I Want to Live Inside a Poem

By Jordan Brown

I want to live inside a poem,
stone cottage, wild garden
with kingfishers, blackbirds,
and warbling wrens.
I want the rain to pitter-patter
on my roof and the wind to
bow down the grass.
the sunshine shall trickle
through my open windows
as the curtains dance
in the autumn breeze.

I want to live inside a poem,
watercolors and stained glass
hot earl grey tea served
in delicate floral teacups
with honey straight from the bee.
I want to read leather-bound books,
heavy, musky, beloved tomes
in front of a wood-burning stove.
I want a goose-down comforter
to envelop and embrace me as
snow blankets the world.

I want to live inside a poem,
sheep and heather on the hillside
fuzzy socks and plums in the icebox
the taste of strawberries on my tongue,
sticky sweet juice running down my chin
constellations and thunder.
I want the brooks to babble
the roads to be less traveled.
If there be bruises, let them
be purpled, precious things.
Let the frost decorate
every window pane.

I want to live inside a poem,
and so I do, taking the ordinary
and romanticizing it.
a rose is a rose is a rose
but what if I think it might be magic?

Jordan Bryant is a jack of all trades (master of a few) from Indianapolis, Indiana. She was recently diagnosed with ADHD at age 29 and suddenly, all the unfinished manuscripts make sense.  When not attempting to finish all her works in process, Jordan works as a marketing and events assistant for Kaye Publicity and sings with the Circle City Chamber Choir. You can find her @jaybeereads on Twitter. 

Why we chose this piece: Jesus, WE want to live inside this poem. We found this piece to be immersive, evocative, and utterly delightful. There’s a romantic, earnest tone that we weren’t sure still existed in the lit scene. Also, you gotta love a William Carlos Williams reference.