COMMONPLACE: Volume 3

COMMON PLACE

B Y B E O T E R T I U S V O L U M E 3 : W I N T E R

WINTER HAS SWEPT IN AND WITH IT, MY FURY.

but i blacken no path with my wake, all my rage is turned in like a knife to my gut. pull yourself together. wake up earlier. do more. write more. make something of yourself. everyone else has. my thoughts are like poison and i drink like i am deserted, dying of thirst. there’s a mirage in the distance, it’s a king or a knight or someone kind. someone i could be, if only i could get there. i want to lie in the cold clean shade and rest for eyes for eternity. the palm trees whisper things i am too angry to hear. if the cold lays me to waste, just know that i tried. if i open my eyes again, don’t get in my way.

whatshallisay,ihavecircumnavigatedtheworldjustto enduponyourdoorstop.ohthethingsihaveseendonot barmefromlovingyou,onlyfrombeingyourfriend.it’s beenhardtobehereinthiscitywiththeghostofyou aroundeverycorner.i’dliketosayiwishyouwell,but thatwouldn’tbeverytruthfulofme.i’dliketosay farewell,butwhoknowswhatthefutureholds.youarein fortune’slapandi’vedevilstosummon.ifikeepwalking, maybei’llendupsomewherenew.

thiswinterhasbeensogentleandmild.irememberwinters pastwhereineededsixlayerstoleavethehouseandbeers leftoutsidewhilewewalkedtothesupermarketwerefrosted overwhenwegotback.pinkcheeks,fingerstoofreezingto text.thisyear,thecoldhasbarelytouchedus.theheavyrain oflastyearvisitssomewhereelseandthesunshinehasbeen steadyandpresent,promisingthesweetnessofspringand summerearly.lifeisstartingtofeelthiswaytoo,ormaybei amsimplystartingtobemorekindtomyself.iwanttoturn myfacetowardsthesun.iwanttoholdmyselfthroughitall. iwanttopickdandelionsandrepossessallthepatienceiso freelygaveaway.it’sstillhereforme.

KING CROCUS

iraisemyhandtocupthegoldenlightrefractioninmyroom, splitbythesilversideofacdstrungupinthegardentodeter birdsfromthevegetablegarden.butthemagpiesstillsitonthe fence,waitingformysaluteanditdoesn’tstopthegallahsfrom feastingatthetopofmother’ssnowpeas.theyshotuptalland fastlikecornthisyear,purpleflowersbearingpeasevenafter allthatrainbatteredthemdown.whatamiracledespiteitall. maybeonedayi’llreachforthesuntoo.ihavedonenothingbut survivethiswinter.iamtryingatbeingokaywiththat.iam rememberingmymouthcanformasmile,notjusttearmeat fromthebone.iampracticingkindnessbyremovingmyown tailoutfrombetweenmyteeth.ilookawayfromthemirror-it isnoparticularprize,notruthhardwon,nofriendtome.iwill spendthespringmonthsformulatingnewideasonwhatiam.i willletthesnowdropsandthecrocusbemypeersandwecan nodtoourselves,ohyes,iknowwhatsurvivaltasteslike.even whenireachmyhandoutforhelponlytobebatteredaway,i canholdmyselfthroughitall.iamthatsplitlight,iamthattiny rainbowinmyroom.

ashortone thistime.winteremboldenedmy depressionandihadnothingtosayornowaytosay it.butitmeanssomethingtomethatihavekeptthis up.i’llkeepgoingtiligetmyselfback,wordsintact.i hopetheremainderoftheyeardeliversmetoapath backtomywriting,howeverthornyandthroughdark woodsitmaybe.ihopespringiskindtousall.

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issue(thisveryissuethatyouarereadingrightnow) commonplace(thisverypublication)

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aspentoblessyourunderworld journey!birch,borageandbramblewill seeyouthrough.applesandcamomile topleasethebeastofyourbody.grow yourhair,wearthingsmadebyloved onesoryourownhands-insideoutif youdaretogodeepintotheforest.play withthesheepandthechickens,put bellsontheirpasturefencesforluck. thisseason,makeyourownmerriment. spectatethedefeatoftheoakkingby thehollyking,perhapswithyour favouritesnacks.nameeverystaryou see.readthehourintheslantof moonlightandknowthere’salways moretime,moretime,you’llgetthere intheend.rememberthesunalways returns.steelyourheartwithwarmth, notspite.allyourgodsbewithye! meetmeinthewoodsatmidnight.