I moved to New Haven on July 23rd, 2019. I've lived here just over three weeks now - I think - and it's been a combination of profound stress, sporadic sadness, and excitement. I think I decided to write today because, 1. it's been raining since I woke up, so I canceled my plans to … Continue reading New Haven
life
Midnight Calls
My body is fragile Crack me open at the seam in my Ribcage, like a damp wafer – watch the strawberry blood cake in exposed air. How many midnight calls, and dinnertime Interruptions can a heart take before the valves wear thin And the tell tale tingle moves up my arm? Doctor’s orders: I can’t … Continue reading Midnight Calls
What Else?
When you're 27 and your friends are 78, or 82 - you either Accept your fate: Your friends are going to die, or What Else? This is the only Truth that persists: You are young and people die. And your death doesn't matter, so much. It's not that - it's this: It will never make … Continue reading What Else?
Dying
When it's my time I want to know: what it feels like There are opportunities for second chances, but this isn't one. I want to know what it was like, before the morphine drip, dripping And the rockabye easing out I woke up in the world screaming What is it like to end?
Everyone Who Searches
And everyone who searches finds - maybe not the missing button, maybe an old note, yellowed photo with a missing corner. And you realize what you find is good enough, or better And the cardigan can do without mending - its gapping filled for now with a memory of summertime, or last year's loss - … Continue reading Everyone Who Searches
frost bitten
You'll be kind and never lose your temper and no one will misunderstand your jokes. You'll wake up early and listen to the mourning dove sing dooo dooo do-do-do low-high calling the new day good. You'll always have spare change for the panhandler at his median … Continue reading frost bitten
do not take
The earth moves Did you know? It pulses with intention. Birds free fall in aerial feats The hive hums The dry leaves whisper their ancient chant And we, We move, too Building, working, fighting, dreaming - not always with intention. But noise, always noise. The earth knows - do you? Our performative toiling is Being, a … Continue reading do not take
untitled
Let me die in the summertime by a window, with the warmth, pushing through the fragile skin of my eyelids Let me die in a quiet room; with the tea kettle on in the kitchen and the laundry spinning, pulsing like blood through beating hearts. Let me die with a cat at my feet and … Continue reading untitled
Leah Wise 