Repression by Tara DeLong People mistake their silence as hate When they were born the world sewed shut Their mouths with invisible threads When people speak to them The intercourse removes single threads Slowly Painlessly And they spit out some of the reservoir Of blood from behind their lips Pushing innocence away with their red mess They can feel something in their mouths Trapped behind those clasped lips She thinks it is a weed Rooted through her veins He believes it is a bird Feasting on his tongue It is their hearts — Drumming against their teeth One day they'll open their mouths wide Shatter those translucent threads Tearing their weak lips Their hearts will fly out “ Black and deadly Shattering all silence drawing by Tara DeLong thowever Judy and & had 4 ad Parksville was where dys Aes allek teacher ived- She aad laces to stay: =~ cated up Staying -- ahs fe | and an at het fe a ee called esi ri Schoo! . er hame Was S. Pra : = gil co git: - = te English. She PRs As. Peal soheal - Her mother had 80 years eld and quite Short. recently died in % Cat crash. ye Her “Rather thay gh? tat + cavld Now she Was geing 4. tench me. serve as some Sort of mentor fir + 60 ! her » bv she was Inete inferesfed rr) smoking bot than in hanging our with me. oe stayed tere for ° weeks ; 34 influx: Magazine April 1999 Repression by Tara DeLong People mistake their silence as hate ‘When they were born the world sewed shut ‘Their mouths with invisible threads ‘When people speak to them The intercourse removes single threads Slowly Painlessly ‘And they spit out some of the reservoir (Of blood from behind their lips Pushing innocence away with their red mess They can feel something in their mouths ‘Trapped behind those clasped lips She thinks ics a weed Rooted through her veins He believes it isa bird Feasting on his tongue leis ther hearts Drumming against their teeth ‘One day theyll open their mouths wide = Shatter those translucent threads 12 Tearing ther weak ips | al Thel hears wi you pal Black and deadly be Shattering ll silence Parks vat abere ji Gf ower, Sndy and & bad 4 And ballet eather lived. She. wanted gees te ays F eled @ styng ity be came and teach af ina pve called Lantos wih thal Heron. oir” Mi al mgt ake marin delish ob Ns. Pratt seb! Her matter ad ‘She was lth. She wes alse tne 5 secently died in oat crash. 0 yas eld and Gv Se fer “aher tnaght 4 ear Seeee uf foek “a ie eg a herp buf the was te nferded m smaking. pot “ibn in hag avt hie : 5 feb te Ios eee 34 influx Magazine April 1999