I tried a little something different with the latest poetry diaries [September – October aka Libra season]. This feels right considering this is the time of year that started the whole bardic bullion project.
I hope you enjoy! For more, visit my substack.
When push comes to shove
When you have to learn-
When in dignity,
Carrying with grace
people don’t even know
How difficult
When it’s
the gambler & the detective
The energy does not lie
You gambled
With the wrong heart
When the sun
bows to the moon
When it’s kinship
Pulling focus
How do you get your light
bright enough, the dragonfly knows, listen
she's popping. Beware,
the eloquent burn;
your heart may turn
to stone. stones can split
open, create rivers. stones
fall and bow, divine.
The Tiffany windows at the Met—
what the other realms
looking like. Beware,
How you spend your light
for the curious, these diary entries (and jukebox time capsules) from the same time period in past years:
Hey there neighbors!
I am honored and stunned to report that my poem “remember how you had me”, originally curated by manywor(l)ds in Issue 2, was nominated for Best of the Net (2025) (???!!!)
You could knock me over with a feather. Thank you, manywor(l)ds for curating and nominating my poem. I am humbled and grateful for your recognition and to be honored in such a stellar cohort.
I encourage you, beloved reader, to explore all of manywor(l)ds’ nominees for poetry, fiction, art, and nonfiction. As always, thank you for completing the poem with you care and attention.
Check out the poetry jukebox here where I read this baby aloud.
Love always,
Kate
You’re weird where I wasn’t.
Bold of you
to let it spill because I did
not unless it was tears.
When it’s been five years.
When you petrify
Them and I love that
for you. Keep going.
True blue you, how you bore
through me, darling. Saw;
you could not help but to.
I scared easily. I saw, too.
Your mistake was perfection,
an -ism I’m proud you cashed.
—You gave me such cushion
taught me the riversleep, recounted how
a lion played in the snow—
Your strength is you’re willing
to err often, and in the open. And to laugh.
How it spills, the land will decide.
—O! How you listened to me.
—O! You heard me like no other.
No matter the when, we will always
have the porch and our letters.
Rings of fire and cut glass passed
between us, a cackling
in the clair moonlight.
Our visions a shared music
over and over again.
Sakes, your name is mine
and hers, too. My pride.
I thank you
for carrying me along
for the ride.
Go forth, my love! Mistakes’ embrace.
You are never alone
when there are so many cycles.
You are just brave, which can feel
that way. The only way
to stay is weird.
Now, turn it all the way up.
[archival] for the curious, these diary entries (and jukebox time capsules) from the same time period in past years:
messy messy mess-mess mess messy mess mess and listen run aground messy kiss and lies messy messy mess-mess; A pocketful of rye messy messy mess-mess; And us an angel tie. Four-and-twenty blackbirds, fenceposts of the day messy messy mess-mess; I keep what you say. messy messy mess-mess; baked it in a pie. oh-so-hot your steel-beamed truth to be your reject is to be my butterfly it's time to take to the bath. Timing just for redress. When it’s time for the answers to all keys And the fresh sack of flour is spoilt. When I am the fire in the belly, serving the witch that you need. when baby needs a new pair of shoes so we went to bed with six.
Monthly jukebox1:
[archival] for the curious, these diary entries (and jukebox time capsules) from the same time period in past years:
* ’22 B Sounds
* ’21 Even my silence is powerful
* ’20 Bagheera Chamomile
* ’19 The Jasper Vessel
this week: for what it’s worth & tomorrow 2
when you need an emergency meeting of the midday society
and tooth 7 is coming in
and i shall know the glories of those sock sneakers Balenciaga
—you mark my words;
who knew?
when pruning and weeding in the morning
—sunsplash soothed—
i didn’t realize that my favorite morning glories
are invasive! … Do I mind? I do mind their throttle
of the others.
I give the purple blooms and snaking vines a talking-to
as I tend my garden.
We can’t be doing this, my love. You know that.
When it’s all moving so dreadfully
slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
treading water for a month
makes you remember calm and hoping it’s true
—the trust of unfolding—
and then you remember the hold Orpheus had on you then.
Itinerary, Inbox, Insomnia
get a hold of yourself. 🙂 / 😐
Increased core strength and she’ll stand.
In weeks, she’ll grip words, too.
Instead of that cold, drafty tower of talons,
House of Gucci again for me.
For they know best gratuitousness.
When you look up from your work and confide to her,
this working is not working.
When one story is about moon drops.
When inspiration sparkling at the periphery—a hummingbird
cake. Toasted pecans are a must;
a can of crushed pineapple
with the juices. WITH. Do Not Drain.
∞ ∞ ∞
when you find the dice rolling already, when the ads are out and the old
familiar melody is naïve and here, when the hermit comes with rolling
punches and giggles and a yowling cat, when the bench is empty and Justice
is now written in the stars, when it’s roses • roses • roses • roses • roses • ros
∞ ∞ ∞
when it comes time to purify and a sister surprise
rolls in the joy, swells the tide of relief;
when it’s time to get right and take care. take care, mon bear
Take care ❤
kate carsella 