Annotations for Speaker: Erica Jackson

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Um,

Um,

these are two parts from a five part poem that I wrote called, um, Brown Tiles and it stems from an assault that

these are two parts from a five part poem that I wrote called, um, Brown Tiles and it stems from an assault that

I suffered in 92 by a boyfriend that I had with fair skin and blue eyes.

I suffered in 92 by a boyfriend that I had with fair skin and blue eyes.

And the first part is the third part of the five part poem.

And the first part is the third part of the five part poem.

It's called Stained Glass.

It's called Stained Glass.

I fell into a friend last night, mourning the loss of you.

I fell into a friend last night, mourning the loss of you.

His laughter and fraternally engraved body led to Swiss mocha bedsheets and pages of journals and notebooks, papers crinkling under our decision, scratching the flesh.

His laughter and fraternally engraved body led to Swiss mocha bedsheets and pages of journals and notebooks, papers crinkling under our decision, scratching the flesh.

My breath awakened the red hiding in your thirsty rose sitting in my windowsill as we drifted to the window.

My breath awakened the red hiding in your thirsty rose sitting in my windowsill as we drifted to the window.

Faced to cold glass, I clawed for warmth and passion, but unearthed a nakedness that runs deeper than the flesh, the truth.

Faced to cold glass, I clawed for warmth and passion, but unearthed a nakedness that runs deeper than the flesh, the truth.

You raped me,

You raped me,

and I coped.

and I coped.

Buried, hid, and rationalized.

Buried, hid, and rationalized.

Vindicating the blue pureness of you.

Vindicating the blue pureness of you.

Why?

Why?

Behind tear stained glass, I stand before hallucinating stars and blindfolded trees.

Behind tear stained glass, I stand before hallucinating stars and blindfolded trees.

The muteness of nature has acquitted and convicted me.

The muteness of nature has acquitted and convicted me.

And, uh, this is the last part.

And, uh, this is the last part.

It's called Satin Blues.

It's called Satin Blues.

Um, it, it, I can't explain it, it's, I just can't explain it.

Um, it, it, I can't explain it, it's, I just can't explain it.

Um, I wrote it from the standpoint of a tree.

Um, I wrote it from the standpoint of a tree.

Any other way I couldn't have gotten it out.

Any other way I couldn't have gotten it out.

His skin felt good against my branches.

His skin felt good against my branches.

A blue satin ribbon that danced around my trunk and played hide and seek through my leaves.

A blue satin ribbon that danced around my trunk and played hide and seek through my leaves.

He gave me joy.

He gave me joy.

For years he played with me, around me, under me, in me.

For years he played with me, around me, under me, in me.

Until the day I saw his eyes.

Until the day I saw his eyes.

Blue eyes.

Blue eyes.

Satin blue.

Satin blue.

Poisonous satin.

Poisonous satin.

Hypnotic blue shroud cracked revealing satin tentacles that overpowered my branches, leaves forming mock barriers.

Hypnotic blue shroud cracked revealing satin tentacles that overpowered my branches, leaves forming mock barriers.

Disgraced.

Disgraced.

My fruit is violated.

My fruit is violated.

Rooted here in his moment, waning each time the wind sojoins through my decaying trunk.

Rooted here in his moment, waning each time the wind sojoins through my decaying trunk.

A leaf collapses, asking, Does stolen fruit still taste as sweet?

A leaf collapses, asking, Does stolen fruit still taste as sweet?

Thank you.

Thank you.