We wrote from a prompt based off of my song “A Weapon”, and it was simultaneously surreal and like pulling teeth to write anything because I feel like I worked with any sort of metaphor involving my body – or really anyone’s – being a weapon nine years ago. I also don’t feel like my brain fully turned on until close to the end of workshop, so could have been part of the issue, as well.
Something to keep in mind if I ever run a workshop based off of my work… Huh…
-Allēna
I am a sorceress, twice in exile –
they claim my magic is merely madness, but
those with the eyes to see know better
I am the voiceless breaker of curses, until now
bearer of grief no one knows about
I am no one’s prisoner anymore
to know myself is to know my power
to know myself is the key to my freedom
I have all that I need
there is an embarrassment of riches in my heart
and though you may not like what you see
you might be shocked by it
terrified by it
I have looked within so I can look without
I see you for all that you are now
and you hold no charm for me
I am made of night and waves and song
water and air, wrath and lightning
while you are made of nothingness
I do not need you, you need me
you will no longer have my pain
so here I go, I’ve broken my chains
and the ties that bind me
and I take my first steps into the dawn and
the red world
~”the sorceress”, after breaking the vicious circle by remedios varo, written by Allēna 11/9/2025
Emerson and I ran the poetry workshop today and did a round of the poetry TTRPG for the prompt. Unfortunately I was dice cursed and rolled 1 stanza, one line. My favorite result was this:
“home is a circle when you live in my head”.
-Allēna
