Resentment: Kathryn Gillespie

01. Writer

Kathryn Gillespie


02. Theme

Resentment


03. MUSIC INSPIRATION

Hayley Williams:
Leave It Alone


04. WRITING

February 29th, 2020

First night alone it snowed

called him- 
he said he was clearing 
the walkways with table salt 
drawing lines of futility 
never breaking down 
cold shifting in sheets 
across the blacktop
just biding time until 

okay 
fuck you
get home on your own 

called him- 
said they were still together 

and I sat my heart beside the space heater 
protected all I had left with my life
bundled under piles of quilts 
drained my breath into the air
like fog machine clouding 
thick waves of apathy 
newly laced with 
pocket knives

called him- 

no answer. 
none. 

expected 
to wake up new with day as sterling 
crisp and light as white of blank page
beneath my boots

expected 
him to miss my warmth that night
curled like cat around 
stark beaming absent
me.

instead 
found the ground gray 
and giving beneath heels
squelching sick with misery singing 
unrequited ballad cold
alone 

instead 
picked up piece of me I dropped 
lodged it heavy and clumsy
and careful til it was nodding 
asleep inside crook of my throat 

picked out 
splinter of him still jabbed
in my palm from last time I held 
a piece of love could have 
turned the sky 

but didn't.