Everyday is New Year’s Day (even June 1st!) 🥂

new year, new truama

Jun 01, 2024

Back in January, we had the great privilege of being joined by some of you in two thematic poetry workshops: QUEERING RESOLUTIONS which we hosted with Unwanted Words, and HOT PEOPLE DON’T MAKE RESOLUTIONS with The Berlin Writers.

As a part of our mission to platform new writers and showcase poetic experimentation, we left an open invitation to all who participated to publish their work with us (if they were so inclined).

Today, we’re already on our JUNE resolutions (or, anti-resolutions) with work by Andjela Lekovic and Lina Damjanovska. 🥂🥂🥂🥂

New year, new trauma 🤩

by Andjela Lekovic (she/her)

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

I don't need a new year resolution I need :

• an exorcism
• a new mattress
• my life back

They call it starting over, tabula rasa
Radical
“forming the root”
it has to hurt, getting rid of the old
uprooted and severed

Fallen petals
Wilting

How long before the wound heals itself?
Isn't this an opportunity?
Blank state
Falling in love with possibility says Dua Lipa

Maybe the old wasn't working anyway

Fire, rituals, bonfire, sacrifice, surrender

The wait, life on hold

Community and friends, the fertile soil

Lust for life.

About Andjela:

Andjela is an international writer and performer based in Amsterdam. She likes to write about mental health, dating and sex (kinda like Carrie Bradshaw), and her healing journey. You can find her on insta at itsandjelalekovic

a reprieve 🌿

by Lina Damjanovska (she/her)

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If a tree falls
in a forest and no one is around
to hear it,
did it really fall?

If a mountain spring,
crystal clear,
weaves its way
through the meadow,
does its murmur
not bring peace?

Away from time,
away from society,
it quietly sands
stones down
letting them stay
letting them go,
and never keeping
them moored 

The spring,
it never starts,
it never ends,
from water it comes
to water it returns
carrying passengers
in its refreshing embrace

I know that spring,
I heard its lullaby
in the darkest hour,
before the men came

It invited me
on its peaceful journey,
where happiness
and worth are not allowed
in the checked-in baggage

Only thoughts,
pure as snowy caps,
quiet as preying lynx,
temporary as tree leaves

The men will go,
and I will too,
but the spring is still there
fluid, clear,
singing its song
for all its
fellow travelers

About Lina:

graduated psychologist still trying to figure people out. great cook, adequate writer, and a terrible bridge player.

Happy new June everyone! We will be back on July 1st with more new year poems and wishes! Until then,

Xoxo,

PTK