Raw Earth Ink
spit, mixed with dirt – muddy words flow
Papercuts
memories of you,
images in ink and sighs,
sift through the pages of my mind
a soft breeze fluttering,
a sharp gust, and I remember you:
your smile as you stroked my cheek,
the sun streaming through my hair,
my own smile reflected in your brown eyes
turn the page
and I woke to your strong hands
gentle and rough
I want to live in these moments forever
bookmarks and dog-ears,
you filled all the empty places in me
I learned to breathe
my fingers slide along the edges of my heart
pinpricks
papercuts of memory
they draw out tears instead of blood
my heart aches in my chest
I’m afraid I’ve faded from your mind
that I’ve been placed on a different shelf
I was worn out and well-read
but did you see the cream-colored spaces
between the carefully crafted script?
they say they know me
but they know what I want them to know
you, I felt,
saw past the vulnerability that hid
all my innermost truths
I think I was wrong,
when I really think about it,
you looked deeply but still didn’t see me
and the result is me
pulling down this well-worn tome,
turning yellowed pages,
blowing dust off these memories
me laying in your arms
complete
tara caribou | ©2021
Read this and more in my poetry book, Four or more like it in Fallen Star Rising.
44 Comments on “Papercuts”
Raw Earth Ink 
I found this was so nicely wrought
one reading won’t suffice!
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Thank you so much, Ken. I’m glad this touched you.
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Yes: it did.
And having gained gratuitous pleasure from your words
I feel more thanks are due:
to you!
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Haha! Thanks for the thanksgiving of the thanks. 😉
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Great post..
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Aww, this is so beautifully written. Really emotional read! 😀
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Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.
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Even more profound on a second reading – you always paint beautiful heart-tugging images that truly resonate such honest emotions of loss and grief.
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That’s awesome you read it a second time, Tom. I’m truly blessed.
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Gorgeously penned! Wow. I’m definitely coming back to read again. Thank you for sharing!! 😊🌸 ~Kelsey
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That’s awesome Kelsey. I really appreciate you stopping by and for the nice comment.
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“you looked deeply but still didn’t see me”….Tara I have recently taken to just liking instead of commenting, your writing is so raw and gentle and soulful and real that I have run out of expletives to describe your work.
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Ohhh! Thank you! Your comment has brightened my day. Thank you so very much for reading and commenting! Truly, I appreciate that.
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I really liked the metaphor of papercuts, like just in the act of “reading” you’re risking the feeling of pain. Beautiful and raw, as always.
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Thank you so much chela. I’m so glad you were touched by this.
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You’re not showing up in my reader again. Damn WordPress.
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Ah man!
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Have I ever told you what an incredible writer you are?
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I’m not sure. But I will now think that you just said that and I will blush (a little) and say, compared to you, I’m rubbish…. so I won’t compare myself to you, lol.
….and thank you. That comment just completely made my day.
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Well, if I can make your day, that makes waking up this morning totally worth it.
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It was worth it for me, anyway 🙂
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There are books that have the same effect on me. You have put a dual meaning on that which is a person or an object. You have the talent.
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Oh thank you, John.
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You are welcome.
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I can feel every single emotion in this poem. You are well gifted at articulating emotions into words.
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Oh!! Thank you! 😊 I’m glad you liked this.
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Lovely ❤️
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Thank you!
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Very beautiful indeed. And a lovely photograph
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Thanks DA!
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It’s a pleasure
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This had so many layers/interpretations for me and I wanted to enjoy every line twice, so beautiful!.
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Thank you so much for reading and appreciating. It means a lot.
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You are most welcome 🙂
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This is quite beautifully written, Tara, with an exquisite blend of love, loss and longing – with the sting being never look to deeply because there is only disappointment lurking in the corners.
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The sting indeed.
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Well, this is amazingly done! Love this stanza:
“my fingers slide along the edges of my heart
pinpricks
papercuts of memory
they draw out tears instead of blood”
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Thank you Benjamin! I had this image in my mind and for once it came out on paper how I pictured it. I sure appreciate you stopping by.
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It’s well done by you as usual. And isn’t it great when it comes out how you envisioned in your mind? You’re welcome!
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Reblogged this on johncoyote and commented:
Amazing poetry shared by a talented writer.
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Hello dear Tara. I loved your work today. I hope you are doing well.
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Thanks so much John. I sure appreciate that. I am doing well… and you?
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You are welcome dear Tara.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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