A Poem by Chase Berggrun

Author: Poetry Editor

October 30, 2017

This week, a poem by Chase Berggrun.

 

CHAPTER III, from R E D

 

Let me begin with observation

My concern is with agency

I was satisfied with my body

My desire is my own

my smile___my own

I unsealed the seriousness of sound

Freedom melted in the weatherworn abyss

Some weird effect of shadow

could allow an opportunity to resist

I took pleasure in disobeying

I determined not to compose myself

I suppose I was not unchanged

I thought I felt desire kiss me with red lips

Never could I be a girl on her knees

I was a storm of a woman

transformed with red light

heaving an imperious voice

forward into the dimness

——

CHASE BERGGRUN is a trans poet. They are the author of R E D, forthcoming from Birds, LLC in 2018. Their work has appeared or is forthcoming in Barrelhouse, Pinwheel, PEN Poetry Series, Sixth Finch, Diagram, The Offing, Prelude, Apogee, Beloit Poetry Journal, & elsewhere. They received their MFA from New York University, & they are poetry editor at Big Lucks.