Huffin and Puffin

You know when you hear that huff
it’s time to run,
and as gracefully as a swan you slide out the door and disappear.
You hear the huffin and puffin getting nearer,
and like a panicked chicken you look for a way out.
But you’re cornered.
And the potoo’s mouth opens like a vacuum
and huffs all over you.
And in self defense or madness
you huff at them back,
as a mimicking parrot, in hopes
the storm won’t come your way.
But this angers them more and
with eagle eyes, they swoop
and breathe hot air all over you.
You stand upright dishevelled
like an owl caught in a tempest
and turn your head 180 degrees.
Then the huffins done and the puffin
walks away quite happily.
“Twit twoo” you say, staring vacantly,
feeling as heavy as an ostrich
and as unfortunate as a dodo.

Laura Berry (Napowrimo Day 15 – 2024)

No Choice but to Sit

I was directed to sit
Down to my toes
Darkness, just one colour
Thoughts of one kind
Hate and hate
No contradictions
Like a weighted rock
I could only sit down
And never get up
I regret it
I am more dead
Than i thought i was
A finite land
Of nothing
Hate grows fiercely
A tied knot
Holding me still in
Pleasant Idleness
A lesser Life

Laura Berry (Napowrimo – Day 3 – 2023)

You Judge

You Judge the way I look
And the things I do
The spec of dirt I left
Means I’m terrible to you
You Judge when I am sick
Or not able to be of use
You Judge me being bullied
And my anxiety from abuse
You pick at my feelings
And claim they don’t exist at all
My emotions are weird to you
You Judge the tears that fall
Hell, you judge the colour of the sky
The person walking by
The truth that can’t be changed
Preferring to judge me insane
For pointing you to it
You Judge the way I talk
The way I move my body
The way I arrange the forks
But now I’m starting to see
It’s about you not me
And I can feel this sadness
That you prefer to judge me
Than see…
Than see.

Laura Berry

What is a Violent Act?

A punch in the face is quite obvious
or a physical smack.
But there are things we overlook most times
that class as violent acts.
Forcing yourself into someones space
when they wished to be alone.
Forcing your words about yourself
to your friend upon the phone.

Taking over a space so that others
cannot exist,
restricting their movements, their happiness
and bliss.
Touching someone when they expressed dislike
but doing it anyway.
Blocking someone from leaving their space
can be a vicious kind of display.

Using the airwaves in a group
to abuse someone nearby,
so that they can´t escape you
no matter how hard they try.
Threatening violence by stomping around
and exuding your power.
Smacking doors and clanking dishes
hour after hour.

Self defense is a form of violence
that the world justifies.
Many wars have been fought
through this lens of hypocritical eyes.

But the most subtle violent acts
are the ones most detrimental.
Lying about the truth to someone
and claiming ´they´ are mental.
Distorting and manipulating
the reality of another.
That violent act of abuse
is worse than all the others.

And if we want to stop the violence
its time to look at ourselves,
and no longer be a part of it.
It´s time to take the book off the shelf.
And read its subtleties through and through
until our eyes are clear,
until it sinks into our hearts
and violence is no longer near.

Laura Berry

Napowrimo, Day Eighteen 2021

Anger and Violence

When you become aware of anger and violence,
you see it everywhere…
impatient tapping of nails on cupboards,
hardened footsteps, evil stares.
Grinding teeth, hard sounding words.
Cold and cutting like a sheet of ice.
Folded arms like rigor mortis, stiff,
immovable, you know you will pay a price.
Slamming doors like hell hath no fury.
You know that it´s aimed at you,
designed to make you conform or cower
with their hot breath over you.
Anger and violence is like a dagger
but the sword of truth has more power.
So feel your fear but then stand tall
while they throw eggs at you and flour.
And remember this…
the anger is an illusion, the truth is real.
Be real…
Stay real.
Don´t conform for anger or violence´s sake,
do it for love
and only love.

Laura Berry

Bleeding Heart

 

My heart bleeds.
Its vigour deadened,
as the droplets descend
and stain the earth red.
.
The sun of fire
rises from the pool
and heads for the sky.
An auburn glow surrounds.
.
Faces lit like rubies.
Hells reflections alight.
Eyes aflame in shadowed brow
with lips of blood pursed tight.
.
Scarlet fingers, clench a fist
in anger blazing hot.
This soul aches and burns
in a land of love forgot.

Laura Berry

Anger

Many of us have anger.
To gift it is our biggest mistake.
To own it a conscious choice.
But to keep it a lack of faith.

.
To let go of it a desire for change.
To feel it, a recognition of sin.
We no longer need it to defend our fear.
Now the souls softening can begin.

Laura Berry

Receiving Anger

Insignificant, unjust, scared, belittled, unvalued, bare
On edge, nervous, frozen, insecure, confused, chosen
Pressured, jumpy, demanded, alone, intimidated, commanded
Stressed, vulnerable, hurt, make me unseen and unheard
I wither at angers touch no more
I turn my back

Laura Berry