In The Mirror
Monthly Poems, Photos, and Handwritten Marginalia.
Dear friends,
Thank you so much for stepping into this little corner of the poetry world. :)
You might have already seen this blurb in my Monday email, but if not, here is a little more about this poem!
Throughout April & May 2024, I participated in a breathwork workshop with Victoria Pulla (RSW), and it supported & shifted my nervous system so deeply that I wrote five poems in response to the sessions & post-class journal prompts that Victoria shared with us. Originally, I shared these in a visually formatted & downloadable PDF (reply via email if you’d like it!), but I wanted to share them again (lightly edited) over the next few weeks to offer each poem breathing & revision room (pun 100% intended haha). Feedback and/or thoughts are more than welcome! 🧡1
This poem, specifically, is about a conversation with who we see in the mirror. My 27th birthday just passed on January 8th, so revisiting this poem felt fitting. :)
✩ My album is also here & the lyric booklet is coming VERY soon! Listen to two songs, four spoken word tracks, and my voice notes discussing the ‘why’ behind each track…all info is on the page below! ✩
Please feel free to share this ‘poetriesletter’ with a friend, your network, or social media (or gift them a subscription)!
If you’re in the LA area affected by the fires or looking to support those who are, here is a helpful spreadsheet, an informative & clear video by Leah Thomas, and a resource/poetry (Good Fire by Kinsale Drake)/hope/community-rich newsletter by Nicole Cardoza at Reimagined. ❤️🩹
I hope you enjoy this month’s poem, recording, photos, and handwritten marginalia.
Take gentle, tender care & speak soon.
Gratefully,
In The Mirror
Please find an audio version of the poem below
By the corners of my eyes, I see clawing crow’s feet. In our freckles, I see everyone we’ve yet to meet across my chin, nail-scraped dunes of acne scars. Our clenched jaw chose safer self-harm I see an overbite & hollowed front teeth. I see grinding & forging fight in our sleep but the crooked & swollen knuckles & hands? Flip to our palms: music-making lands. Please stop. I don’t know how to believe you. I was never quick enough or strong enough through... love, there’s loneliness under my eyes, too, but that’s never meant what I’ve said isn’t true.
Behind The Scenes Kindling
Before You Go…
Here are a few life-giving poems from some brilliant poets:
Chrismas Tree by James Merrill
Pantoum for 1979 by Brenda Miller
Winter Flowers In Biddle City & Falling In Love In Biddle City by Marianne Chan
An Imagined Monograph for Nongqawuse & Survival Notes by Alma Simba
Rican Issues by Carmen Bardeguez-Brown
There Are More Ways to Show Devotion by Hanif Abdurraqib
Another Antipastoral by Vievee Francis
Good Fire by Kinsale Drake
If you’re looking for your next poem, book, etc., I got you! ❤️🔥 🍂 🪶 🪐 🍁
Please note that Victoria did not ask me to write these poems, create this post, promo anything, etc. This is entirely coming from me. :)
I like the idea with the mirror and the person looking having two voices. Mirrors reflect but not without some distortion. This “distortion” doesn’t have to be necessarily negative. It can be a needed shift in perspective. I was wondering if the one stanza alone which voice was reading it or maybe both? 💛