a-tisket, a-tasket,
stuck in here in my own casket—
not too short, not all that high—
and yet I can’t seem to cry.
oh my?—what was said?—die?!
why not mask it with this lie:
i was born with wings—can fly—
this coffin...um...bed and I.
let the oldest of scabs lie
or scars will appear if you try
to pick them—don’t dare ask why.
can anyone see inside my
tortured, emotion-stained pig stye?
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, December 6, 2025.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: December 6th, 2025 10:21
- Comment from author about the poem: I’m now published in an anthology featuring authors from across the Poconos, PA. All proceeds benefit the Pocono Liars Club — a collective of authors and editors dedicated to supporting and mentoring local writers. Available in paperback and Kindle, please consider purchasing one and supporting a great cause. https://a.co/d/58uxM69
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 29
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Bella Shepard, Teddy.15, GenXer Sharon 🙏🍀
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Comments9
This poem really had me thinking very hard. It's very, very dark! This poem revolves around the themes of confinement, emotional struggle, and the tension between reality and self-delusion. The Poet metaphorically describes their situation as being in a "casket, "It's suggesting feelings of entrapment and despair. Despite this, there is a conflict between the desire to express sorrow and the impulse to mask pain with denial ("I was born with wings—can fly—"). It seems to me that the matter touches on coping mechanisms in the face of trauma, the complications of past scars, and the challenges of confronting one’s emotional state.
Friendship… it means a lot that you leaned into the darkness instead of pulling back. Some poems come out raw…this was one of them. Thanks for meeting it where it is. And as alway, my insightful friend, your analysis was spot on! 🕯️🖤👁️🗨️🙏
We are encased in a body which encapsulates us whether living or dead, holds all that we are, holds all that we've dreamt, holds a past that is best left in check. Can anyone ever, truly see us? You ask a very profound question in exquisite verse, this goes deep into the soul. Remarkable!
Bella… this is such a thoughtful read…the body as vessel, vault, disguise, and burden all at once. You stepped right into the question the poem is asking. I appreciate that deeply, as I do you too! Much appreciated!. 🕯️🖤👁️🗨️🙏
Why are we always picking at scabs? A most interesting write Tristan where it begins as a nursery rhyme and ends a rather dark existential tale. Well done my friend
Indeed. Good question, right? Thank you , my dear friend! Glad it delivered! 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
You are most welcome Tristan
Argh!! A very dark poem - put that light on there! Arghhh! Just fell down the stairs - no light on. lol.
Ah-gah-gah-gah-glug-glug! Ol\' Tom says he fell on some knitting sticks. Where? Don't tell! LOL!
Wow. Hard hitting. Excellent work.
Thank you, Thomas! Much appreciated, my friend! 🕯️🖤👁️🗨️🙏
A mighty addition to the saying "digging our own grave" with making our own stye to wallow in. 🕊️🙏
My friend, you captured the essence…not digging a grave to wallow, but waking up inside a space built from old hurts and unanswered noise…a place we all get pulled into...sometimes stuck even. So glad you caught that. Grateful for you, Rik. 🐖🪦🩸🙏
Tristan, you know I have a dry dark humour funny bone, and this made me Chuckle 🤭, not that I like to know you suffer but your imagery is always fabulous 🌹
Yay! This is obviously a "serious" poem, but I wanted it to be contradicted by the nursery rhyme, sing-song humor. Glad it and the imagery delivered, my friend! 🕯️🖤👁️🗨️🙏
Congratulations Tristan. So happy I am for you!!!
Thank you, my dear friend! It's exciting for sure. A small step, for sure...but it feels big! 😊 Much appreciated! 🕯️🖤👁️🗨️🙏
a truly emotional outpouring of innermost feelings of repression and depression - that is how i read it..
well done
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