Featured Poet - Moses Conforto

Featured Poet - Moses Conforto

NOTHING BUT SADNESS


Nothing but sadness-

Fear and despair.

Nothing but sadness

as I pull out my hair.


Nothing but sadness

as tears roll down my cheek.

Nothing but sadness

as the future looks bleak.


Nothing but sadness

as my heart turns to stone.

Nothing but sadness

as I feel alone.


Nothing but sadness.

My knees drop to the ground.

Nothing but sadness-

I’ll never be found.


Nothing but sadness

as I look to the sky.

Nothing but sadness-

wishing to die.


Nothing but sadness

as I feel the pain.

Nothing but sadness-

there’s nothing to gain.


Nothing but sadness

as I start to bleed.

Nothing but sadness-

There’s demons to feed.


MIND OVER MATTER


“Mind over matter” they say.

“Get over it,” “try harder.”

“Mind over matter” they say.

“She’ll be fine, disregard her.”


“Mind over matter” they say.

“She’ll be alright.”

“Mind over matter” they say…

“But she stays up all night.”


“Mind over matter” they say.

“But she seems really unhappy.”

“Mind over matter” they say.

“Hey now- she’s getting snappy.”


“Mind over matter” they say.

“Just ignore how she’s acting.”

“Mind over matter” they say.

“Hey… She stopped interacting.”


“Mind over matter” they say.

“Looks like she’s just lying in bed.”

“Mind over matter” they say.

That night she was found dead.


MELTDOWN


I’m having a meltdown.

I have no control.

I’m having a meltdown

no one can console.


I’m having a meltdown.

I can’t even see.

I’m having a meltdown.

Count one… Two… Three…


I’m having a meltdown.

What does everyone think?

I’m having a meltdown.

God! I need a drink!


I’m having a meltdown.

I feel like a child.

I’m having a meltdown.

Wish everyone knew I was wild.


I’m having a meltdown.

I wish I was calm.

I’m having a meltdown.

Going off like a bomb.


I’m having a meltdown.

There’s just too much Noise!

I’m having a meltdown.

My life is destroyed.


DYSFUNCTION


Dysfunction.

I have no function,

Just pain inside.


Dysfunction.

I have no function,

Just staring wide-eyed.


Dysfunction.

I have no function,

as I get nothing done.


Dysfunction.

I have no function-

Every day is a rerun.


Dysfunction.

I have no function

as my mind wanders.


Dysfunction.

I have no function

as my brain ponders.


Dysfunction.

I have no function-

Racing thoughts, no winner.


Dysfunction.

I have no function-

I’m nothing but a sinner.


Dysfunction.

I have no function.

If only I could be productive.


Dysfunction.

I have no function-

I’m only self-destructive.


DON’T DO IT


Don’t do it.

Just pull through it.

     I know it hurts like Hell.

Don’t do it.

Just pull through it.

     I know you’re not feeling well.

Don’t do it.

Just pull through it.

     Hang on to that thread.

Don’t do it.

Just pull through it.

     No one wants you dead.

Don’t do it.

Just pull through it.

     Don’t drown in your sorrow.

Don’t do it.

Just pull through it.

     Because what needs you is Tomorrow.


MASK


Put on your mask.

     Just do things “Right.”

Put on your mask.

     Brighten that light.


Put on your mask.

     Just Socialize.

Put on your mask.

     Don’t you dare vocalize.


Put on your mask.

     Just get things Done.

Put on your mask.

     Oh, this just isn’t fun.


Put on your mask.

     You can’t let them see.

Put on your mask.

     You’ll never be Free.


ABOUT MOSES

Moses Conforto (she/he) is an autistic, perpetually-anxious, shapeshifting, bi-gender artist-of-mixed-and-many physical medium, a newly-registered RN, a former venomous snake handler, a former bird hospital technician, a former public and charter school science teacher, biologist, a queer youth mentor, a pharmacy technician, and a former cosmetologist, who has recently discovered that writing creatively has been an effective means of expression when vocal communication is impossible. His poems have been inspired by being told to “calm down” or “not say that” throughout his 42 human years. She lives in Florida, though his spirit belongs in the northern climates, with his spouse and their two cats, three parrots, two snakes, and a flock of crows taking residence in their yard. She doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up.

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