diff --git a/_includes/types.html b/_includes/types.html index 600edbe..650f157 100644 --- a/_includes/types.html +++ b/_includes/types.html @@ -32,4 +32,15 @@ +
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    + Poems of all lengths +

    Poetry

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  • diff --git a/_posts/2018-06-01-growth.md b/_posts/2018-06-01-growth.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a82dbd9 --- /dev/null +++ b/_posts/2018-06-01-growth.md @@ -0,0 +1,182 @@ +--- +author: Madison Scott-Clary +categories: +- Poem +- Rated G +counts: + characters_real: 3818 + characters_total: 4742 + file: _posts/2018-06-01-growth.md + paragraphs: 28 + type: jekyll + words: 894 +description: A longer piece to go with this lovely painting by Julian Norwood (https://www.patreon.com/Cadmiumtea), + which I commissioned for the end of an era. The image of transformation is from + a recurring dream. +img: growth-header.jpg +layout: post +tags: +- Poetry +- Gender +- Transition +- About furry +title: Growth +--- + +![Growth](/assets/img/growth.jpg) + +"Growth" by Julian Norwood + +----- + +
    +Used to be you and I daily would walk +through the fields out back of the house and talk +for hours, spilling words and emotions. +These walks were our daily devotions +to each other over the years. + +The fields, dotted with ponds, were our space. +We tramped those trails strung like lace +along shores and through tall grass, +murmuring now like winds, chattering now like brass +in some changeful duet. + +You'd tell me about the geese in the sky, +would watch me stand still and not ask why +the birds scared me to pieces, +even as we dodged around their feces +littering the trails. + +You'd put up with my fickle interests, +running with me, or stopping to see what arrests +my attention. You'd follow all of my changes +and change along with me through all the ranges +of our shared experience. + +You'd tell me of your meditation, +I'd talk of my fears of stagnation. +You'd always smile so kindly to me, +and I'd always feel so free +in our companionship. + +And over time, those walks got slower, +shorter, less frequent, or over +far too soon, though no less meaningful +as we spent our time together in cheerful +conversation or kind quiet. + +We each seemed to be going our separate ways, +with me branching out, exploring different lays +of different lands, and you turning inwards, +exploring lines of thought you never put in words, +at least not that you told me. + +And then one day, we once more went out walking +and though it took a while, you got to talking. +You told me of how you sat, quiet and alone, +waiting for the time you might turn to stone +and be completely still at last. + +You told me how as you sat, the room lengthened, +curved around, turned on you --- strengthened, +it seemed, by your very presence --- +and amid all of that gathered pleasance, +bit you in half. + +You told me how, as part of you died +in that moment, the rest of you spied, +it seemed, on this very ending. +You told me you thought that this rending +was the end of something big. + +I listened in silence. What could I say? +The things you were telling me, walking that day +were strangely shaped and didn't make sense. +Or if they did, they did so around corners as pretense, +perhaps, subtext, allusion, metaphor. + +You were right, though, I could hear it in your voice. +There was finality, there, which spoke of a choice +already made. Endings were writ on your face, +your hands, and your steps --- your very pace +spoke of completion. + +I replied to that sense rather than your words. +"While you look up to the geese and see only birds, +I see omens and my doom spelled in vees. +You speak of rooms and cleaving, but please, +tell me, are you leaving?" + +We'd long since stopped, there by the pond, +and your smile was, yes, sad, but still fond +as you settled down wordlessly to your knees, +took a slow breath, looked out to the trees, +and closed your eyes. + +Beginnings are such delicate times +and I very nearly missed it, no chimes +to announce the hour of your leaving. +As it was, there was no time for believing +or not in the next moments. + +Your fingers crawled beneath the soil +and sprouted roots, flesh starting to roil. +Coarse bark spiraled up your wrists and arms, +Spelling subtle incantations and charms +to the chaos of growth. + +You bowed your head and from your crown +sprouted a tender shoot covered in fine down, +soon followed by crenelated leaves and fine stems. +The pace was fast, implacable, and leaves like gems +soon arched skyward. + +You sprouted and grew, taking root +in one smooth motion, fixed and mute. +Your clothing fell away, rotting in fast-time. +Naked now, you sat still, committing one last crime +of indecency. + +Your face, your face! In your face was such peace +as I'd never seen, even as you gave up this lease +on life, echoed also in my heart of hearts. +I did not cry out, nor even speak, witnessing such arts +as your final display showed. + +Soon, you were consumed, transformed as a whole. +Your head a crown of leaves, your heart a bole +bored in rough bark and sturdy wood, +your fingers, knees, and toes stood +as thirsty roots. + +I stood a while by the tree that was you, +then sat at your roots and thought of all I knew +about time, transformation, death and change. +I thought about you, your life, your emotional range, +your gentle apotheosis. + +Then I walked home, quiet and numb. +No, not numb, per se, but perhaps dumb. +Dumb of words, dumb of emotions. Quiet. +I expected turmoil, some internal riot, +I got nullity. + +Who, after all, if I cried out, +would hear my wordless shout +among the still trees and rustling leaves? +Who hears? Who cares? Who perceives +this non-grief? + +You, my friend, are still there. +I walk the fields every day, passing where +you changed into something new. +I marvel at you, at how you grew +into something wholly different. + +Used to be you and I daily would walk +through the fields out back of the house and talk. +Now, it's just me, alone, quiet, thinking +of you by the shore, forever drinking +of sweet water. +
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    Poems of any length

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      + {% for post in site.categories['Poem'] %} +
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      + {% for tag in post.tags %} + | {{ tag }} + {% endfor %} +

      {{post.title}}

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