[T]he Exchange is the Weekly’s poetry corner, where a poem or piece of writing is presented with a prompt. Readers are welcome to respond to the prompt with original poems, and pieces may be featured in the next issue of the Weekly.
tag by Chima “Naira” Ikoro
in this dream i knew you’d just departed,
but i did not let grief
stifle my laughter.
you tagged me, and i chased you through the hallways of a school
down the stairs, you leap over the banister
knowing i’d never catch you
we were running around like kids–-
like teenagers, who are also still children
despite what the world made of us
we were young
like you will always be
like you were when you left.
and i am still “it,”
woke up before i got to touch you again this is not a sad poem.
this is to say thanks.
thank you for visiting me, thank you for being so beautiful
when you were here,
so kind and so loving,
that my life is forever changed
even in your absence.
The Weekly is accepting submissions for our Literary Issue.
Prompt:
“How do you practice and experience radical self-love, revolutionary thought (or action), or the reclamation of freedom and community?”
This could be a poem, journal entry, or a stream-of-consciousness piece. Submissions could be new or formerly written pieces.
Submissions can be sent to bit.ly/ssw-exchange or via email to chima.ikoro@southsideweekly.com by July 22, 2023
Featured below is a reader response to a previous prompt. The last poem and prompt can be found here.
waiting by sid Mercury
Waiting has taught me to be
rooted into the earth
Sinking
Sinking, sinking deep
Beneath the earth’s surface
So still and quiet
But there are bones here
There is blood here
There is love here
With every breath waiting to
Feel your embrace. Waiting shows me who i am when i see
Myself
I see myself
My whole self
With every breath of waiting I hear the birds singing
Conspiring
And
Communicating
I think they like it when
We are still and quiet so we can appreciate their songs
Waiting teaches me to
Be present with my
Thoughts and self, waiting
Sometimes feels like
Weights
Stacking up on my chest
Waiting taught me to remember to breathe
Remember where love is
Centered
Remembering where love lives
Where life lives. Waiting has taught me that i am love
And I am loved as i am
Protected and i am
Protective.