The Ward; and a goodbye to Tildes.
First, the piece.
I built a fire from the branches
which were missed by the snow.
Drank the water of the cacti
that in deserts still grow.
Found the shade in the south
where the sun forever glows.
Clawed and scraped my way to freedom
of likes I have never known.
.
A starved, abandoned cub
lost in Greenlandic champaign -
I pawed about the lifeless floors
of snow-imprisoned plains.
With wind ill-matted fur I marched
and shivered through the rain
in search of hearts and hearths to
make me home again.
.
A ward of warmth appeared, assumed
to aid my ailing mews.
A securing shawl of summer softened
me from winters shrewd.
A multitude of miracles revealed
rejuvenating news.
I concluded countless colder winds
are warmer without you.
This site has given me so much: peace of mind, freedom of expression, cathartic release, and a sense of care and community of which I, over the last number of months, have deeply been in need.
Things are looking ever forward as I continue on about adult life. However, included in those plans of forward-action are a number of artistic pursuits.
In search of some semblance of belonging and community, I revealed a lot about myself in various posts and comments I’ve left about Tildes; and made the mistake of not publishing my works separately or under a pseudonym.
I would like to publish a book of poetry, release paintings, and create music. However, I don’t feel comfortable continuing to do so under my real name.
I will be well; I’m in a better place now. (Personally, of course. Not like that.) It’s simply time for me to separate the art from the artist, as it were.
Thank you all, so much, Tildes. I love you.
It’s been fun.
Bishop.
Thanks for all your contributions and being one of the earliest active users, Bishop!
Please send me a message and let me know if there's anything I can do to help with your clean-up—changing your username, deleting your account and/or old posts, disassociating all your posts from your username, etc. Happy to do whatever I can to help.
Goodbye, and thank you for making constant creative contributions to Tildes for so long. You added a lot of flavor to a place that, while I love it, can lean toward being overwhelmingly bland at times.
Good luck :)
I have greatly enjoyed reading your poetry and conversing with you over the last year+ @Bishop, so this news of you leaving makes me sad... However, I do at least take some solace in knowing that things are looking up for you, and you're doing this for a good cause (to continue pursuing your art without fear of it being attached to your real identity).
Good luck. Keep safe. And you know where to find me should you need/want to chat again.
p.s. Your final poem here is excellent and a fitting one. :)
Good luck with your artistic pursuits, it's been great having you here for the start of this place. <3
We should move that anon commenting feature up the priority list for cases like this.
It takes courage to express oneself so openly, and it takes skill to write with such a thoughtful hand. Your poetry has honesty, vulnerability, and beauty in it, which added a wonderful texture to the regular discourse of this site. You displayed your tangible and individual humanity for all of us here, and we're a better place because of it. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.
Best wishes!
I hope you never stop revealing who are. (the you you which is separate from your name)