Sylvie Hill

POEM: “Supernaturals” — Like docking a starship, he said

Supernaturals We were laughing about translations. I meant bring it on! I said. “If you want to use Bring it in on a guy, that quote would be acceptable to me. Like docking a starship,” he said. And I laughed at the random Humour not unlike it was in London Supernatural resonance A candid candor, […]

POEM: “Ripe” — Literally men have died to touch it.

Ripe “Fuck your morals I was devastated.” Rejected was his word as I tried to explain it. It was that, and circumstance. My fear. & You had a girlfriend. Best sex he ever had. “But we didn’t even fuck!” Ever try it on in mind Better than talking or touch. At 17, maybe less or […]

POEM: “Heartrush” — my social filter is set low

Heartrush “I have no idea what you are talking about and my social filter is set low.” I laughed out loud, took a deep breath, Smiled miles wide, and got up slow. Sylvie Hill, Montreal, April 2019 Photo: David Fernandez Saez

POEM: “The Arbitrary Intentional Summation” — Devilish, derelict, disciplined, and mad. / You were the best night I ever had.

The Arbitrary Intentional Summation And if it makes you vile Then it makes me a witch That I didn’t give a toss who you were with! And you didn’t care much that night in London And we both didn’t give a shit. And if it makes you impulsive Then it makes me spontaneous That I […]

POEM: “What You Prefer” — He’s attentive, and caring, but asks no questions / And everything he knows about you—from the Internet.

What You Prefer BAD FEMINIST, they’d shout at me, they’d say if I told them I can justify my abuser this way: You muse a person, and you use their image And you make these self-centred projections You write their story one-way in fictions And you wonder how you fed their hatred?! Everything they say […]

POEM: “Blaze ‘er, Lady” — And a fake Self wrapped in a rocker jean jacket and chain wallet?

Blaze ‘er, Lady. By comparison, Now that I’m living it I can say clearly And without hesitation: I preferred the cinq à sept To the five o’clock to two a.m. Piss ups, anglo-style On Elgin. I used to close the pub with her Our last-call pint chased down with liquor I’d stand there off patio […]

POEM: “A Simple Win” — How can they trust – / that they won’t bleed their brains and hearts out / while I fuck reality, leaving them in the dust.

A Simple Win Don’t think I don’t know. I’ve got two letters in my mind and I’ve just re-read them. Just now. Both were positive From intelligent men Trying positively to challenge The way I am. They were not wrong. They were not wrong. With attention, and caution, they chose words carefully. They expressed gratitude […]

POEM: “This Hardened” — Do not give me shit / suitable for on-looking kids / or for hanging in a suburban home, / beige walls, like.

Disheartened When you gifted me this: The split chest The burning and the darkness Well, dear, I knew you were my kind. When he gave me pearls… Some book by some author… And a re-cast dinner plan with flowers? Well, dear, I knew he was not of my time. When he gave me plastic lobsters, […]

POEM: “Mistakes” — I get sad about pushing it all away / Or wanting more than enough. / I get sad about not seeing his proposal… / Or ignoring it as him just being drunk.

Mistakes I don’t get sad about not having had love. I had it in abundance! The flowers and love letters! Words poured out tender! Vows promised, made! Rings exchanged! So many pictures, great sex and conversations, and those trips. I don’t get sad about not having had love. I had so much of it! By […]

POEM: “Verbal Vomit (on moving)” — I try to pack my memories / Store those little sad things. / I’ve since thrown away entreaties of you as a guide,

Verbal Vomit (on moving) In my packing for my moving I’ve been weighting shit and getting rid of things. Wondering sometimes when I lift a box here or there how is it when you moved from London back to New Zealand? How do you decide what stays what goes? Is that why you didn’t have […]

Writer | Poet | Educator

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