I have not posted a new poem in this space for a couple weeks. I have been re-evaluating my strategy concerning posting poetry online. I know that people have suggested to me that I need to not post every new poem online, because it hampers the body of work that I have to offer for competitions. A lot of competitions have rules where the work submitted must not be previously published or offered for public consumption – which includes my own personal blog. I have been struggling with this because I love posting my pieces here and getting feedback from my loyal readership.
As I continue to decide what to do – whether to continue posting most of my work here or pull back some – I have decided to release another new poem, mainly because I miss you all so much! So, sit back, relax, and let’s get vulnerable together…
VULNERABLE
You make me want to get vulnerable.
Make me want to peel off the layers of my soul and
Expose myself wholly to you –
No, I don’t mean get naked ….
I mean strip down to my insecurities
Peel away the bravado
And spread my fears for your inspection.
I mean have you finger my anxieties,
Cavity search the cares that hold me down
And test my tears for banned substances.
You make me want to get vulnerable,
To not hide anymore behind the pretense
Of having it all together.
It would be better to just come clean,
Admit to using performance enhancing lies
That mimic the stamina of real courage
But are nothing more than the chemical
Cocktail of cowardice mixed with
A generous amount of wanting to look
Good in front of others –
Especially you.
But I want to go to rehab…
Strip away the fabricated exterior I’m addicted to
Quit lying to myself and to you cold turkey
Even with the certainty of the convulsions caused by
Symptoms of withdrawal from my comfort zone.
But I want to get clean for you –
For us
Start this life anew – us two on equal footing
I want to stand naked and unashamed
The real me
Worthy of the real you.
You inspire me to reach higher
Be a better me – authentically
So I need to do this
Piss my problems into a cup for testing
No longer resisting genuine scrutiny
I stand
Wholly naked, truly bare down to the soul.
This is who I am.
Passion's Pleasure 
there is power in that vulnerability….and an honesty too…in knowing they love you for who you are and not some show you have to keep putting on….
as to posting online….when you submit to a contest you can deactivate the post….if it does not win, you just reactivate it…i do it all the time….
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Posted by brian miller | August 27, 2013, 4:30 PMThanks for the advice, Brian 🙂
Yes, that security in knowing they love you for you – the real you – that is awesome!
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Posted by PassionPoet | August 28, 2013, 8:05 AMI would love to hear this piece spoken. It’s intelligent and crafty. Nice work!
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Posted by emmettwheatfall | August 27, 2013, 5:44 PMThank you sooooo much Emmett! I WILL record it … will let you know when it is up on my SoundCloud page.
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Posted by PassionPoet | August 28, 2013, 8:06 AMHard to feel like posting all the time – can certainly understand wanting to get to bare bones. k.
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Posted by Manicddaily | August 27, 2013, 5:52 PMThanks K 🙂
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Posted by PassionPoet | August 28, 2013, 8:54 AMthis topic is so interesting, and the piece is intelligent and insightful. I would love to hear this one.
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Posted by deathbyexpectations | August 27, 2013, 5:59 PMWill get right on it 🙂 You guys will know when I record it 🙂
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Posted by PassionPoet | August 28, 2013, 8:55 AMThis is SO good! Excellent flow and wicked wordplay. I really enjoyed it.
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Posted by Mama Zen | August 27, 2013, 9:51 PMComing from you, Mama Z, this is a real compliment! Thank you!
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Posted by PassionPoet | August 28, 2013, 8:55 AM“Admit to using performance enhancing lies
That mimic the stamina of real courage” great line! I really enjoyed this poem 🙂 I hope to see more from you!
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Posted by Talicha J. | August 28, 2013, 1:43 AMYou can! Check my archives… or my FB page http://www.facebook.com/PassonPoet … or my SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/passionpoet … or even check the Audio page on this website!
Stay tuned… more where this came from!
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Posted by PassionPoet | August 28, 2013, 8:58 AMAwesome, will do!
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Posted by Talicha J. | August 28, 2013, 9:37 AMHearing you on SoundCloud elevates your words to a new level for me. I am wowed!
Thank you for sharing all
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Posted by Naughty Nic's Project Erotic | September 3, 2013, 8:07 AMWow …. I’m humbled…. I have more to upload… Stay tuned …
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Posted by PassionPoet | September 3, 2013, 9:15 AMSimply…beautiful! ~jackie~
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Posted by 1emeraldcity | August 28, 2013, 6:16 AMawwww thanks honey! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Posted by PassionPoet | August 28, 2013, 8:58 AMlove this..going from the desiring to look good, to the willingness to come clean and allow yourself to be vulnerable. Loved the comparison to rehab, vulnerability as coming clean..well done
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Posted by Dorianna (paintswithwords) | August 28, 2013, 2:24 PMThank you sooooo much Dorianna 🙂 I love how you paint with words, and I endeavour to do the same 🙂
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Posted by PassionPoet | August 29, 2013, 9:19 AMWhat a beautiful entry….you have certainly exposed yourself to me, and I like what I see. Getting naked together!
Now it’s my turn…I should strip down too 🙂
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Posted by ahhhpoetry | August 31, 2013, 5:48 PMCan’t wait to see you stripped 😉
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Posted by PassionPoet | September 3, 2013, 9:14 AM