I saw this poem on Tumblr. It was incorrectly attributed, so I went into this frenzy to find the source. Oh my goodness. So worth it. The poem is beautiful to read, but listening to the author (Marty McConnell) reciting it is even better.
Frida Kahlo to Marty McConnell
by Marty McConnell
by Marty McConnell
leaving is not enough; you must
stay gone. train your heart
like a dog. change the locks
even on the house he’s never
visited. you lucky, lucky girl.
you have an apartment
just your size. a bathtub
full of tea. a heart the size
of Arizona, but not nearly
so arid. don’t wish away
your cracked past, your
crooked toes, your problems
are papier mache puppets
you made or bought because the vendor
at the market was so compelling you just
had to have them. you had to have him.
and you did. and now you pull down
the bridge between your houses,
you make him call before
he visits, you take a lover
for granted, you take
a lover who looks at you
like maybe you are magic. make
the first bottle you consume
in this place a relic. place it
on whatever altar you fashion
with a knife and five cranberries.
don’t lose too much weight.
stupid girls are always trying
to disappear as revenge. and you
are not stupid. you loved a man
with more hands than a parade
of beggars, and here you stand. heart
like a four-poster bed. heart like a canvas.
heart leaking something so strong
they can smell it in the street.
stay gone. train your heart
like a dog. change the locks
even on the house he’s never
visited. you lucky, lucky girl.
you have an apartment
just your size. a bathtub
full of tea. a heart the size
of Arizona, but not nearly
so arid. don’t wish away
your cracked past, your
crooked toes, your problems
are papier mache puppets
you made or bought because the vendor
at the market was so compelling you just
had to have them. you had to have him.
and you did. and now you pull down
the bridge between your houses,
you make him call before
he visits, you take a lover
for granted, you take
a lover who looks at you
like maybe you are magic. make
the first bottle you consume
in this place a relic. place it
on whatever altar you fashion
with a knife and five cranberries.
don’t lose too much weight.
stupid girls are always trying
to disappear as revenge. and you
are not stupid. you loved a man
with more hands than a parade
of beggars, and here you stand. heart
like a four-poster bed. heart like a canvas.
heart leaking something so strong
they can smell it in the street.
What do you think?
xoxo
absolutely love it ♥
one of my favourite pieces of poetry is romeo and juliet.. "for never was a story of more woe, than this of juliet and her romeo" 😉 especially this sentence: "Believe me, love, it was the nightingale!" so romantic *-*
Wow. Amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Slam poetry is one of my favorite hobbies! They have an awesome club for this in NYC actually. Bowery Poetry Club. It's on my bucket list to go there 🙂
Amazing, I want to just paint it on a wall in my apartment.
Whoa! This is amazing, especially because I used to work with Marty McConnell. I had no idea she had this secret, crazy talented batman side to her (although, she is crazy talented in her regular life too).
Amazing poem! thanks for sharing!
Amazing! slam poetry is fantastic. Sarah Kay is my idol, but now I must check out this Marty (and subsequently become obsessed with her).
Here's another female poet who says the things that we're all feeling:
http://vimeo.com/38766162
OMG! this is incredible!!!