Poetry Reading: If You Could Fix Me, by Melissa R. Mendelson

Performed by Elizabeth Rose Morriss

 Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poem?

They say that what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, but what about the pieces, the scars left behind? What about the harsh memories that chase you when you try to sleep at night or the absence of time that you need to heal, and do we fully heal? Or are we just damaged beyond repair, wanting to be fixed, but knowing that we can’t be, no matter how hard we might try, but we still try, which inspired me to write this poem.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

“If You Could Fix Me” was written years ago during a time when I tried to pull myself back together again. All I could see were the scars, wondering if they would ever go away, and if the damage could be fixed. The poem was originally longer and more raw, but I revised it and cut it down. And then I added it to my book of poems called, “Fragments of Yesterdays Past.”

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing poetry since maybe eighth grade. I used to write a lot of poetry, but these days, I write more short stories.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

Stephen King

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

WildSound has always delivered on their performances, giving voice to my words.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

I have been writing a lot of short stories recently, and some of my stories have been published by Sirens Call Publications and Dark Helix Press.

7) What is your passion in life?

Writing first, Photography second.

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Read Poetry: IF YOU COULD FIX ME, by Melissa R. Mendelson

If somebody could fix me, 

I wouldn’t know where to begin.  

The mechanics of my heart 

might be beyond repair, 

and the confusion in my brain  

may have erased any hopes 

of remembering the dreams 

that I wanted to create. 

Glue might hold my body together,  

but what about the sadness       

that lies in my soul? 

What about the regret and anger  

that flow through my very veins, 

or the lack of passion I feel? 

Do I even want to be fixed? 

Am I just a machine that could be repaired 

with all my flaws taken away, 

or is time pulling me apart? 

What if they can’t put me back together again?  

I’m left holding pieces of myself.  

Read Poetry: Maybe, There Is Still Hope, by Melissa R. Mendelson

 
Do we still believe in miracles?
Do we still believe in ourselves,
that maybe we are meant
to do something than just live
an ordinary life,
and all the struggle that we have endured
was to lead us to that pivotal moment?
What if there was another 9/11?
What if there was another US Airways Flight 1549?
Would we be another Sully,
or would politics and race play a bitter card
in the division of our lives?
Would we watch the city burn
or listen to their screams die?
Would we say,
“They were not one of us?”
This was a fear that gripped me tight
as the news bled into the passing days,
but then Hurricane Harvey hit.
And despite all our differences,
all our hate,
a miracle happened.
We forgot the bullshit,
and heroes rose

to save lives.

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