Flinty Heels
A guide to walking away from the spindle.
To survive,
you must first
line your eyes
with seduction.
*
Hide your
shades of strength
in pants
instead of dresses.
*
Remember they lied.
[You] are not
the only one
with muscles.
*
When they say,
"Don't go out in that dress,"
do not yell.
*
Instead,
look down
at his shrunken stature
as you ruffle.
*
Teach him
that no mortal man
can reach
behind your neck
feigning control.
*
Expose the words
he stole.
Gird yourself
to farm your own land.
*
Shine your rubies
with truth
until they fill
the hearts
of your sisters.
*
Build a crystal cistern
where the water
is clear
and warm.
*
Wait for your
own face
to be mirrored back.
*
Refuse to die
on the streets
just to feed
your heart.
*
When he comes,
ensure he cannot say
you have taken
what you do not own.
*
Let him be smitten
by the compliance
he mistook
for victory.
*
Let him feel
exempted
from the truth of you
until the end.
*
Do not let
your tongue remain
a spindle hooked
behind your throat.
*
Find your calm
in words
of resonance.
*
Buckle your heels
and listen
for the flinty sound
of your departure.
*
Walk
toward yourself.
*
Watch him
from afar,
like feathers
to a hen.
A/N : While my previous exploration, "Beef of Comfort," was a feeble attempt at reaching too far when I wasn't ready, this poem is the necessary response. Today, in flinty heels, I have found the well and drawn water from it with the guidance of my very good friend, Harper Lewis. It is a set of imperative instructions on how to reclaim one's heart and walk toward the self with resonance. It is a survival guide for the muscles we were told we didn't have. If you got this far, thank you so much for reading. ❤️🤗🙏🏽
About the Creator
Caitlin Charlton
poetry too close to home
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By Kristy Andersonabout 15 hours ago in Geeks
Comments (32)
WOW.
Stunning work! This puts the E in Empowering! Go CC!
Caitlin, I expect to see your name on the winner's list with this poem. Congratulations on your top story!🌹🌹🌹
Did I just hear the mic drop?
Amazing
Ooft, Caitlin! This is EVERYTHING: “Do not let your tongue remain a spindle hooked behind your throat” I felt this immediately in my throat - stuck, tangled. Then I felt it loosen, unhooking. Freeing my tongue. My voice. A visceral reminder that I have a words, a voice. Thoughts that matter. A knowing that sometimes needs to be spoken. And sometimes needs to unravel through me so that the knowing is known completely…trusted by me. ❤️❤️✨✨
One word: Superb, Caitlin. Congratulations on TS! :D
Congratulations on having this awarded a Top Story. Not honoring it in some special way would have been a sin. It's so beautiful. ⚡💙 Bill⚡
Such a great entry to the challenge, Caitlin! It screams wisdom from experience and oozes desire to help others. I admire you for that. Well-deserved TS!
Caitlin, this is top drawer writing! It’s dark and mysterious and filled with innuendo, imagery, and metaphor. Yet it is direct and to the point. This is a great entry! Congratulations on the Top Story!
Beautiful!
Congratulations for your top story, well deserved. This feels like an anthem and I loved it! :)
🩷Great Entry, Congratulations For Your Top Story 🎊
Knew this would be a top story! Freaking genius
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
my oh my, caitlin! i must say, you have done it again. "Teach him that no mortal man can reach behind your neck feigning control..." hints at the ventriloquism and violence of bitter men, while offering the narrative of hope that the objects of such silencing and violence have power still. not only to teach those bitter men lessons, but to keep themselves safe. this entire poem feels like a resonant guide against falling into the trap of self-betrayal, sabotage, or old ghosts.
Back to say. Congrats dearest Caitlin on another deserving Top Story.
You are already the winner in my mind! “ Do not let your tongue remain a spindle hooked behind your throat.” Dear god, that line, among many stole my breath! I may just print this out as a mantra for the darker days. Stunning, dear Cait. Accolades all around!
This one is out of the word 🚀🚀🚀 Very beautiful and powerful
This was so natural. It flows, one word to the next, with a silky smoothness. A fantastic entry, I could feel deep in my soul.
The power and confidence in this poem was mesmerizing. You truly have a talent. Best of luck in the challenge!
Girl, yes! This is so powerful and beautiful. Loved every word. I smell a winner ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Reading this feels like learning from a wise guide who has walked the path before. It inspires reflection and action at the same time.
Wow this really pulled at my heart strings Caitlin, the power behind every word is powerful and strong, the flow of this is sharp and telling, and I felt this poem with spoke to me. The lesson behind every word. And wow the empowerment here. The line even though they all stuck out was "Teach him that no mortal man can reach behind your neck feigning control." The power is unreal what you have written honestly and I can feel this deeply. I love your Writting, I love your flow, I absolutely love the messages you bring please never stop, I read your work all the time when on vocal keep Writting and keep going even if sometimes it pulls at emotions you can do it 💜 Writting our work sends messages out and also people really feel it, also Writting can also be a release in a sence 💜
OOO, I love this! So very powerful, darling Caitlin! 💛You are shining so bright and brilliant 💛