Poetry is hard part 2

Originally posted June 14th 2023

This substack was originally written in March ‘23

A few weeks ago I was inspired by a random message my friend, Devika, sent me that read “annoyed at the higher ups pretty much us”. I think it was in relation to a previous job at a place we both worked, or our general annoyance with job applications. But it stuck out to me as something poetic, it evoked a feeling I couldn’t ignore. So I asked if I could use it for a poem and suggested we both write a one with it as a title and see how we interpret it.

I sat with the title for a couple of weeks before something clicked and found the rhythm I wanted, the vibe. Forward slashes becoming my new best friend, giving the whole thing a cut up feeling, which is what I wanted. It’s either a draft or a completed work, I haven’t made up my mind about it yet.

Here is the poem:

Annoyed at the higher ups pretty much us 

we sigh/
it is a pretty sight atop this skyscraper
palms in face/drooped over the ledge
kicking our feet towards those down below/heated in magnifying glass
wind kicks up tears/ they land/
//“did the app say rain?”//”they’re always wrong”//
explode pop big balloons over the ocean
world news via memes
poke at my lip until the crack opens up and splits
torn/climb in

I weigh my guilt against the world
leaning back on the plate, crossed legged
and she/blinded adds more weight
//”more weight”//”isn’t that what the dying man said?”//”more weight”//
my fingers tied to support my head
I look at the sky
bugs in my retinas 
found to be weightless
found to be guilty

jumpcut//JUMP cunt
balance acts in the parking garage
11th floor balcony overlooking spits balls from the 12th floor
dropping our heads over the railing
chopping block posing
if you fall you’ll land on your feet
but the building will be gone.

Thank you for reading

-Enya xx