Lit eZine Vol 3 | p-11 | POETRY | Waking up to Thrutopia – Manic Sylph Writes… Poetry & Thoughts by Mona Soorma

SHORT POEMS

WAKING UP TO THRUTOPIA
by Conny Borgelioen

Woman with ivy in her hair — *Image by* *Alina Kurson*

MARLEE FEEDS HER BRAIN

I’m allowed to grow like ivy over all your houses.
The mirror doesn’t show us what’s in store.
I’m strong enough to tell one road from another.
I’m in control of the laying of the floor.
I choose to spend my days in amity
I’m a lion statue guarding my own door.
I’m a belly-full of hot soup and dozing.
My life is a visit to the bookstore.
I walk with the mushrooms in the forest.
I have myself and I don’t need any more.
I’m allowed to take time to grow my tendrils
Around the arms of the scale that I adore.

VICTIMA

Woman with wings — Image by shahin khalaji

Alcithoe hunched in the corner of her dark bedroom
cradling herself with filmy wings,

(she waits)

a vespertine creature conversing with owls when she takes flight.


The light from the wall-mounted screen glowers. Much-hymned Bacchus'
tentacles of ivy and vine reaching out, incessant. Ever-changing visions of feasts:

an abundance of food on decorative plates;
fast carts drawn by lynxes;
perfumed, fawn-skin wearing nymphs,
dancing, twirling, shrieking
with joy,
of joy,
about joy

that can be bought by offering oneself up to the Lightning-Born.


Being industrious, it has changed meaning.

To be a contributing member she must join the frenzy,
but she won't. She will not betray her sisters.
She will wait.

(she waits for dusk)

Swooping, soaring, when revellers are busy with their dinner,
she echolocates her kind.

(Is this really punishment?)

These poems are a part of Conny Borgelioen‘s poetry collection “Waking up to Thrutopia“.

Book Description: WAKING UP TO THRUTOPIA

“Yesterday’s path makes for unsure footing as water presses in. Meadows flower with mussels and whelks, old footpaths silt up and disappear, the coastline creeps forward.”

Inspired by the concept of Thrutopia, this collection of mainly poems and a few essays is about trying to get to a better place.
Haunted by a chronic illness, the poet tracks her journey through difficult times and questions the state of the world around her. As a tender rebellion starts to take place, the poet seeks to come to terms with her and humanity’s true nature.

Buy her book WAKING UP TO THRUTOPIA

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Conny Borgelioen is a poet and essayist who lives on the shore of the North Sea in Belgium. She has a Sisyphean rock called chronic fatigue syndrome, and works part-time in a social grocery. Her poetry has appeared in The Winged Moon, Rogue Agent, Feral, Babyteeth, Nightingale & Sparrow, t’ ART, and the Emma Press Anthology of Illness. Her first poetry and essay collection “Waking up to Thrutopia” is out now.