The Uninvited Guest

Summary

The web content presents a poem titled "The Uninvited Guest" by Sally A Mortemore, which explores the theme of anxiety, accompanied by multimedia elements and a dedication to Sahil Patel for his prompt.

Abstract

The poem "The Uninvited Guest" by Sally A Mortemore is a vivid depiction of the author's personal struggle with anxiety, personified as an unwelcome visitor that disrupts the peace of the narrator's mind. Through intense imagery and emotional depth, Mortemore conveys the physical and psychological turmoil that anxiety inflicts, from the sensation of suffocation to the fear of fainting. The poem is enriched with a soundcloud recording and a YouTube video, providing an immersive experience for the reader. Additionally, the content pays homage to Sahil Patel for his inspiring prompt and highlights Mortemore's other work, "Desire for the Unfathomable," showcasing her engagement with the poetry community on Medium.

Opinions

Anxiety is portrayed as a persistent and overpowering force in the narrator's life, described with vivid and unsettling imagery.
The poem suggests that anxiety can distort one's perception of reality, leading to a heightened state of alertness and a desire to escape.
The author acknowledges the debilitating impact of anxiety on daily life, including its ability to disrupt breathing and induce a sense of dread.
Despite the overwhelming presence of anxiety, the poem implies a resilience and a plea for release from its grip, indicating a hope for relief and recovery.
The inclusion of multimedia elements reflects a modern approach to poetry, aiming to engage readers on multiple sensory levels.
The dedication to Sahil Patel and the mention of other works by Sally A Mortemore demonstrate a sense of community and shared inspiration among writers

The Uninvited Guest

In response to Sahil Patel ‘s prompt: ANXIETY ‘…will i. will i faint. or worse…’

Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, he turned into a butterfly. — Anonymous proverb

anxiety dines at my table a sneer on her fine-china bones. a dish of ash with sticks and stones my weight strapped in sackcloth.

perspiration trickles my back. it curls each vertebra the burn sipping scales from off my flesh. then bursts each vein with pricks from pins and sharpened needles. skin the colour of powdered chalk. will i.

will i faint. or worse.

i clasp the air. adrenalin a rush of intensity. filling my body with a sense of undefined heightened excitement. for she takes my breath away — breathing heavy. yet still breathing. unmistakably. these feelings which deliberate upon propensity. worsened by fear of repetition. again. and again. with a desire to dis-inhabit. no thoughts of living within these moments. they stultify. anxiety my enemy arriving unannounced. to feast on nerves already fractured.

a seethe of churning embers served on a platter of destruction.

she is unwilling to depart. but my heart does not race. unlike others. who swoon when in her presence. my beats weave at a slower pace of rhythm.

but now this table feels too crowded. i cannot breathe. unleash me — leave — desist — reprieve. and when you do i beg you — please — to leave no calling card. for i refuse to call on thee. now go. I do not wish to know where e’er you next reside. for i’ll be free. to breathe a sigh. as you. thankfully. will no longer dine upon the skin of me.

Thank you for reading 🙏

And with thanks to Sahil Patel for his inspiring prompt, and my my inaugural poem for Lifeline.

Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety. — Plato

Something other from Sally:

Poetry

The Uninvited Guest

August’s Fourth Week Prompt of Lifeline

Greetings Poets,

Desire for the Unfathomable

The Lark’s poetry competition 2022 submission