A cleave poem by Maggie Horton

I don’t want to hear – those final words – but, tell me now
What you have to say – can not be anything – to change how I feel
Your honesty means nothing – but everything – in this moment
You used and abused me – now you want this to stop – I’m fine with it
But, you’re holding me, –my heart is in your hands, – and I’m yours to break
And I feel lost – I feel like giving up – but, I’m already broken.
Finally, your love for me is showing – through your integrity – so, why do I bother?

Duality by Matt Smigel

 

Woke up this morning : looked outside
opened the curtains : saw clouds in the sky
the blue sky and the sun : all beauty blocked out
somewhere beyond : where I cannot see
I think of light : where has it gone?
somewhere someone : cannot see the light
smiling with hope : know it’s just night
dawn comes again : washing over all
bringing rebirth : even new life
think of the good : wasted in vain
forgetting the bad, : the sadness,
living in love : consumes all.

For me, the process of writing a cleave poem is quite different than it is for many of the poets on the main Cleave website. Often my cleaves are discreet poems that I have joined together. They don’t automatically join; I have to play with them a great deal, but the ideas on either side are independent at first.

For starters, try thinking of a topic with two opposing sides: up/down, now/then, me/you. Opposites are inextricably related. By simply being opposites, they already have a relationship. Flesh out each side a little bit, put them side by side, and see how they coincide. Kind of like the Venn Diagrams your teachers put on the board. Working like this will result in a two column cleave, and may even lead you to a three column poem!

Yes, it’s hard, but yes, it’s rewarding! Give it try, and tell us how you did it!

 

Cleave poem by Michelle Lynn Bernard

With him -Even- Without him
My heart pounds -Now- My hands shake
Palms sweat -The- Earth moves
I never have -Time- I have to be me
To be perfect -Passes- Every second

My name is Michelle Lynn Bernard. I am senior at a tiny little high school in Hebron CT, RHAM (RHAM High School). I was never really that big into poetry until I took a creative writing class with a teacher who is posted on your website Andrea Barton. The first time she showed us her cleaves I thought it to be mind boggling, and then we got the assignment and I tried it and a couple hours later this is what I had.