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 smilemy 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.
