I am holey
Made up of dents and holes and burrows through my skin
I have bumps from insults and snipes
A crevasse from grandmother’s death
But it was you that left a crater in my mass
You were persistent at breaking me down
Absentmindedly, or perhaps knowingly
Degrading me and filling my emptiness with your being
They say it’s lovely, letting you in
But I didn’t know I would end up alone
By myself
Left with more space than matter
I didn’t notice the fragility of my bones
As you ate away all my flesh
You told me I was still beautiful
Broken, bruised and desperate
Because my vulnerability gave you purpose
With every leak in my ceiling
You gave me rain
Filling my empty space
But suffocating me as I struggled for air
And no one can hold their breath forever
Not even for you
I am holey
And when you were ripped from my grasp
Like a tooth from its socket
I bled
Blood pure and divine
I cried it in buckets
My veins; underground pipes of water
And my tear ducts the taps of the privileged
With never ending greed
I was drained, dry
Just pipes
A conduit for nothing
After you, more cavities arose in my gums
Potholes in my streets
Trenches in my war
Our war
Where cannons and guns did not cease fire
Except for sleep
Only to reload and shoot again
Disarming any resistance I could find
The attacks are more regular
I know the rhythm
I am empty
There are no more tears to cry
No more blood to spill
I block your bombs with white flags
My flesh; warm and alive
I am healing
Like a sponge, I absorb all that surrounds me
Becoming saturated in new life
The abyss of you now feels,
Not so empty
The hollows in my skin
Fill with warmed water
Moulding to my shapes and depths
My purpose
I am holey
Made of wounds
Healing over
I am fullness
I am spring
I am holy
That deserves to be worshipped
Commended (seniors)
Lucy Liebergreen
Year 13, Columba College