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Summary

The website content features a raw and introspective poem titled "Literal Purge," reflecting on themes of addiction and personal struggle, accompanied by a trigger warning and personal disclaimers from the author, Alicia Lee Colasurdo.

Abstract

The poem "Literal Purge" is presented as a deeply personal piece from the author's past, which delves into the chaotic and distressing experiences of a troubled individual. The author prefaces the poem with two disclaimers, noting its abstract nature and the lack of a satisfactory title, while also acknowledging the poem's potential to trigger emotional responses in readers. The content is a vivid portrayal of a life gripped by addiction and the relentless cycle of seeking more, despite the physical and emotional toll. The poem conveys a sense of entrapment, memory suppression, and the yearning for escape, as well as the dehumanizing effects of substance dependency. Alicia Lee Colasurdo shares this profound work with a request for reader engagement and support for her writing through a Medium membership referral.

Opinions

  • The author expresses a level of dissatisfaction with the poem's title, suggesting it may not fully encapsulate the poem's essence and inviting readers to contribute title ideas.
  • There is a sense of conflict within the author about the poem's worthiness of a title, considering its representation of a difficult period in life.
  • The poem is recognized as potentially disturbing, necessitating a trigger warning for sensitive readers.
  • The author reflects on the poem's creation as being from a different time in her life, indicating personal growth and distance from the experiences described.
  • The poem suggests a critical view of the societal and personal pressures that contribute to the cycle of addiction and self-destruction.
  • The author's inclusion of a referral link for Medium membership implies a desire for community support and recognition of the platform's role in sustaining writers.

Literal Purge

A poem from another life

Photo by Mishal Ibrahim on Unsplash

[Disclaimer #1: I wrote this poem years ago. I’ve never rewritten it and I’ve never been able to put a title to it. I gave it a title for publishing purposes, but I still don’t like it. Maybe put some ideas in the comments, just for fun? Or maybe it doesn’t “deserve” a title because of what it represents. I can’t decide. Either way, thanks for reading].

[Disclaimer #2: Although this poem is very much in the abstract, it is worth giving it a trigger warning, so TW].

Freaks walk the streets, empty lots. Careless hand, give me yours, give me yours, run streets, painted man.

Who are you? Who are me? Yes, you. You’ll see. Forget this. Get that. Share with me, share with me.

Hide away. I go. Block memory, time for dream. Stay put. He’s ‘round corner. Not a sigh, not a squeak.

Gone back for more. Slave slave slave. Not enough, you want more. Leave! And don’t come back until you have at least 40 dollars!

You call. Come back. Stay turn of this track. Ignore. Goodbye. Fuck you. I cry.

Inside. Not out. Loud.

Thin. Gangling. Disgusting fool. Stove, cook, bed, Ouch! Fine. Devoted imagined throne, you speak of your god and home, show me books. Hours and hours. Days and days. Who cares. More more more. Treat you tangled tie. I wish this were a lie. Memory. Literal purge. I will never forget this place. Your sunken, graveled face.

Alicia Lee Colasurdo

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Poetry
Mental Health
Life
Addiction
Poetry On Medium
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