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Language:
English
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Published:
2023-03-22
Completed:
2023-03-22
Words:
598
Chapters:
2/2
Comments:
3
Kudos:
43
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8
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254

Poem 53

Summary:

From the collection “Poems For My Head’s Country.” Annotations by Harry Du Bois.

(For/Inspired by laughingpineapple <3)

Notes:

Inspired by laughingpineapple’s wonderful ficlet, “Poems for my head’s country,” in which Harry finds a book of poetry with annotations he doesn’t remember making. I cry quite literally every time I read it. Only a few lines of Poem 53 are quoted in the fic, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it today and wanted to write out the poem I was imagining in my head. Love you Eva <3

(See the end of the work for other works inspired by this one.)

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

POEM 53


Picture this: your body. And now: inhabit this: your body :(1) a vehicle for: the long trek westward. And now: remember this : you are the vehicle. And remember this : you must carry your self to: the threshold. And remember :(2) the relay: which has carried you this far. The self: passed from one hand to: another: the same hand, now: changed .(3)

Bring your self along as you journey to the Western Plain, not as baggage, but as an offer. (4)(5) Leave your self on the threshold as the wind calls you forward. It is not for you. It never was. The next traveler will know what to make of this weary load ,(6) as you will find his down the path. Take it up. That is for you. It will be yours again. Feel its weight pressing into you like a warm body. Remember this : your body is warm. It carries you still. 

It will carry you right to the edge of the Plain, and you will sit on the porch, and it will be quiet. Then you must talk to your self. (7)(8)(9) Bring it to your ear like a shell, mourn the small creature that was lost to the sea .(10)(11) Lay your selves out before you: a collection gathered: lovingly as you walked along: the edge. The relay ends here. You will unravel and be unborn .(12)

Remember this : you have loved them all.(13)(14)

Remember this : even when the porch collapses: you are: the relay out of: death.

You are: every day: reborn. (15)(16)




  1. Do I have to?
  2. This poet is fucking bossy
  3. Not changed enough
  4. Pretty shitty offer honestly
  5. Don’t say that. Why’d you have to write that in pen? Ugh.
  6. I really fucking hope so
  7. I’m good at that. Lucky me.
  8. I’m talking to myself right now, aren’t I? Hi, me
  9. Hey there
  10. Does he deserve to be mourned?
  11. It’s not a question of deserving. 
  12. That’s hot
  13. Have I really?
  14. At the very least, I love you.
  15. That’s less hot
  16. I disagree.