I'm Sorry, Mom (John Chenvert - Napoleonville, LA)

I’m sorry, Mom, for the days I stay buried beneath my sheets, while sunlight begs at my window and your voice echoes down empty halls of memory. You gave me all the light you had left— but I was born with shadows in my bones.

I’m sorry the night light of your love no longer keeps the monsters at bay. They’ve learned my name, they sleep beside me, they wear my face when I look in the mirror.

You fought so hard to raise me in peace, to silence the screams you swallowed for years. But I inherited more than your eyes, more than your soft hands and fragile hopes— I carry your ghosts like heirlooms I never asked for but can’t let go.

I know you dreamed of more for me— a life where laughter comes easier than breathing through grief. But drinking the pain away only makes me thirsty for the last handful of dirt dropped on my casket. I sip sorrow from cracked glasses, searching for something that feels like escape but always tastes like drowning.

I’m sorry I couldn’t always be the son you believed you were building. Some nights, I try to climb out of this hurt just to sit beside you at the table and pretend I’m whole for a while. But the silence between us sometimes says more than I ever could.

Still, even in my darkest hour, I know you loved me through every storm, even the ones I made myself. And though I’m worn and wandering, I’m still your boy, trying to find my way back to the warmth you gave me before the cold took hold.

I’m sorry, Mom— but I’m still fighting. Maybe one day that will be enough.

Comments

Come Hither (Annette Redmond Walters - Lafayette, LA)

I meant it not this way but the tears just flow and my makeup smearing all the more, leaving behind that familiar filthy residue. I may have begun to drive myself away, dragging you down as well. But it's done, I've flipped the switch and now it's dark once more. How painful is the music to my ears, I can't stand to be alone in it, yet here I am again. I pray you fly back and safely and warmly to me, though I fear I've dug the grave too deeply. As the dirt shifts within my soul, I choke on those loving words I'd meant for you. All the fragments of light I see becoming smaller and I wish to be near you in your embrace that might make me feel the warmth I'm missing. And in reality, I doubt I'd breathe another breath without you. So come hither and quickly soothe my dying heart, you are the only cure I know. I cry and cry again, come hither to heal and love me. Come hither and help me dry my tears.

Lunatic (Lily Lechler - New Orleans, LA)

“Lunacy” comes from the moon, Who cycles through brilliance and darkness Bipolarity’s patterns are not so easily assumed Opposites not so well harnessed Who cycles through brilliance and darkness? The girl who sits in bed, wrestling with Opposites. Not so well harnessed As she thought, her brain gives reason the slip The girl who sits in bed, wrestling with Her body, depressed, her thoughts manic. As she thought, her brain gave reason the slip And gives the gift of life in a dreamlike panic. Her body depressed her thoughts. Manic Lunacy comes from the moon And gives the gift of life in a dreamlike panic Bipolarity’s patterns are not so easily assumed

Louisiana Words Remembers Jorge Arturo

There’s nothing that hurts more than when we lose someone from our Louisiana Words family. But, the beauty of our writing movement is that the words of our loved ones live on with us. On June 20th, 2023, Louisiana Words Allstar, Jorge Arturo, moved on from this world leaving our hearts broken. He was a charismatic and talented human being. Jorge resided in New Orleans, LA and had been active on Louisiana Words for over a year. To honor Jorge’s life and work, we will be sharing his writing and live performances all Summer 2023. Please help keep his spirit alive by sharing his work. We know that Jorge’s words will connect with our readers and we hope to keep his spirit alive. Jorge’s first submission: “The Dog Show” debuted on February 6th, 2022 and is his most successful piece to date. In 2022, Jorge spent 10 weeks in the top with “The Dog Show,” “Weavers,” “They Say Love Kills, This Time It Really Did,” and “If Hell is Real, It Looks Like an Airport.” His la...

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