A daily reading from One Poem Only—a quiet space for a single poem, read aloud.

Then maybe it would mean something

E E Nisbet

Then maybe it would mean something:

If your sorry could un-scream,

vacuum spit-sprayed particles,

suck up fucks, threats and bullshit,

Un-drink, choke it back into the glass,

take back your money,

If your sorry could drag up

dregs of saline from blotted paper,

Sculpt it back into a tear or two

and roll them backwards up my face,

If your sorry could un-scar my skin,

build the sharpener back together,

Draw together the wet ravines of skin like a zip,

un-lift the flap of scab, un-open

the sealed-shut mouth of a silvering scar,

un-lick the wounds,

If my okay could un-crash those cars,

fuse together splintered glass, pull spines

Back into alignment, un-slip discs,

stitch back skin spread thin across tarmac,

unblock the roads,

More from E E Nisbet ↓

• @_.eva_.n on Instagram
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Poetry reminds us what matters. Thank you for listening.

Mentioned in this episode:

Write After: National Poetry Month 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. We'll get started in April. You can share to #WriteAfterOPO.

#WriteAfterOPO