Murmurs of an Ex-poet

by nouriguess   Jun 26, 2014


I'm not a poet,
I'm not a melody
I'm just a sore wound and
I vanish when love touches me.
I'm a blank paper,
tired of too many miscarriages,
a wall that can only welcome more
shrapnels,
afraid to carry art.

Words sometimes walk out of my ribs,
the way tulips grow through barbed wires in our city,
and they'll try to reach you but
don't waste your time reading me,
because I wilt too soon and my words never
held the scent of tulips.

I'll never breathe spring into your lungs.
I am a winter and I'm still twitching
to the moves of the bullet that forgot itself
in my waist.

I'll never warm your soul like a sunbeam,
I'm only the glare of other hearts fire,
a lonely traffic light that just
disappeared in the fog,
a wish cracking against the hard
edges of a shooting star,
glowing for a moment.

I'm not a poet.
I am a war, a darkness,
a soldier counting how much
his funeral will cost before he goes
back to the battlefield.
My lips taste like death
and my pen is a piece of ember,
and my bones are a handful
of ashes, and my
voice is ugly
ugly ugly

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Latest Comments

  • 9 years ago

    by Maple Tree

    Noura, where do I begin? I was left with my head spinning with this poem. I have read this numerous times and still I am speechless! Well written poem by you this week. It's brilliant!
    Raw emotions mixed with darkness and tragedy are etched in every line, mixed with outstanding word usage.. I just can't get enough of this poem and I apologize for such a small comment, but all I can say is -------------------- WOW!

  • 9 years ago

    by Poet on the Piano

    Judging comment:

    I agree with whoever said that there is such beauty in your words, beauty in a way that is hard to describe, but maybe because of the honesty, of the doubts, of that anger perhaps or feelings of not being able to be certain images of light or hope at the time. That shows one is human. That we are not always ready with our actions and how we communicate. That what we are is not always pretty. This is a moving piece, especially in the self-revelation that is personal and heartbreaking to read as an outsider. I feel that so much has shattered you, war, the fleeting promises of peace or happiness perhaps. The metaphors in this are simply worded yet complex on their own because there is a great deal of pain and struggle you are facing, yet putting that into words may be impossible, and all you may be able to do now is do what you know in the moment. A powerful piece, your verses cannot be broken down for each line touches my heart and has a poignant voice. (10)

  • 9 years ago

    by Darren

    Judges comments

    Those first four lines!! What a hook, scene setting and tone setting at its finest. This is a master class in sad poetry, stanza 2 has such dark and deep imagery it is frightening. This whole piece has a feel of a release but one that has vented beautiful lyrically perfect music. I love the repetition of I and I'll it's almost finger pointing narrative. Overall this is one of those poems that crop up from time to time that is hastily added to a lot of readers favourites. Well done 10 points.

  • 9 years ago

    by nouriguess

    Gosh, guys! I don't know how to reply to your nice words. They fill me with joy. Thank you!

  • 9 years ago

    by Skyler

    Not to detract from your own voice, but this is very reminiscent of Sylvia Plath, although ripe with tones of your home. This is a gripping poem. 5/5.

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