A poem-a-day protest against the threat posed to our democracy by the current occupant of the White House
James Diaz
Everyone Is at War With Themselves
But no two battles are the same
Some say it loudly: do not
Touch my pain
Other’s need all hands on them
At all times
And the inner drowning comes quick
And fierce
It spares no innocence
It breaks the heart down
To a fine and glinting dust
And we must walk through
Certain things alone
But not this
Someone says
In that great circle
Of anonymous rooms
No, certainly not this
Am I still good, God?
I’m asking
For me
And if I’m still asking…
And if you’re still listening…
I put my arms around strangers
Who hold me up
Tonight
And when I speak
Heart comes tumbling out
So much heart and heavy
These years
I burned and broke
And battled myself
To the death
Bone to brain
I know hope
As a raggedy wraith
Drugged and dragged
Through the backends
Of life
Of life,
I think-
There is a death
To be unlearned
Always
Touch this pain or not
Pain is spoken
Pain is heard
Someone cups the flame
Until someone else’s fingers work again
God,
I’m still
Asking.
James Diaz (They/Them) is the founding editor of the literary arts intentional community and healing space Anti-Heroin Chic, as well as the author of three full length poetry collections: This Someone I Call Stranger (Indolent Books, 2018), All Things Beautiful Are Bent (Alien Buddha, 2021), and Motel Prayers (Alien Buddha, 2022). Originally a southern native, they currently live in upstate New York.
Indolent Books and editor Michael Broder are back with another poem-a-day series as a creative response to the threat posed to our democracy by the current occupant of the White House. The plan is to continue for all 1460 days of the 47th American presidency.
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