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Abstract by WC Quinn | One Poem Only

One Poem Only·Apr 29, 2026·2:05

About this Episode

One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise.

Abstract

WC Quinn

My pieces appear askew, but I am no Picasso

just a Girl Before a Mirror trying to love myself

despite the flaws in my reflection

I keep counting my brush strokes

grooming tangles in penance.

My tongue’s burden is language

The She Wolf bellow calls to me; I don’t reply

my words, sticky sweet honey,

smacking heavy in the roof of my mouth

splatters canvas akin to Pollock.

My nightmares covet reality

so call me a dream walker; lucid surrealist

observing life like Dali from below the waters

bearing witness to The Metamorphosis of Narcissus

unsure if I am art or artist.

My heart stenciled with purpose

in the face of perpetual loss; A Girl with Balloon

black and white statements stricken

with red accents

Recognizable / Unknown.

More from WC Quinn ↓

@astoldby.wcquinn on Instagram
@wcquinn on Substack

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Mentioned in this episode:

Write After with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. If you want to join: Listen to a poem from the month of April on One Poem Only, then write your own in response. I will pick one for each day to read in June for a special series: One Poem After 🍎🍏 Submissions close May 15.

Write After Submissions Form

Hosts & Guests

Maggie Devers

Host

Transcript

This is one poem only, I'm Maggie Devers, one poem, nothing more, nothing less.

Before today's poem, a quick note, right after submissions are now open a little longer

through May 15th.

If you've been meaning to write, there's still time.

You can now submit through a form that I've linked in the show notes.

Selected poems will be featured in June as part of a new series, One Poem After.

Now, today's poem.

Today's poem is by W. C. Quinn.

Listen to the episode, then write your after poem.

Abstract.

My pieces appear skew, but I am no Picasso.

Just a girl before I'm here, trying to love myself,

despite the flaws in my reflection.

I keep counting my brushstrokes, grooming tangles and penance.

My tongue's burden is language.

The she-wolf bellow calls to me.

I don't reply.

My words, sticky, sweet honey,

smacking heavy in the roof of my mouth,

splatters can visit kin to Pollock.

My nightmares covet reality, so call me a dream walker,

lucid surrealist, observing life like Dolly from below the waters,

bearing witness to the metamorphosis of Narcissus.

Unsure if I am art or artist.

My heart stenciled with purpose in the face of perpetual loss.

A girl with balloon, black and white statements,

stricken with red accents, recognizable, unknown.

By W. C. Quinn, if this poem stayed with you,

you can find more of her work on Instagram

and as told by W. C. Quinn.

And on Substack at W. C. Quinn.

Thank you for listening, Poetry Leather.

Come back tomorrow.

The curtain rises again.

Abstract by WC Quinn | One Poem Only

About this Episode

Abstract

WC Quinn

Hosts & Guests

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