Square One
By Dylan Marsan
I claw and I claw.
What feels like ages and ages
of the hourglasses’ sands turning,
glowing on the orange and reds of the sunrise hues.
My bird is sent to those
who crave what once had.
My wishes are blown out to those
who never could find a candle.
The foundation is supposed to be firm and sturdy.
But the scaffolding is slipping and the workers are rioting.
I am as patient as a
singer on a slow, grimy, Scottish Tuesday afternoon.
Like the gold beneath lakes;
cared for by all, found by none.
Stairs of varying designs beckon upon me.
Each eclipse my eyesight;
None meet the luxury of the elevator.
I claw and I claw.
Awaiting for the moment I’ll be able to soar.
Bio: Dylan Marsan is a degree-seeking Psychology student at the University of Denver. Outside of poetry, he enjoys tennis, reading, journaling, cooking, and anything with Greek yogurt. He has also published poetry in the Foothills Magazine – an affiliate magazine of the University of Denver.
Square One – I wrote this piece, for somewhat similar reasons [see “Euphoria”]- kind of feeling like no matter how hard you work, you’re still stuck right where you are. Out of the two, this one presents more transparency – at least to me. There’s a sense that the narrator is wanting for someone or something, however, they always stay rather grounded in the self. In my opinion, the last two lines really present the message of the poem. I hope readers can empathize with this piece and understand that progress is not necessarily as linear as we think.
