Death House Press

Void

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by 

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Aurora Matahari Raiment 

&

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G. Bennett Ulrich

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I hate labels.  Yet, 
sometimes I need them 
to rationalize.

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I hate anything 
that makes you hateful.

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I hate the fear 
of the knowledge 
that I could conspire 
to hurt you, when 
all you have shown me 
is kindness.

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It's because we're two of a kind 
and you're afraid 
of the other you.

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Afraid of myself? 
Aren't we all?

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Afraid of not truly knowing ourselves, 
afraid of losing ourselves, not 
of ourselves.

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Fear is a four letter word... 
Let's change it 
--Make it real 
so I can visualize... 
Darkness maybe, 
thickly enveloping me 
--Isolation... 
being alone, 
yet confined... 
Unable to reach out... 
void.

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Sometimes boundaries 
can be the greatest freedoms. 
Take this poem, for example, 
we never said that we would only write in English, 
yet we tend to-- 
we just know what works and we go with it. 
The rules are unspoken 
until they're broken, 
then a simple word or phrase 
brings us back to the point 
that we work well together 
and play well too. 
It's not a chore-- 
It's more... 
amore.

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There are a lot of unspoken rules aren't there? 
I like to believe that if they aren't verbalized, 
they don't exist. 
I think I am living slightly shrouded, 
but you see right through me, 
to the core, 
knowing me and not walking away. 
What makes you stay?

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I've been burdened with sight 
--and I can see that this is far more than 
just right.

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So you will wait out the monsoon, 
the torrent of melancholy to find me 
--hopefully restored, 
and reaching out with open arms? 
Will you wager the diamonds of your time, 
or cast your pearls at swine?

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Hope is reserved for those too afraid 
to have faith. 
I've seen the signs, 
this deluge will end 
and I will send out my dove to find land, 
a strong and safe place to stand.

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Will you stand alone? 
I am not going to worry about the outcome anymore. 
If this is a pairing of perfection, 
then you and I will be writing late at night 
for a million Phoebus falls. 
And that takes out the sting slap immediacy.

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So be it. 
 

Reprinted with permission of authors