I’m going to do a poetry reading at an open mic night tomorrow and wanted to post one of the poems in advance of when I can hopefully post a recording of my pieces on YouTube. This one has the most freestyle structure of the poems I picked; I hope that it suits what I’m trying to get across.
Context for blog readers’ eyes only: I’m a very sensitive person who quails at the sight of blood and gore in media, particularly live-action films, but some level of unreality added into gruesome violence makes it more palatable for me. Ergo, animated fantastical stuff tends to be okay… sometimes. On the other hand, it startles me how often hyperviolent content makes its way into cartoons aimed at children by way of changing the color of the blood. I don’t know that it always does enough to make it unrealistic or less violent. In short, this poem is about both of those things.
Make it green, pink
Make it bruise-blue-black
Do not make it red
Never red
If I have to see the lines getting too close to reality
What am I doing in a fictional world?
I can taste ozone on the screen
Among the stars, I see what I want
If there is blood, let it be alien
Don’t make me think
Of my insides as outsides
I need this illusion
Make it Jell-O yellow
Make it twilit violet
Do not make it red
Never red
Am I not entertained?
If your intent is eliciting
Sadness with your splatter gore
You can make it red, then
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