smoke flows from my cracked and bloody lips the dingy bathroom lights flicker above me a low buzz echos through the room my reflection stares back at me a sly smirk gracing its lips I can almost hear its laugh echoing in my head. The cold porcelain of the sink pulsing against the rising heat of my hands dirt and grime caked on to the counter and mirror the buzzing of the lights mixes with the pounding of my head Voices and conversations outside the door seem to grow in volume. pounding against my eardrums All the noise seems to be surrounding me. Building up and building up my reflections laughter ringing in my ears the lights buzzing and flickering The mirror starts cracking. Sounds of glass falling and shattering mix with the symphony of noise The class finally shatters falling all around me. Knocking on the door starts. The pounding and shaking of the door mixes with the calls of my name It sounds like I'm underwater. The door and the voice feeling so far away while I'm sinking farther down in my head finally, I snap back I'm in the bathroom. the mirrors still intact no longer shattered lights buzzing no longer deafening My fingers loosen their grip on the sink. The reflection no longer laughing and taunting My legs start working. Uprooting themselves from the floor the sound of my footsteps echo against the walls
At the moment
Dried mascara stains
Little marks on my legs, arms, and shoulders.
Numbers on the scale.
Numbers on my plate.
Tears in my eyes
Lists
So many lists
Things to do
Things to write
Words to say
Words that will never be spoken
People to talk to.
People to avoid.
Breathe in
Breathe out
Hold it in.
Suck it in.
Suck it up.
Walking on eggshells
It’s all so dirty.
Clothes on the floor.
Papers on my wall.
God can’t be found here.
Scrubbing my skin until I am raw all over
Ice cold showers.
Grades are dropping.
They are all leaving.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t do it.
Is this who I have become?
the little things
Sometimes, when I feel the way I do, I like to think about the little things.
The little things that make life worth living.
(at least for a while)
Like the way blushes grow on human cheeks.
Little things like the sound that can be only heard when rain and laughter marry.
Like lighting a candle while you start a new book.
The perfect little notification you waited all day for.
The way making someone else laugh sits on your chest for a while.
The way blades of grass fit neatly between your toes
The completion of a simple task.
The sound a dog’s collar makes as it walks.
(it's the little things)
It's the tiniest of things too.
The three-feet-distance between the desks of two friends.
That one freckles that girl you barely speak to anymore, but still makes you laugh.
The glitter in someone’s eye that just never leaves.
The smallest possible paper crane that you made in class last Tuesday.
(it's the little things)
It's also the big things.
Like the first kiss you had that really mattered.
Like the letter you never thought you’d get.
Knowing that she’s okay, even if you aren’t. Not anymore.
It’s the realization that you understand. Even though it's a bit too late
But most of all it's the little things.
If I am being truly honest with myself,
When I think realistically about my future,
I know in my heart I will be alone.
It’s not that love isn't something I yearn for.
I do. I really do.
There is this fire in my heart that wants to be put out.
But I know it will always burn.
It’s not that I am incapable of loving.
At least I hope not.
It’s just that I can’t really see why anyone would want to deal with loing me.
From what I know,
Which isn't much,
Is that love is supposed to be through thick and thin.
Love is supposed to be filled with little moments,
Like thinking of them while you fall asleep,
Like getting to know every little thing about them.
Love is supposed to be like coming home in their arms.
And while I feel like I could feel all of those things for someone else,
I know nobody would feel it for me.
Who would want to?
They want to love someone interesting.
Someone happy.
Someone smart.
Someone real.
I’m none of those things.
No matter how hard I try.
I hope one day I will get the hang of it.
Being lovable.
But I suppose for now, all that is, is a silly, childish dream.
Selfish
For every set of hands joined together, i lose a thread in the sweater of my soul
I wish it was me.
I don't want to wait.
Though it seems selfish
I just want to be seen.
To be held.
To be loved.
Selfish.
She held you didn’t she?
Why can’t I?
I know why.
I have let myself go.
Every breath puts me farther away.
I want what everyone else seems to have.
Is that so selfish?
To want what is guaranteed for so many?
I think so.
GPA
Every single test
Every Single quiz
Every single report card
I didn’t do it for me
I did it for you
I did it because it was all you ever talked about
It was all you ever valued
It's all you ever saw in anyone else
I thought that if the numbers were high enough
I thought that if I got close enough to four point oh
You would love me
You would see me
You would finally hold me
But you did not
You don't
And you never will
It was all for nothing.
I have wasted it all
And now i am gone
Mist
Fog rolls out of my heart
I know it is making you cold
you shouldn’t stay
I have made you hard
I have made you cold
You shouldn't have to suffer because i do
You don't deserve it
The mist that spills from my nose and mouth is poison
It probably will kill you
Don’t try to stay
I won’t be able to live if you go first
Is that wrong to think about?
I guess i’m guilty of that as well
Its my fault
I should have known
I should have known
I should have
Ghost Children
There are moments
Bad and hard to comprehend, mismatched;
I do not know how to
String together an entire good life
Or a person
Out of so many broken things.
What I mean is
The Cat gets pissed
And he yells
He’ll smash the Dog’s skull
And there is so much rage in his body.
I do not know
How to tell the men
This fury is not something to be proud of,
To carry or pass on.
There are children who have shrunk themselves
And swallowed their own being
To fit into houses filled with so much rage:
Children who are too loud or too dumb,
Children who will never be enough,
There is no time;
Children who would rather
Sleep on the streets
Than be here.
Children who cut out parts of themselves,
Make themselves smaller, be appropriate,
To belong here.
Children who rebel,
Grow tired of waiting, grow weary;
Grow up
And then cry for their mothers,
Gulp their own tears.
Children sitting on floors
Of good houses
And full families
And have never been more alone,
More annoyed at themselves
For not seeing all the good,
For noticing the wreckage,
For not smiling through their own slaughter.
Children who move out
And do things they weren’t sure
They wanted in the first place.
The Cat screams and scratches everyone
Trying to help him,
The Hamster yells of how her life was ruined;
The Parrot bites me, claws at the Cat and
Keeps breaking things, so many things,
Screams of his entrapment.
I am small:
A rat in a big world,
I have never been alone.
He and His Love
Twenty second of July, I read your Hi
Sharing notes, that's it . Now bye.
Funny talks on the app for a while
Your everyday Hello's became a stockpile.
You ask for my pictures
But I hate being in other's phones.
I don't want you staring at pictures of me
I don't want to be in your memory.
You say that you love me
And I believe you
But you never really knew me
And I never had feelings for you.
What is it exactly that you fell in love with
No, not the real me, It can't be.
You fell in love, harder and harder
With the idea of me in your mind's corner.
You say that I live in your heart and mind
I know it's just the paintings painted by your mind.
I said no, but you just kept on explaining
You just kept me draining.
I believe you, I believe that your feelings are true
All the time and patience you took to grew
The courage to express the feelings in you
I appreciate it, I really do.
I hate that you can't stop thinking about me
All the fears, insecurities and pains that you see
I hate that I'm the cause if it all
You deserve better than that, something better than the fall.
You keep trying to make me fall in love with you
Just because your feelings were quite new.
I'm sorry but it won't work
Cause I have always been in love with me and I hope you do too.
I love my life alone, with friends and family of my own
People with the matching vibes who know me close .
Being an overthinker, yes I have contact limitations
Seems like you just want to cross it with your explanations.
I love helping others and chasing my goals
But you took too much of my mind and soul.
No, I'm not into you. Why don't you get that?
You ask if we could be just friends but still try to be more than that.
I had to stop it, wasting my time on you
Who seems to understand only from his point of view.
I wish you could see that you are just in a love trap
It's where you can't see clear with the love filtered lens and cap.
I pushed you away, I had to do it
Hate me, curse me, blame me for whatever I did
I could care less cause I could finally be me
And may be you could finally be you without any of me.
Comment your favorite line 😊
ALWAYS RUNNING
-kalika
feminine rage
i was 11
crying over the loss of a friend
"boys and girls are just different" my mom told me
was it helpful or trivializing
i'm still not sure
i was 12
they told us something like 1 in 4 girls are assaulted
we looked around the room
wondering who it might be
terrified of the answer
they told us what the men are looking for
our eyes turned on ourselves
we didn't want to make ourselves more of a target
i was 13
during a self-defense class at church
we learned how to hit, how to kick
how to pop a man's eyes out of his head
barely a teenager
and they told me to hit the dummy like i really meant it
i was 13
ruth bader ginsburg died, and i cried
i rarely cried over anything then
but i cried over her
trump was already trying to replace her that night
i was 14
sitting in the front of the car
while my brothers in the back
made a joke about sexual assault
i wanted to scream at them
but i didn't
i was 14
we were working on a story about the dress code
one of the girls mentioned
that it hadn't mattered what she was wearing
my heart broke
i was 15
i watched as they stripped my right to my body
as people around me celebrated
what happened to my choice
a boy asked me to stop talking about it
for the girls in our class to stop using dark humor
as our only coping mechanism
said it made him uncomfortable
he still has all his rights
i am 16
a friend calls while she is running
just to feel safer
i have to explain to the boys in the room
that she didnt want to talk
she wanted to not be a target
i am 16
my brother says that sometimes
women are so annoying
he just wants to shoot them
i'm not sure he doesn't mean it
i am 16
"it must be his time of the month"
one boy jokes about another acting irrationally
it isn't funny
but i sit in silence anyways
i don't want to be accused of being emotional, too
i am 16
"men's lives are more challenging" he argues
he ignores every point we make
he was never going to listen
but we still try, desperately
finally our teacher shuts us down
i want to yell or cry or do anything to release the rage bottling up inside
the rage that runs through my veins
all of our veins
when they belittle us and take away our rights and make us feel weak
and we let them
because it's all they ever taught us to do
A Coward's Guide To Being Brave
Bravery
A seven-letter word
And here’s a guide
Of seven parts
To teach us all
How to be brave
One
Fake it till you make it
Keep smiling till it’s real
Keep talking till you find
It’s getting easier
Two,
Give second chances
To those that you know
Compassion can change
And learn when
A second chance
Will only hurt you
Three,
Be honest
If only with yourself
About how you feel and
How you don’t
Discover what your passions are
And relearn yourself again
Four,
Keep both feet on the ground
You’re not meant
To be walked over
Or to keep falling down
Until your knees are bruised
Five
You are a work of art
Treat yourself like
You are holy and
You are in control
Even if you’re hurting and you’re bleeding
Your scars inside and out
Make you a canvas of the human life
Six,
Remind yourself you are worthy
You are cared for
And your experiences cannot
Define you forever
Because it’ll hurt
And forever is a long time
For you to forget
You are worthy
Seven,
Remember you’re not a coward
When it’s hard and you
Can’t remember what it’s like
For the sun to shine and the rain
To give you a break
Even when it’s hard to recall
When you loved yourself
And you just keep faking it
But you feel you
Will never make it
You are not a coward.
Bravery
A seven-letter word
And here’s a guide
Of seven parts
To teach us all
How to be brave.
-A coward