I am Dewey Decimal

I have cataloged my scars
like my body is a library

To be read through and
learned from

I have told my secrets
through loves ink
painted them
on my skin
with watercolor
defiance

And writers
we sometimes
write about
our scars
in riddles
layers
upon
layers
of thought

Care for them
like flowers growing
on the war-lands
of our bodies

Worthy

We give them faces
We give them names
We give them gravestones

I have wrists that roar
and I will be damned
if I don’t let
the poetry
in me
run free
and wild

By Samantha Campbell Pruitt

Author's Note

Not sure about the title, If you do not know what the Dewey Decimal system is google it lol Im to lazy and tired to explain

Reviews

[Rita L. Sev]

Chuckling at your note - my mother has worked in libraries for 30 years - I better know the Dewey! :)

I like the analogy here, the idea that our scars each tell a different story. Great flow and powerful message - worthy of being classified in the 800s for sure... ;)

[Samantha ~virginpoet]

Much Thanks

[Astro]

I like the concept of the body being a library, where every scar is a story on the shelf. Great concept. We writers definitely do describe what we see and fashion it with layers. Cool stuff Samantha, always a great voice and progression to your work, spoken word worthy for sure. One note, in this line, "on the war-lands" I think that "battlefields" would be a better term, as it is a bit more appropriate in terms of war, history and scars, plus it starts with 'b' which melds well with "body" in the following line. Take it or, leave it I still enjoyed this one, well done.

[Samantha ~virginpoet]

Thanks ... nice idea I may do that when I have more time :)

[Astro]

You're welcome.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I always thought that's what old lover's do, "catalogue our scars". Great opening line, by the way.

"And writers
we sometimes
write about
our scars
in riddles
layers
upon
layers
of thought"

Wonderful layers, that they are....good writing, Samantha.

[Kenneth The Poet]

I like this. I am reminded of the old paper in the library, the smell of it coming to life. If you look at the tomes that line those lonely shelves closely, you'll how scarred those books have become.

Each one tells a story, that's for sure.

[Clara]

I love the title! :)

A very powerful write. I especially love the lines:
'I have told my secrets
through loves ink
painted them
on my skin
with watercolor
defiance'

Great write!

[Tarry Franck]

Very strongly said - I enjoyed reading this piece - great job.

[Jack...]

Another very loud write here my friend. Definitely brings it. Nice.

[eglantine]

Really enjoyed this one. I can def relate. Great metaphors and images. Also strong speaker voice.

[Brandon S. Whitten]

A brilliant concept. Splendid read and write.

[Angi]

The ending lines shout, Samantha! Preach it, sister! My scars are all sitting up and nodding. Amazing work here, girl. Angi~