Albatross (Poem)
Just so you know, an albatross is a type of bird and “albatross around my neck” is an idiom for guilt- it refers to Coleridge’s ancient poem about killing an albatross and hanging it around his neck as a sign of guilt for everyone to see
I never knew
how heavy an albatross was
until my shoulders felt the feathers
and the ground suddenly seemed to be rising
towards my face
I never knew
how heavy an albatross was
until it wrung my scruff- lungs dried
and the atmosphere suddenly seemed so distant
from where I was
I never knew
how heavy an albatross was
until I had them numbered- intertwining loops
a sin-ridden scarf
I could no longer ignore
I never knew
how heavy an albatross was
until I saw it through other eyes
my muscles straining, aching
yet still, unnoticed
I never really knew
how heavy an albatross was
until I saw mine around her neck
her shoulders giving in
because of me
vivaciousverses 