The Itch

Image courtesy of Egypttoday.com

https://godoggocafe.com/2021/06/08/tuesday-writing-prompt-challenge-tuesday-june-8-2021/

Today’s prompt: Write a poem that uses the words “weary”, “nails”, and “mind control”

I weary.

Weary of the white noise

Spitting out layers

Striated stone

Of itching mind control,

Of mica and gypsum

Rough, itchy flakes

Others carved out for me

To keep me in what they

Saw as my place.

My nails worn down, bloody raw

To relieve the itch from time to time

The itch that speaks the words

I know are not true

But still have the power

Of stone to crush the ribs

Of my soul with the weight

Of their damnable tonnage

That I am not enough of anything

Not smart enough

Not pretty enough

Not thin enough

Not good enough

For anything or anyone

Yes, I know—

None of it is true—

The stone skin

I’ve worn down

Over all these years,

The itch rarely there.

But sometimes—

Sometimes—

The itch returns—

Vicious, relentless

Until my nails,

Bloody and raw,

Leave me weary.

Yet still,

Still, I now create

My own place.

Published by

Annette Kalandros

I am a retired teacher, enjoying everything that retirement means. In addition, I have been active in the LGBTQ community since I was four years old and marched my Ken doll with all his little Ken accouterments to the big metal trash can in the yard. Yes, I dumped Ken, along with said accouterments, into the can and slammed the lid on. My two Barbie dolls lived happily ever after.

10 thoughts on “The Itch”

  1. This is such a sad truth that so many women (if being completely honest) have experienced. How couldn’t we. If a man has winkles around his eyes or an interesting scar it is sexy, alluring even. However not the case with women. If a woman has a scar on her face, you may hear, “Poor thing.”

    We are measured by our beauty by how society at any given time sees it. We must starve ourselves to be at the point where our hips don’t show in our tight blue jeans.

    Thanks for writing the truth and I can relate. So wonderful to meet you on MasticadoresUSA.
    Gorgeous piece you wrote.

    Have a great long weekend.
    🤗Joni

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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