April 25, 2024
Ash DelGrego published his first book of poems in 2021 titled “Chrysalis” through Zeitgeist Press. He has been providing a free, inclusive, supportive platform for artists to showcase themselves and their work through founding a local Las Vegas open mic called “Campfire Open Mic” established circa 2016, (previously known as “Sticks and Stones”). linktr.ee/AshDelGrego https://on.soundcloud.com/cuew2cTLsAZ2BJgKA
At 25
At 25
I was assigned
I was assigned
three mountains:
three mountains:
One the guilt
One the guilt
Two and three the weights
Two and three the weights
That grew on my chest
That grew on my chest
Despite their
Despite their
meaninglessness
meaninglessness
Removed by a knife
Removed by a knife
6 years later
6 years later
By a Dr,
By a Dr,
And wisdom to know
And wisdom to know
the difference
the difference
Between what needs
Between what needs
to be removed
to be removed
And what needs to stay.
And what needs to stay.
Surgery
Surgery
Removed a bit more:
Removed a bit more:
A little give a sh*t
A little give a sh*t
And anxiety’s weightlessness,
And anxiety’s weightlessness,
Gravity a thing of the past
Gravity a thing of the past
At bouncing a chest
At bouncing a chest
Filled with muscle
Filled with muscle
Instead of mammary glands.
Instead of mammary glands.
Removing the third mountain
Removing the third mountain
Of guilt has been difficult
Of guilt has been difficult
to overcome;
to overcome;
the sound of my own drum
the sound of my own drum
Often causes terror in minds
Often causes terror in minds
Not built on wisdom.
Not built on wisdom.
Instead, hate is their foundation
Instead, hate is their foundation
Hammering nails
Hammering nails
into feet and hands
into feet and hands
With a cross to bear.
With a cross to bear.
Through the years
Through the years
I’ve learned how to
I’ve learned how to
Alchemize
Alchemize
the metal of hurt
the metal of hurt
Into a phoenix
Into a phoenix
That’s set the last
That’s set the last
mountain on fire;
mountain on fire;
from the Ash’s
from the Ash’s
I will continue to rise
I will continue to rise
Despite any negative
Despite any negative
person or design
person or design
that surrounds my life,
that surrounds my life,
Even my own mind.
Even my own mind.