Introducing a new series of poems by Julian Matthews. Julian is a writer and Pushcart-nominated poet published in The American Journal of Poetry, Autumn Sky Poetry Daily, Borderless Journal, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Dream Catcher Magazine, Live Encounters Magazine, Lothlorien Poetry Journal and The New Verse News, among others. He is a mixed-race minority from Malaysia and lived in Ipoh for seven years. Currently based in Petaling Jaya, he is a media trainer and consultant for senior management of multinationals on Effective Media Relations, Social Media and Crisis Communications. He was formerly a journalist with The Star and Nikkei Business Publications Inc
Link: https://linktr.ee/julianmatthews
By Julian Matthews
You pulled on my strings but can’t hold me down
I am a puppet for no one; my woody insides are ingrained
tree values now: silent, stoic, self-worthy
My inner woodpecker still drills me from the insides though
But I’ve learnt to hold back, make peace with the dryad
I no longer cut my nose to hide my lies – or yours
My restraint is a cricket chirping in the dark,
my conscience clear as light
I was always a real man within the boy
Not a toy, a prop, a plaything; nor your doll, stooge or clown
I am no one’s pining dummy now; while you’re still just another
inauthentic, algo-loving mime with a termite-ridden heart
Let me out of this box
I’m off to see the cat and the fox
First published in “Words on the Wire 2” anthology of the Chapter One writers group, edited by Sue Hill and Bob Walton of The Write Box and Super Culture, Britain.
