(there is a space
where the stars align)
a valley resting at the edge
of my lover’s arm—
a sacred hallow
hidden within his embrace—
a cherished space
nestled next to his heart—
(where I fit perfectly
where I am safe)
a paradise
cast by god—
a gift
ordained for me—
a salvation—
an apology—
god’s repentance—
his reparation—
a twin flame
standing sentry over me—
(the chance of a serene slumber
swathed in my lover’s embrace)
whispered promises
of life still to be found—
(a peaceful moment during this impossible
venture)
a respite—
until tomorrow demands
I return to the land of living
(through the land of the dead)
About the Creator
Stacey Mataxis Whitlow
A recently published and award winning poet, my days are mostly spent adulting. My daydreams are filled with an unquenchable wanderlust, and my sleepless nights are haunted by an unrequited love affair with words.
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Comments (1)
Thank you for reading. I used to resent the hell out of the quote by Ernest Hemingway — “There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.” Now, I understand on a visceral level what he meant. Some stories must be bled out or they will poison you. This is that story for our family. This poem is different from any of my others, as it is an excerpt from what will ultimately be my first (and most likely only) multi media/ multi genre work. Mid Res starts in the middle of what is one of the darkest moments of my adult life. But as my daughter and the universe have expressed to me over and over again during these last three years, it is a story that can help others; a story that “deserves to be told.” I originally drafted this collection on the advice of my therapist. When it was finished, I allowed my daughter to read it over in order to decide if we would burn it, ignore it, or release it to the world. She voted that we release it. As you will soon learn, K is braver and stronger than most. It is how she survived the unspeakable for far too long by herself. Mid Res isn’t only my story, and unfortunately it isn’t only K’s story. This work demands collaboration. As a result, Mid Res will most likely be my first and possibly only collaboration with my daughter, and we might even crowdsource some parts of it here from your comments and the world in general. Our collaboration could use your help too. If you are moved by what you read, or you can relate, or you have been here, or you love someone who has, or you want to read more, please support our work by posting, sharing, commenting, subscribing, and/or tipping. In an attempt to thank you for your support, K and I will send anyone who tips any amount throughout the release of this series, a copy of the work when (and if) it is published. It will be our way of paying you back for your incredible generosity and support. The hope is to crowdfund the publication of this work, so we never have to hand our story over to another to distort. So any support you can offer us is greatly appreciated. As always, thanks for reading. It means the world (and a half-penny) to us! 💜 K (the daughter, the work’s illustrator and its editor) and Stacey (the mother, the work’s poet and its writer/researcher).