This poem just won a “Poem of Merit” award in the One Sentence Poetry contest at Third Wednesday literary journal. It’s also one of the poems in my poetry collection I lost summer somewhere.
Yokogami-yaburi
is Japanese for tearing paper
against the grain —
like that article you want to keep
but don’t wait for scissors
and rip into the story so the gist
is lost, or being stuck at 40
in living-the-dream, left holding the bag
of groceries or laundry or dirty diapers,
so you hide your stretch marks in a one-piece,
toss your hair like Farrah, and smile at strangers
on the beach while the kids make sand castles,
or open a bottle at 10 a.m., or shop for things
you’ll hide when you get home so when he asks
in two weeks you can say, “Oh, this old thing,”
or spend the afternoon online with men
who suggest a motel tryst — men whose photos
look suspiciously like the guy on page 34 of GQ —
just to see how far you can tear against the grain
before the gist is lost.
– Sarah Russell
First published in Third Wednesday
Photo Source
for d’Verse Open Link night
Sarah Russell Poetry 
This is fabulous! And congratulations, Sarah.
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Thanks a lot, Misky!
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good one Sarah
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Thanks, Steve. Workshopped this one with the group. Sent it out about 5 times with no success, so this is sweet!
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I can see why this won. Congratulatiins Sarah.
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Thanks a lot, Toni.
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Congratulations! The win was well-deserved.
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Thank you, Liz!
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Many hearty congratulations, Sarah! ❤️ This is a gorgeous write 😀
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Thanks, Sanaa!
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congrats, Sarah. this is a quiet, but very powerful poem that says so much.
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Thanks a lot, Beth. Love your leaf-imprint post today. I call it henna for the sidewalk. And different color leaves make different markings.
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You are very welcome, and thank you. Yes, I was excited to stumble upon it, I love your henna for the sidewalk name for it )
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Sarah, I love the real voice in this. Congratulations for having your poetic voice celebrated.
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Thanks so much, Ali!
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Well done, Sarah…congrats!
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Thank you, Lynn!
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Congratulations…so true to our continual rearrangements of ourselves. (K)
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Yup, Where IS that boundary, right? Thanks, Kerfe.
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A lovely share Sarah. Congrats!
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Thanks, Grace.
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Great win, well written!
But ouch describes too many people’s lives … 😦
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I agree, Kate, but we poets have to call ‘em like we see ‘em!
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absolutely,to document and to inspire retrospection!
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Thanks, Dave! Hope your English summer hasn’t turned too hot.
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Thanks for sharing this fine piece! Excellent write. See you in a couple weeks Sarah. In honor of Solli Raphael: A Smidgen of Thought
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A well deserved publication… love the way you describe the will to cling on to youth… men do it in other ways, but still tearing the paper the wrong way.
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Seems a universal affliction, doesn’t it!
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Congratulations on both the ‘Poem of Merit’ award and the publication of your poetry collection, Sarah!
I’m frequently amazed at the things that other languages have words for, but this one is a favourite. I recognise everything in this poem that has been evoked by ‘tearing paper’ and love the idea of seeing ‘how far you can tear against the grain before the gist is lost’.
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Congratulations on getting published. Going against the grain keeps things interesting. That said, one Chinese curse is, “May you live in interesting times.” It’s a gamble that only the gambler decides is worth the bet or not.
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I’ll opt for interesting times every time. Yes, it may be my curse. Thanks for stopping by Jade!
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You are very welcome, Sarah.
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Congratulations! You’ve strung these words really well.
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Thank you, Arnab.
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I especially love the voice in your poem and the flow of candid thoughts is brilliant. Congratulations, Sarah!
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Thanks a lot, Mish. It was fun to write.
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Super! I love this. Deep words, a poem for every woman.
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Thanks, Chioma!
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