Your Writing Tastes Like Blood (Gemma Ann White)

(For Robbie Coburn)

Sacrificial.
Long stroke of metal across your chest.
Caged.
Hot-toed animal wanting to escape.
Fear.
Incriminating as the first monthly bleed.
Gone.
Mind so very far from the body.
Drifting.
To newer places with plastic trees.
Waterlogged.
Thought gives out and the instrument takes over.
Fuck.
Get out of this one without any help.
Possible.
But not probable I think.
Trapped.
A momentary lapse caused commotion.
Heart.
Don’t encourage it any more.
Silence.
The beginning of a crawling death.
Gnash.
The sound of you trying to break through.
Shock.
Your writing and the blood. And the blood.


GemmabwsmlHaving cycled through a few different art forms in her life so far (visual art, writing and now music), Gemma Ann White is fascinated by the creative process. It has saved her in dark times, and salved the inevitable existential loneliness that comes with being human. Gemma has studied Creative Writing, Art History, and Visual Art, as well as Counselling and Art Therapy. From 2008 – 2015 she published a few poetry journal anthologies; Velveteen Zine, Velour and Sacred / Profane. Her own first book of poetry, Furniture is Disappearing, was published in 2014 by IP. It is available to buy here: https://www.ipoz.biz/Titles/FID.htm. She is currently working on a new manuscript of poems. Gemma enjoys helping other artists to birth their creative projects and is now available as a writing mentor. You can find her online here: www.gemmaannwhite.com  &  https://www.facebook.com/GemmaAnnWhiteART/.