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

[Eddie Phillips]

Samantha you did a great job on this poem. I think the title is good. I love the last part of the poem because it speaks to the poet in me that desires to be free.

[Ency Bearis]

Great flow of verses, well written.

[Hana Saemon]

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


Love the flow. This is indeed well written and i love the idea that we are all dewey decimals.

[Aristede Craig Jr]

I like it very amusing flow and interesting comparisons

[Barbara Walker]

Great use of analogy. Excellent syntax and a very interesting topic. Your last stanza is very strong without being over-emotional/ I enjoyed reading it very much!

[SteveB]

I truly enjoyed the imagery here. And the lines about caring for our scars like flowers growing in no-mans land are wonderful.
The short punchy lines work very well. A well penned piece. I am glad Lori sent me a read request for this.

[Samantha ~virginpoet]

Thank you and tell her thanks as well

[SteveB]

I will thank her. This was an excellent piece.

[Saint No-One]

I adored the loving way you wrote about your scars, and cataloging them. The part that struck me the most is the battle cry at the end. Beautiful.

[Samantha ~virginpoet]

Thanks its a love hate relationship with my scars I have to love them for they made me who I am

[London's Lily]

What a wonderful concept! I think this poem can even be interpreted in multiple ways, which is (I tend to say this a lot) one of the things I love so much about poetry. Depending on who is reading this, some of the lines can mean something different to each of us. I'm especially fond of poetry that gives such an opportunity. Very enjoyable poem :)

[Samantha ~virginpoet]

Ive said that about my poetry I usually dont say what the poem is about I leave interpretation to the reader because poetry is what it says to our soul each of us are different so it speaks different languages

[London's Lily]

Me, too ~ sometimes I think I should add an explanation, but I usually just leave it up to the reader to see it how they wish, and how it might relate to them, and if they are genuinely curious I'll explain. :)

[smilempsn]

Unusual title but nice words in poem..
I liked the how the words flowed.. and structure of your poem..