An Infinity of Inconsequential Beauties @albertxylin - Tumblr Blog

Trapped Sunset

We talk about finding meaning in the little things, About how inspiration exists everywhere, And I cannot help but think about the sunset on the train ride over, The orange gradient of badly-mixed lemon lime bitters Interrupted by warped reflections as the carriage rocks, Blocked by the harsh glare of overhead halogen lights. There is a discarded plastic tray of finished sushi on a seat, And everyone avoids sitting next to it In fear of becoming responsible for another's trash. I try to take a photo of the sunset, But from where I sit the glare and reflections and garbage are clearly in the shot, And I am unable to ignore them.

#3447 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Frostbite Exercise

You know it's cold When you step outside to exercise And quickly change your mind. Discipline and routine are important, But so is keeping all of your fingers and toes. So I retreat into the warmth of home, Let the shivers leave my body, And resolve to try again when the sun is shining.

#3446 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Lenticular Dreams

I buy a postcard with a shifting image, Lenticular printing hiding depths within an almost-flat plane. From one angle you see night and the other day, And I wonder how many hidden truths are obscured by perspective. Maybe in another world, In a valium dream, If you squint at the corner of the street, There is a bus stop covered by a peach tree. And if you manage to find your way To the land of the lost, If you find your eyes closing as you wander home, You will wake to the smell of fruit drifting down from above. You will finally find peace.

#3445 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Train Magic

I listen to the Beatles on the train. We trundle through the countryside And it starts to rain. It's not the harsh staccato of Sydney summer But a gentle haze of grey, And I am reminded of memories of England Set to the soundtrack of four lads from Liverpool. It feels magical, Even as the creaking carriage and uncomfortable seat Threaten to remove me from the moment. A rainbow appears out of the corner of my eye. A child runs across the platform, Trying to win a race he made up in his mind. There is a smile on my face.

#3436 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems #forgot to post this one whoops

Sharp Accessories

I receive a new belt clip in the mail. It's solid but sharp, Corners ready to cut anything that gets near. I file down the edges, Check to see how it feels to my fingers, And wrap it in tape. Nothing needs to be hurt today. There are ways to make things safe.

#3444 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Natural Photography

The best photos we take aren't the ones with flash. They're lit naturally, But that isn't why they're the best. The wind lifts my hair and makes it weightless, Or the trees in the background sway perfectly. Through coincidence and chance natural is better. It's almost like the world is whispering Don't force things. This is the moment it needs to be. Everything you need is already here, You just have to find them.

#3443 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Somatic Indication

I wake up, Look at the time, And go back to sleep. Deliberate rest feels like luxury, Even when it is sorely needed. Maybe that's why it feels so good.

#3442 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Good Enough Replacement

The holes don't quite line up, And the screws can't stay in straight, But these wheels are still secured in place. They're in no danger of failing or falling, And no matter how disquieting it felt at first, The screws have sunk in And the suitcase is moving, And I think that qualifies as good enough.

#3441 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Solo Massage

My back is sore, So I lay down and let a tennis ball soothe me. It's less effective than a proper massage, But it doesn't require a second set of hands, Nor any expensive equipment. I make do with what I have, And it works well enough, But it would be nice to have some help.

#3440 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Resume Deceptions

At what point in writing a resume Does embellishing the truth move from misleading To unequivocably deceptive? Has desperation made us liars competing with other liars? Has numbness made cynics of us all? Is it a race to the bottom or a gradual series of compromises? No matter the speed at which it happens, We are still descending into hell.

#3439 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Maladaptive Learning

A child stands at the precipice, Staring down at a drop. She's been hesitating for minutes now, And the queue behind her has stalled. We all watch as she deliberates, Examines the bar to make sure it's clean, Gathers the courage to get ready And deflates moments later. The pressure builds, And every attempt is aborted. Eventually, she decides that destiny does not lie beyond that fall. She steps back, walks down, And runs into the arms of her mother.

I hope she doesn't regret it. Some would say it's a shame, That she didn't conquer her fears And will forever be cursed by her lack of courage. I would say she listened to her body, And didn't let the opinions of others outweigh her own.

Not every lesson teaches the right thing. Too many children learn to stuff themselves and ignore any sign of fullness Instead of the importance of food and the tragedy of waste. Too many children learn to lie when the truth leads to punishment. Too many waves lap at foreign shores. I think it is better to stare down the world, To trust yourself and what you know, Than to buckle just because other people said so.

#3438 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Gallery Marathon

We spend hours exhausting a gallery of every exhibit. Every piece of art displayed is taken in by our eyes. By the end of it we are glancing, Struggling through the last mile of a marathon. This is no feat of endurance. There is no finish line nor trophies, Just a feeling of satisfaction floating on an ocean of exhaustion, And no desire to repeat it any time soon.

#3437 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Letter Gutter

I slip the letter opener under the flap, And with a quick motion I slice it open. It is visceral, This feeling of efficient slaughter, The gutting of a fish In an office on land.

I wonder if the muscle memory translates, If simulation teaches familiarity if not mastery, If this is how they train you to kill without thinking, Just by making the action mundane.

#3435 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Legacy Naming

I still call it your room, Even though we've disassembled your bed And moved everything around. We've said goodbye for the last time, But even so you still remain. I don't know if this is grief or closure Or just the way memory works. I'll probably keep calling it your room Until something new grows into its identity.

#3434 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Survival Adaptation

The store isn't the same anymore. The games only take up a fraction of the shelves, Now populated with merchandise and toys and jewellery And all the things that desperate stores use to fill inventory When sales start to struggle. It's no surprise that things have changed, But I mourn the place that used to be.

The park is filled with ibises. They honk like phlegmy geese And open up closed cardboard containers with their beaks. They have adapted to modern life, Trading dying mangroves for urban centres And a reputation for being bin chickens.

What is the cost of dignity? Is survival worth losing your identity? Or is it better to be stubborn And principled And dead?

#3433 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Magic Muscle Memory

They say that after a day of not practicing you can hear the difference, And after three the audience can hear it too. I haven't played the pieces in weeks And yet through some miracle my muscle memory still remains. Maybe the last time I paid enough attention that I haven't forgotten. Maybe it's the deep grooves I've worn into my brain That a light rain cannot wash away. It's no surprise the music has become a part of me. I've held it in my heart for years already.

#3432 #writing #original poem #poem #poetry #spoken word #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

Secondhand Partless

A secondhand device doesn't come with a charger. It's common enough that I can find one online, But it's still surprising, Given I was expecting everything needed to use it. I think it's ridiculous for that not to be included, But that is the reality of the current moment. And like the reality of the current moment, I will do what I can to fix it.

#3431 #writing #original poem #poetry #spoken word #poem #spoken word poetry #daily poem #poems

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An Infinity of Inconsequential Beauties