nineseventhree Brick City - Su-Ling Dickinson

TEXT ONLY:

there’s a kingdom dwelling within my ribs
built by childhood daydreams and memory 
of the perfect family
in these derelict walls 
of a slumlord city apartment
revisited 

the decay evident in shrinking organs 
empty compartments, locked doors
unprotected, afraid in this penitentiary 
radiator steam searing the flesh
bone revealed 
painting the barren wooden floors 
in violent crimson 

the concrete jungle disintegrates 
each brick, voices of the ghosts
living inside intercoastal spaces
mutilated dining sets 
a reminder of disintegrated 
Identities and neighborhoods

our lips will unstitch singing the unfamiliar 
melody of faded 35mm photographs
that could have lasted forever
to wipe away attempted comforts drawn up
on imaginary maps
to find home
an endless and fruitless endeavor 
erased

Originally published on Instagram @sulingdickinson @thewriterswarmth

Su-Ling Dickinson is a 36 year old writer and artist based out of Portland, Oregon. She is originally from Newark, New Jersey and a former 2nd grade teacher. Su-Ling enjoys being a total cinephile, photography, and “a damn fine cup of coffee”. Her writing is inspired by raw emotion, cultural collision, and latent content.