It’s About Time by Valerie Parente
Don’t put off the thing you’re ready for if it makes you nervous
because the only thing you’re doing is putting off progress.
If it goes bad now you know why and it won’t torment you anymore,
if it goes well you’ll be blessed with a brand new chapter.
– Valerie Parente (7-24-2020)
Trust Me, I’m Okay by Valerie Parente
I think people think that I’m stuck in place
because I still talk about the pain
but I swear that’s not the case;
it’s just hard to verbally move on
when you have ritualistic thoughts
and such a prevalent mental scar.
I promise that at the core of my ego
I truly don’t want what I wanted three months ago
I just can’t help but memorize the pain from your low blow.
Trust me, I’m okay today and every other day.
Sometimes timing just doesn’t matter with the OCD brain
and it’s just a matter of accepting the ways our mind plays.
– Valerie Parente (7-23-2020)
Writing Is Therapy by Valerie Parente
There’s something therapeutic and sincere
about rereading work that was once so dear
because even when you forget the reason behind the rhymes
you remember the lessons they brought to light.
– Valerie Parente (7-21-2020)
Bridges Burned by Valerie Parente
No, I don’t think you’ll be coming around
because our isolated egos were never connected by the ground
and the only way across the chasm meant going on a bridge,
so shaky and unfaithful, always a struggle to manage.
The means of getting to me is gone now, reduced to ash
you lit the bridge on fire, then I published my draft.
I don’t expect to see you around any time soon
because that bridge was burned and I still blame you.
– Valerie Parente (7-16-2020)
Special by Valerie Parente
You think there’s nothing special about your life
but every day that you’re alive
is a day that has never happened before
so quit being so insecure
because you’re very existence is spectacular.
– Valerie Parente (7-15-2020)
Head In The Clouds by Valerie Parente
The reality of the situation was way beyond me
and I’m still in deep shock over the whole thing
because I don’t understand how I let the truth go over my head
when my head was sky-high in the clouds
like it’s always been.
– Valerie Parente (7-13-2020)
Commentary on Rather Be Haunted.
Real To Me by Valerie Parente
How miraculous it is when you’re realizing
that there is a mirror between the universe and your psyche.
I saw a ghost and I thought it was real,
I had a connection with a boy that I thought was real
and whether it was real on the outside or just make-believe
this haunted experience had a real impact on me
so to come up with the title without even thinking
about how that metaphor mirrored my psychological making
became another “a-ha” moment where I knew God was with me
and without a doubt I know He was partaking in my journey.
These synchronicities don’t happen every now and then
they happen all the time, it’s just a matter of recognizing them.
– Valerie Parente (7-12-2020)
Public Display of Creation
by Valerie Parente
She is afraid
of what it means to be admired
in the physical way.
And what does it mean
to be a public display?
The glitter and glamour
of all of the fame
or will she succumb
to the pressure to hide away?
What does it mean to be successful
in this day and age
when all your words are picked apart
and everyone has a say?
Because her words are her art
but the public could always manipulate
the words from her heart.
Oh but how dare they?
How dare you have an agenda,
to destroy what others make?
How dare you burn the books
when you don’t like a phrase?
How dare you take this world
and demand it revolve around your name?
Because we are all artists
with a freedom to create
and to censor what becomes popular
will only lead to a world of heartache.
Yes she’s afraid
of making it to the mainstream
but that’s a risk she’ll take
because every story needs to be seen.
– Valerie Parente (7-8-2020)
Poetic Plot by Valerie Parente
For the past few years
the only thing that got rid of my writer’s block
was when you’d go and pissed me off
so now that you’re dead and gone
I’m struggling to remember how to start.
How do I write a piece from my heart
without getting your image involved?
Because you were the one to break me apart
and I know that contradicts my thoughts
that I’m trying to write about moving on
but it’s way too damn hard
not to end this with a vicious remark
a quick fuck you for affecting my art
and a quick thank you for making me your pawn
because that sick game you called my fault
made a hell of a good poetic plot.
– Valerie Parente (7-6-2020)
Colorblind by Valerie Parente
When a million red flags aligned
I chose to be colorblind
because it’s easier when your sight
can only register black or white.
Two extremes to choose between
until a rainbow had to intervene.
– Valerie Parente (7-5-2020)
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