A Series Of Unfortunate Deletions Poem by Vevna Forrow

I have been deleted more than once
as I child I was bullied for years, judged by my skin alongside of my folks we were treated like defective egg yolks
we were treated like phantoms
to many we didn't exist at all
we were scrubbed from photos, party invites, and marshmallow thoughts
as if we were Lepers or X-File strangers
by our own bloodline not just sardined sidewalk neighbors
Remember the kind — the bloody kind
don't always reach happily ever after
Robin Hoods often conceal jackhammer pain n' disaster
through BBQ laughter or as I have done so through popcornin' art
I podcast from my eclipsing curry heart

I crawl the Earth as invisible hungry caterpillar
I crawl and often domino dungeon fall
Is it because I overcare at times
because I know what it's like to carry secrets of hemorrhaging trauma
— it taints your nectar dripping soul
and haunts each and every pawsome goal
but my love for those who are true
shall always help expunge the pile of ERROR: 404 coal
I have been deleted more than once
And yet I still have a jazzy soul
So implore you all to moon rock n' roll
on every blank page you have yet to fill
and remember to take photographs outside of every damn nesting windowsill
Howl your music out
Vampire bite nonsense and chill shout