I feel like I’ve been stuck in the throes of writer’s block (and a touch of laziness) for the last month—I’ve been trying to write something that felt worth sharing everyday, and nothing felt right. Finally, this piece was somewhat of a breakthrough or a respite. I willed it out of me, mostly at the bar at Cafe Cluny (they have Chablis by the glass there) and I’m proud of it. I try to not let any unkind internet commentary get to me, but to be honest with you (as I’ll always try to be), someone commented ‘none of these sentences makes sense’ on a poem of mine, and it truly discouraged me. I don’t think poetry has to make sense to everyone, I don’t even think prose has to make sense to everyone—but I got so in my head about stringing words together the practice felt sticky for a little while. Then I wrote this. And I wrote like I always write—stream of consciousness, a little messy, a little poetic too. I like writing poetry because words can mean what you’d like them to mean, and you’re not stuck in the strict confines of grammar. I always know when I write something I like because of the feeling I get when I write the last sentence. This one felt like that. So even if it doesn’t make sense to you, it made sense to me. And I hope you feel called or heard or held too.
oh god. i am EMOTIONAL!!!!!!!! i am nostalgic and hopeful and sad. i am almost dialing all of the girls i swapped secrets with in the dark when words felt less heavy and secrets felt like confetti: sprinkled in special delight on those you love. i don’t know where these girls are now. i have found new people, new secret holders, new hearts to hold as we make our way down the path together. and maybe one day we WILL lose each other. but for now we are here. thank you eli! this was wonderful.
you’ve really done it this time😭😭 crying in my bed before work,, thank you for articulating the magic of female friendship so well. omw to tell my best friend i love her.
The amount of times I screenshotted bits of this. WOW!
Sobbing Eli this is amazing
WOW I am OBSESSED with this.
oh god. i am EMOTIONAL!!!!!!!! i am nostalgic and hopeful and sad. i am almost dialing all of the girls i swapped secrets with in the dark when words felt less heavy and secrets felt like confetti: sprinkled in special delight on those you love. i don’t know where these girls are now. i have found new people, new secret holders, new hearts to hold as we make our way down the path together. and maybe one day we WILL lose each other. but for now we are here. thank you eli! this was wonderful.
I'm so late to this, but wow Eli this is so beautiful!!! crying
All of these sentences make absolute sense!
What a beautiful tribute to female friendship <3 I know these feelings all too well.
Wow. This is powerful. How I love being a woman✨
<3
you’ve really done it this time😭😭 crying in my bed before work,, thank you for articulating the magic of female friendship so well. omw to tell my best friend i love her.