Too Plebeian

Plagiarism

We quote "to be or not"
without the mention of William
We use the phrases that
our televisions teach us
and recite figures of speech
that our grandparents say.
"You stole the words right out of my mouth!"
we claim with gaping jaws of disbelief
and borrowed sayings
create clenched teeth of
common bitterness.

Originality and enlightenment
rise up the bread of our survival,
intellect our water

Yet Each
Word
Is
In
Existence
And Each Thought
used
And I'm stuck here, expected to delve
When All
Of
These
Words
are defined

And None
Of
Them
are mine.

-Vanessa G.S. Nelson, 2001
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Unrefined Hearts

Unrefined hearts
Have jagged form
Naive confidence
And inexperience
They are daring and certain
Bold bodies fly with the birds
And ride wild horses
And the sharp edges shift
Among ribs and flesh
And cause internal blood and scars
That eventually dull the blade

-2000
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Deja Vu:
Haven't I done this before?

"I would scream in riddle, still it would not come." -Alanis Morissette
HiddenNess


I've cut all strings that kept me here
But I did not abuse them
I've shaken off
so many things
If I failed to
amuse them
And now I've found I've got my wings
And don't know how to use them