THAT STREET

By Kirstie Jones

The mind has a way of taking us there

that street in our mind where we never feel enough

It is full of peddlers selling little trinkets made of

our depreciated self-worth

Flashy billboards replay

our embarrassments and recent conversations,

while storefront windows

are filled with self-acceptance

above our price range

Street performers deliver acrobatics of shame

making it easy to believe we are guilty of something,

though they tumble too fast to know what

The movie theatre seats film critics

seriously discussing

our ‘riveting and unprecedented’ emotions

The mind has a way of taking us there

that street

And when we find ourselves on its sidewalks

Let us walk with our held held high, chest to the sky

lengthen our stride, shoulders out wide

That street’s only a silly dream

We deserve our self-esteem.

ABOUT THE POEM: "I wrote 'That Street' to describe my internal struggles with self-acceptance, especially in the context of having CPTSD.I write poetry to find words for what is beyond words."

ABOUT KRISTIE: Kirstie writeS poetry about mental health and human emotions in the hopes of normalizing these experiences. 

instagram: @kirstiejpoetry

UNTITLED

By Charity Louise



I woke up this morning,

jumped up out of bed,

excited to face up

to the full day ahead.

I walked up the street

to stock up my fridge.

Then I dug up my garden

to plant some more veg.

Then I hung up my coat,

and I cleaned up my home.

I called up some friends,

then I hung up the phone.

I folded up laundry

and put it away.

Then, I made up a poem

to describe my whole day.

Then I placed all my books

back up on the shelf,

and I put my feet up,

and I thought to myself …

after a long stretch of nasty,

and a big dollop of yuck, 

it feels like it’s changing 

as things start to look up.

WHEN YOUR WALLS COME TUMBERLING DOWN

By Rich Orloff

When your walls come tumbling down

Rejoice living in the wreckage

Don't be in too much of a hurry to tidy things up

Or to erase your history

Take a moment and look around

This is where you once lived

Where you once called home

Where you were afraid to leave

Yes, the walls crowded you

Yes, the walls didn't let in enough light

Yes, the walls were so thick

That terror ricocheted off them

And were thrust into your soul

The walls didn't know that the enemy

Was actually inside the building

And that to be free

You had to tear the walls down

So thank the walls for protecting you

They were doing the job walls were meant to do

Breathe the fresh air and survey the landscape

And before you move on…

Place a small part of the wall in your pocket

Both so you know where you came from

And so you're reminded of your courage

To tear the walls down

And start a new life

Bounded only by infinity

ABOUT RICH: Rich writes both poems and plays. His poems have been published internationally, presented at churches and synagogues, performed in theaters and schools, and spoken at events both lofty and intimate. Each week Rich sends out a spiritually infused poem to a readership of over 2000 ministers, rabbis, spiritual leaders and friends. Rich’s plays (mostly comedies) have had over 2400 productions on six continents – and a staged reading in Antarctica.

W: www.richorloff.com

W: www.beautifulwound.com

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