z
  • Home

Young Writers Society



i keep inviting death into my life

by milkweed


he is vital, alive,
and she is eurydice, one foot in the void.
i want to go back, when the years have not yet
caught up with them and their hands are still supple,
uncallused.

maybe this is all we were meant to be;
a brief moment in time, a flash in the cosmos.
wrapped up in his arms,
she must feel the weight of his pain and guilt,
must want to take it with her when she goes.

you never grow out of missing
your parents.

i imagine he's here,
still dwelling on the couch like an animal.
the afternoon sun wanes. soon, he will rise,
nocturnal in all his glory, and he will reach
for a cigarette, or for her.

as fast as it started, it’s over
and quiet again.

that is the question of parenthood;
i know this rot in me will someday
spread and the earth will reclaim me.
it is the oldest story.
nothing can be salvaged.

i can never shake the feeling,
but maybe i can dislodge it. still, i sit in the sun;
to reach eternal beauty, you have to look back.


Is this a review?


  

Comments



User avatar
32 Reviews

Points: 3186
Reviews: 32

Donate
Sun Sep 29, 2024 10:19 am
View Likes
Alwaysea wrote a review...



Heyy...here to give a quick review from my point of view

The poem captures the mysterious journey between life and death, reflecting on a deep connection with a loved one. It evokes a longing for the past, a time when life felt hopeful and full of possibilities. Those moments, untouched by the weight of responsibility, are cherished memories that many of us yearn for at least once in our lives. The speaker’s feelings of nostalgia resonate deeply, reminding us of a carefree spirit that often gets lost as we grow older.

The line “to reach eternal beauty, you have to look back” stands out as a powerful reminder to appreciate our past. It suggests that acknowledging our history and the feelings tied to it can help us find beauty in the present. Despite the challenges and responsibilities we face, sitting in the sun symbolizes a desire to embrace life and hold onto the joy we once felt. Overall, the poem speaks to the universal experience of longing for simpler times and the connection between our past and present selves.




User avatar
60 Reviews

Points: 5221
Reviews: 60

Donate
Wed Sep 25, 2024 2:13 am
View Likes
AkiraEliza wrote a review...



I'm just going to be honest and say that I had to pull teeth with myself to review anything :< its not just you, I swear. I've just been typing nonstop for the past two weeks and I'm pushing myself.
okay! lets read this thing!
This sounds like a Greek poem. Like something historical. maybe "smart" would be a dumbed down term. this definitely sounds like star-crossed lovers. Although I have to admit, you lost me at "parents". where do parents fit into this again? I thought we were talking about two people in love? Oh, the dad. sounds like my step dad. I hope he doesn't yell at you. just... stay quiet and get out of the way. that's my best advice for you. I know that asking the man to play baseball with you wont work. it never does. you speak to him and its gruff and short. I don't know your situation, but perhaps sit in silence and watch the TV with him. he'll know you're there but you ain't causing trouble, right? it's like spending time with him silently. the more time you spend with him the more chance he may open up to you. again, I don't know anything about your family situation, so it's just a tiny suggestion.
as for a more "review" like opinion (I know I suck at reviews) I didn't find any grammar mistakes and rereading this, it's like poof! it makes sense that you're talking about how your parents act. I must have had a dumb moment. I don't think it was unintentional for you to not rhyme so I'll leave it be because it probably sounds better without it rhyming. again, it sounds like a Greek poem. that might actually be a good thing.
anywho, hope you have a good day!




User avatar
76 Reviews

Points: 9618
Reviews: 76

Donate
Tue Sep 24, 2024 9:02 pm
View Likes
candyhearts wrote a review...



Hai :3

I love this so much!! The way you play with imagery here is so evocative!! I’m absolutely living for how you intertwine myth and memory ~~ Like, with the Eurydice reference for example. It's so subtle yet packs a huge punch, like that sense of being stuck in limbo, one foot in the void, just hovers over the whole thing. It adds this delicate yet haunting vibe!! It’s like she’s tethered between worlds, just as Eurydice was, always stuck in that loop. Her story is so poetic!!

There’s a universality to this, like a feeling that no matter how much time passes, some losses stay with you forever!! It’s a profound reflection on grief and memory, and I love how you just let it sit there, stark and unadorned. I've never had to confront something like this, but I know people who have. Death is always going to be painful, but I imagine this is next level!! It's such a hard experience to get over, but I think writing about it is a good way to channel grief!! It's cathartic!!

maybe this is all we were meant to be;
a brief moment in time, a flash in the cosmos


You bring such an existential weight here, reflecting on how fleeting everything is. It's like expanding the poem from this intimate reflection into the vastness of the universe. There’s this real sense of insignificance and impermanence, like all of these deeply personal moments don’t even register on a cosmic scale, yet to them, it’s everything. I love it!! It reminds me of how fragile human connections are against the backdrop of something much larger, which is a very real topic.

the afternoon sun wanes. soon, he will rise,
nocturnal in all his glory, and he will reach
for a cigarette, or for her


!!! This is stunning!!

There’s a sense of inevitability here, like you know exactly what his pattern is. If anyone would know him, you would!! It's so interesting because you make his nocturnal state sound like something grand or dignified, even though it’s probably more about his disconnection from normal life. It’s such a specific way to describe someone who is just living in a cycle of self-destruction!! The dichotomy is amazing here too!! It’s like the cigarette and your mom are interchangeable, both things used to fill some void. It’s tragic, but I adore its inclusion!!

^^^ Though, I wish the jump from the first stanzas to this one was neater. I would assume the second stanza is referencing your mother passing away, but this stanza, especially this line, recount your father dying too. This is such a heavy reflection on mortality, but I wish the loss was focused on more!! I know that must be hard to write about, but I think it could tighten up the narrative ~~ Like, what happens to your father after your mother's passing? What else happens outside of that?

still, i sit in the sun;
to reach eternal beauty, you have to look back


What an ending!!

It's such a beautiful image of trying to find peace, or at least a moment of warmth amidst all this weight. The final line about looking back to reach eternal beauty is so gorgeous!! It’s like you’re suggesting that the past, no matter how painful, holds the key to something greater. It’s such a bittersweet way to end the poem, with this small glimmer of hope. I also love how the Eurydice metaphor comes back at the end!! It's testimonial to the cycle and how you can't escape your fate.

Speaking of cycles, I love how you play around with the cycle of life!! It feels so final, like you’re acknowledging that no matter what we do, no matter how much we try to hold on or make things better, in the end, nothing can truly be saved. Parents will always die, children will become parents, and then the cycle resets in time. That's so painful, but it's so real!! This poem is so raw to me, but I feel it deep in my chest despite the bitterness. It's sososo good and perfectly haunting!!

This was gorgeous though!! You’ve managed to make this poem so deeply personal while also touching on universal themes. It's not easy to juggle your own grief with something like that, but you did great!! Amazing work!! <3

- Payton





It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.
— Mark Twain