The words bleed through the page like open wounds
sewn shut with scratch-marks,
dried into imitations of themselves.
I had to gouge the falseness
from the spaces between each letter
so when I wound a thick gauze
around my wounded words
they would heal.
Photo by Peter Chiykowski on Unsplash
At DVerse, the prompt today is to write a Quadrille: a poem of exactly 44 words, not including the title, that includes today’s prompt word, “wound” in the body of the poem. We can use the word “wound” or a form of the word – not a synonym for the word.
Seamus O'Shaughnessy, Jr. 
Your words help to actually visualize that writing process, and the anguish in the effort.
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Thank you! I wanted to really visualize the absolute chaos that is an edited poem on paper!!
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Excellent use of both words. And words can be very healing, even delving into our wounds can be therapeutic!
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Exactly! Sometimes the most important aspect of healing is to proactively approach those wounds!
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Oh this is painful to read….and yes, the writing process can sometimes be painful. The illustration goes well with the words….
These words
“I had to gouge the falseness
from the spaces between each letter”
are absolutely visceral.
So glad to see you here today!
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Glad to see you as well! Thank you for the kind comment!
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I love the way you describe the way those words can hurt… I think they will always leave scars though
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Almost like word surgery, there is always a mark left, a way towards memory!
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Your opening lines were powerful. Words can wound, but they can also heal.
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They are the ultimate double edge weapon!
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Indeed!
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Superbly evoked poetry
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Thank you!
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It’s a pleasure
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This is brilliant, Evan.
I’m wow’d.
❤
David
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Thank you im glad it resonated with you!
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Bravo!!!luv this poem
Happy Monday
Much💚love
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Indeed words can wound, and need to be used with caution.
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Indeed. Nothing as hurtful as a poorly turned phrase
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I really enjoyed your imagery, but especially the concept of the words healing. For me it’s an interesting perspective of the editing process.
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The editing process for me has always been a bit chaotic and messy 🤣🤣
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Wow! Great first line. Enjoyed where you took this word.
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Thanks! I’m glad you liked it 😊😊
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I need to print and prop in front of my keyboard ….. might help me with the writing / editing process!
A great write.
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I start writing on paper and once its a major mess, I write the final version on the computer!
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i have felt this in the last couple of weeks. getting my words down has been like opening an old wound. thanksnreally conected with this.
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I’m glad you connected with it, thank you!
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It used to be, on paper you could see the editing process which made it more real I think. There is something lost in the electronic age of editing where you push a key and it disappears. Your action words work very well and inspired thought, which I appreciate.
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Thank you! Yes, I find that the clarity of the computer can also disguise the absolute mess of the journey to that clarity. Often clarity isn’t important without the path to achieving it!!!
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You’re very welcome, Evan.
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To “gouge the falseness” — that it a great thing to do and such fantastic word choice!
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Thank you!
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I love the first line of this poem. You incorporated both meanings of the word quite well. Nicely done.
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Thank you very much!!
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Great images! Well done!
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Thank you!
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You are welcome!
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Wounded words & healing – I love how this can work together.
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Thank you!
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Powerful and perfect.
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Thank you!!
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I love this quadrille, Evan, and the simile in the opening line is so effective. Writing poetry can be a painful process, and I identify with the image you have painted. I especially love the lines:
‘I had to gouge the falseness
from the spaces between each letter’,
something we need to do to allow our wounded words to heal.
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Excellent use of both, Evan. We can make words hurt and heal all dependent upon how we wield our pens, as we excise the unnecessary to get at the what we wants to tell..
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Words are double edged.. they possess the power to free us of our pain, and to plunge us further still, I love the poignancy with which this poem is penned 💝💝
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Thank you!
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Deliciously painful, a strongly worded love letter to the creative process – a painful, bloody thing that promises harm by reopening our own wounds. Again, delicious stuff.
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Writing is a lot like stitching up a wound. You have to create these small little injuries/edits to stop the hypothetical bleeding of an incomplete piece!
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Revisiting this, I love it even more!
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Thank you!!
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You are welcome!
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