mercy, please

image © 2015 jennifer wagner

a red blossom, bloodied burqa,

             voice

                        buried

stoning hole shadows

awaiting execution

press my heart,

 

            crush

within me

© 2015 Jennifer Wagner

For dVerse MTB. Bjorn has invited us to do some blackout poetry. I used a book I am currently reading, Stone Crossings, by L.L. Barkat. This particular page/segment from her book brought to mind the the film The Stoning of Soraya M. If you haven't seen it, it's gut-wrenching. Honestly, I couldn't sit through all of the stoning scene.

Eggshells

I won't play your eggshell game.

It's a drag

and you can't hold me hostage

anymore

from who I am,

from who I am meant to be,

from happiness.

Honestly, it's rude,

and you continue to behave childishly,

demanding things

on your own selfish terms.

Meanwhile,

I am making new loves

and they don't require that I tiptoe,

they say,

give it all you got, girl,

go ahead,

crunch.

© 2015 Jennifer Wagner

For Poetry Jam: One Word. My word is “Freedom,” written about obliquely.

Saturday Morning Cartoons (with Oreos and Milk)

A father wakes up

before everybody else

and sets the world whistling.

Except on Saturday,

when he's supposed to get to sleep in,

but you jump on his belly

and pry his eyes open

to watch cartoons with you.

He doesn't mind, though,

because you're his.

© 2015 Jennifer Wagner

For my daddy.

Dad, remember Oreos and milk for breakfast with Saturday morning cartoons? I do. Good times. :)

And for Poets United: The Poetry Pantry