Dear Compadres,
this is my first poem to discuss on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025.
I am sending my poem, SEEING RED.
My poem was written after reading the SPLENDID poem, from The Black Maria, written by ARACELIS GIRMAY. It is NOT written by Neil deGrasse Tyson!
In her poem, all the lines are divided in half. One half starts at the normal margin, and other half is about "two tabs in," UNDER the first half of the sentence.
It is about an awful experience by Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is Black, when he was 8 or 9 years old. (I have included the poem as an attachment.) It is about a true life experience that he had.
I tried to use that particular format, of a part of a line off to the side, under a first part, but I was unable to do so. Instead, I broke sentences and ideas into THREE related parts. Not two!
AND I used a Prompt from a poetry class given by CALYX on writing poems concerning the reproductive rights of women.
The prompt was to take a KNOWN SYMBOL (I chose a red rose) and USE it in the poem, without TELLING the readers what it symbolizes in the poem.
So here is my effort!! Jill
Jill Stockinger
Seeing Red
A polite cough.
I ignore it.
A knock.
Someone wants to come in.
I open the door.
There’s a giant rose.
Fire engine red.
Blocking the way.
I can't get out.
“Go away!”
It spreads its arms.
Lined with thorns.
Beseeching my help.
I start dragging it
into my house.
It’s heavier than
a block of granite.
I cut my hands.
It swallows my blood
like it’s hungry.
I get it inside.
It embraces me.
Suffocating me.
“What do you want?”
“You know!”
I’m puzzled. Annoyed.
“Tell me what you want!”
“You.”
I tell it, “I don't want you.
Go away.”
It refuses.
We fight. I’m trying hard
to push it out.
