I recently made a few poetry books to sell at an art show and realized that some of these poems I've never shared before. I'd like to share them with you!
Falling: Poetry About the Euphoric Feeling of Falling in Love
Hand Holding 12-2-15
A simple action
It holds so much meaning
it's either a spontaneous grab
the protective grip
or the gradual embrace
maybe all three
I yearn for that feeling
the bubbly feeling slowly surfacing
then it all explodes
damp palms
too anxious to be held
yet constantly craving contact
as eyes wander
trying to find yours
my hands vacant in my lap
twirling silver bands
until my fingers burn
your hands, so lovely
crafted by Michelangelo himself
mine dull in comparison
the clock spins as I wait
my hands still looking for you
I twirl the silver bands
I look over my shoulder
a warm presence encompasses me
my worn hands no longer vacant
the spaces in between are filled
a gentle squeeze
a simple action
it holds so much meaning
it's all three
Smile 12-18-15
In front of everyone
I exposed my heart
Voice like water boiling
Slow then excited
Trying to make eye contact
But repeatedly shying away
I continued revealing my heart
I saw you looking at me
Almost gazing at me
The look on your face, I'll never forget
The boiling water overflowed
I didn't want to clean it up
you were still sitting there
I said how I wished someone would look at me
like William looks at Penny Lane
It was almost as if it came true
No one has ever smiled at me like that
or looked at me like that
There I was exposing my heart
And you there, looking at me
It was like I was Penny Lane
and you were William
Untitled 3-30-16
A week
that's all it's been
An innocent message
that's all it's been
A belly of butterflies
that's all it's been
A slew of lengthy messages
that's all it's been
An anxious clench of hands
that's all it's been
A week
a thunderous heartbeat
that's all it's been
Untitled 6-6-16
I don't know how to explain
words seem inadequate
I will try my best
The pastures I gaze at
as my dad drives over the hills
the eternity of the grass
the bumpiness of the cement road
that peace, that comfort
is synonymous with you
But just as I settle in
I close my eyes and exhale
my eyes open
grass and hills are replaced with brick and noise
my peace, my comfort
is waving goodbye
Realization: Poetry About Moments When I Had a Change of Heart
Like a Cement Block 11-16-15
I woke up with clouded thoughts
I'm not sure if I slept through the night
It was one of those sleeps
where I closed my eyes and a second later I awoke
I prayed and prayed
I was thirsty for a minute of serene sleep
It felt like a cement block was encompassing me
I tried to extend my arms but got nowhere
I finally closed my eyes
the cement prison fizzled away
My heart finally got to sit still
then the alarm rang
B. (abbreviated) 11-22-15
I give out my heart so freely
yet no one notices
especially you
I really thought you were the one
maybe you feel the same?
I guess not
I tried my very best
I'm always so shy
aren't you?
I thought you were my future
all the signs seemed to be there
but not to you
I thought you were my future
but then I got the news
it wasn't me
I still hope one day these feelings will be true for you, too. But I know I'm no longer in your crosshairs, if I ever was.
You Are a Music Box 11-27-15
So much is going on
and you don't quite understand
but you are a music box
you are held in His hands
You think that you are tarnished
and you can't be cleaned
but you are a music box
He has all that you need
You feel that you aren't cared about
and you have become invisible
but you are a music box
your music is irreplaceable
You feel misunderstood
and all you want to do is make people smile
but you are a music box
don't you know you are so worthwhile?
You feel so discouraged
and your winder is broken
but you are a music box
for your words are well spoken
My child, your music is beautiful
and without you life would be dull
you are a music box
you make my life full
The Girl in the Stupid Denim Jacket 7-29-16
I had stars in my eyes
yours were just a meaningless reflection of mine
Warm: Poetry About Feelings of Overwhelming Peace & Comfort
Thank You Part 2 (abbreviated) 12-2-15
I never would've thought
one day we'd become close
those jokes and looks
turned into a friendship
The first awkward encounter
the two afternoons a week
my nervous laughter
turned into a friendship
Two afternoons became every day
the nerves disappeared
the multiplied laughs
turned into a friendship
You laugh at me
and I laugh at you
so many laughing fits
turned into a friendship
The subtle compliments
saturated in sincerity
and sprinkled with trust
turned into a friendship
I needed an ear to hear me
you were there
those comforting words
turned into a friendship
You showed me
what a true friend was
and I am so glad
we turned into a friendship
Steak, Grits, & Biscuits 12-11-15
Surrounded by the three I love most
I pulled up a chair
My eyes danced around the table
I put mountains on my plate
unsure at first, then content
I sliced it, dipped it, perfect!
Slowly absorbing the taste
The conversation continued
But I suddenly heard none of it
My mind zeroed on my plate
Hundreds of memories flooded the room
My heart was shining like the sun
And as warm as the sunset
Millions of thoughts cleared
Only one thing was on my mind
I am exactly where I am supposed to be
Bathtime 12-21-15
The warm water engulfs
it's still, then moves as I breathe
like little angel kisses
the epidermis, like sweet, fragrant moss
Kind Eyes 4-19-16
Down you swooped
Carefully grabbing me
in a moment of surprise
My hope was leaving
but then you came
my hope ran back
Oh how my heart was bursting!
was this even real?!
it was to be a joke
days passed and there you were
pointing my hope back to me
with that gentle smile and kind eyes
________
I have a book full of so many more, I may post more in the near future. <3
Writing this reminds me of my childhood. When I would sit on the floor of my bedroom and scribble out letters to celebrities that I forgot about days later and never sent.
With this letter, hopefully you will see it. So if you're reading this, hello!
Back in the fall of 2015, I was sitting in my college dorm room looking for a movie to watch. I stumbled upon Almost Famous, one that I had never seen but had vivid childhood memories of seeing it in video rental stores. I watched it, and my life changed. A bit cliche of a statement, but I'm not sure how else to put it. I felt like something in me blossomed for the first time. I wanted to write. I wanted to dance. I wanted to read. I wanted to tell everyone about this little movie. My love for Elton John was revived. I remember sitting in my bed weeks later, listening to "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and crying. I didn't know how to express how I felt about all of this happening inside me. I felt like no one would truly understand why I was so moved.
A few months passed, and for my music class I had to write a final paper on any musician I wanted. I chose Elton John. It felt like my wildest dreams coming true. I loved writing but wasn't crazy about college research papers, so hearing that I can write about any musician I wanted was making my heart beat thunderously in excitement. I was digging through my school's online database of books looking for something on Sir Elton. There was nothing about him in my school's book collection. But in the corner of my screen there was a book recommendation, (in reality, it probably popped up because I was searching 70s music/style, but I like to believe it was fate) I saw a girl crouching on a rock with flowers in her arm and in her hair on the cover of a book. I clicked on it and read the synopsis. I tucked it away in my memory, in hopes of remembering it later and finding it more about it.
My memory of it resurfaced, and I ordered the book on Amazon. I couldn't wait until it came in. That night, I snuggled into bed and cracked it open. I was expecting to read something that was going to get my mind off of school stresses and other things I was dealing with. Much to my surprise, it did so much more than just that.
Within the first 20 pages I was in tears. I felt like this woman, who lived in an entirely different place and different time than me, knew exactly what I was going through as a child. Reading about her crush on Paul McCartney reminded me of my admiration for Harry Styles. Those stupid letters I wrote as a child to celebrities (recently discovered one I wrote to John Travolta the day after I watched Grease for the first time. I couldn't have been more than 10!) suddenly didn't seem so stupid. The scribblings in childhood diaries, the feelings of wanting to escape, lovingly longing for some British boy who would probably never know my name. My imagination and curiosity was paralleled by hers.
The book, I'm With the Band: Confessions of a Groupie, became another turning point in my life. I was starting to realize that loving music, loving musicians, loving people, was not a taboo thing to do, and that it has been going on before I was born. I'm from a very small town in Tennessee, there is a lot of love here but I often felt like the black swan because of my interests. I always felt like I was alone in my interests and ways of thinking. Reading your book, I felt like I had a soul sister out in the world somewhere. Someone who understood writing letters to celebrity crushes and the ooey gooey feeling when you hear music that you love. I finally felt ready to pour out that bottle that I had been filling up for years.
I read Take Another Little Piece of My Heart: A Groupie Grows Up earlier this year, and I still got all of those same feelings. Especially in the parts when you were talking about counseling sessions you attended, because at the time I was reading your book I had started counseling for my anxiety. Again, it felt like my soul sister was holding my hand from miles away. When I was stressed at school, you were there. When I felt like someone didn't understand my heart, I know you did. I could tell that soon there was a change in my demeanor once I realized this was all happening. I even told my counselor about how reading your book and some other's books helped me realize I wasn't alone in what I was feeling.
I started reading Let it Bleed: How to Write a Rockin' Memoir during work one day. (I work at an art museum, it was a slow day and we're allowed to read when it's slow, don't worry! Haha!) I was thankful I had my pencil with me, I was underlining atleast one thing on every page I wanted to remember. I used to write all the time, but I've lost my zest for it this year. I was overjoyed to feel that zest for writing flood back when reading your book. And I'm trying to take the advice from your 12 minute exercises where you said just to write without thinking. That's what I tried to do with this post, and I keep catching myself wanting to apologize and erase, I'm slowly learning to just let it bleed. :p I regret not coming to your Nashville writing class, my anxiety took over and I let that rule my decision, hopefully another one will come around!
As I've worked on myself and my soul on these past couple years, I truly believe that the good Lord put that little book recommendation on my laptop screen because he knew that down the road I would need you to keep pushing me back to myself and what I was passionate about. Whenever I need a pep talk or to feel less alone, I will crack open one of your books or skim GroupieU. They are my saving grace.
I'm sure you hear this kind of stuff all the time, but might as well add another letter gushing with love and admiration to the list. You have forever changed this little 21 year old gal from Tennessee. You've inspired so much art, so much writing, and so much love. You radiate such a infectious light that I hope to exude myself one day. Hopefully one day I can meet you and give you a big ole hug. If that doesn't happen, your writings and light will always double as a warm embrace.
Much love to you,
Rachel Prince <3
