Bryce Eldridge’s poetry is predominantly confessional free verse, characterized by his candid exploration of personal experiences and emotions without adhering to traditional rhyme schemes or metrical patterns. His work delves into themes of betrayal and introspection, capturing the raw emotional turmoil of revisiting places most won’t go. This style allows for a natural, conversational tone, inviting readers into intimate moments of reflection and vulnerability.
legos
Bryce and his youngest daughter, Emerson.
Photography by Chloe Miller Photography
you crawl on my desk with a smirk
grabbing my keyboard first
looking at me for permission
but knowing even if i say no
you’re going to type on that keyboard anyways
and you lose interest quickly
moving on to the harry potter lego set i paid someone to build for me
because i lack the patience for a 100 step lego set
and you lack the restraint to not dismantle it
you laugh — hysterically
and i can’t help but laugh with you
while you tear my work desk apart
moments like this with you…
these are the moments that fill my heart
this is love, right?
he pushed me down
then picked me back up
so — many — times
and so...
i learned to call this love
–B
March 7, 2025 at 9:29 PM
About This Poem: The poem "this is love, right?" by Bryce Eldridge reflects on a relationship marked by cycles of harm and reconciliation, leading to a distorted understanding of love. This thematic focus aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets explore personal experiences, emotions, and traumas with raw honesty. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a specific rhyme scheme or meter, allows the content to flow naturally, emphasizing the personal narrative. Therefore, this poem can be classified as a confessional free verse piece.
not because of you, because of me
i’ve made my broken heart whole again
not from letting your love in,
but from letting your love go
–B
March 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM
About This Poem: "not because of you, because of me" by Bryce Eldridge is a concise free verse poem that explores themes of personal healing and empowerment following a breakup. The poem's lack of a consistent rhyme scheme or metrical pattern is characteristic of free verse, allowing for a natural and unfiltered expression of the poet's emotions. The focus on self-reliance in mending a broken heart aligns with contemporary confessional poetry, where poets candidly examine personal experiences and emotions.
do you find mental disorders attractive?
the truth is i have too many mental disorders to be dating right now
–B
March 6, 2025 at 10:35 AM
About This Poem: "do you find mental disorders attractive?" by Bryce Eldridge is a concise free verse poem that delves into the complexities of mental health in the context of romantic relationships. The poem's brevity and lack of a consistent rhyme scheme or metrical pattern are characteristic of free verse, allowing for a raw and unfiltered expression of the poet's emotions. This minimalist approach emphasizes the depth of the speaker's introspection regarding their mental state and its impact on their dating life.
rewriting history? okay...
you don’t get to rewrite
the chain of events
so that you can feel better about
sleeping with me
5 days before
you told someone else
you’re supposedly in love with him
emphasis on the supposedly
-B
March 2, 2025 at 10:57 AM
About This Poem: The poem "rewriting history? okay..." by Bryce Eldridge confronts the act of distorting past events to alleviate guilt, particularly in the context of infidelity. This direct and personal expression aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets candidly explore their own experiences and emotions. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows for a natural and conversational tone. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a confessional free verse poem.
i know you like it better when i smile
i still cry
i just do it when you’re not looking
i know you like it better when i smile
–B
February 18, 2025 at 12:44 PM
About This Poem: "i know you like it better when i smile" by Bryce Eldridge is a concise free verse poem that delves into themes of concealed emotions and the facade of happiness. The poem's brevity and lack of a consistent rhyme scheme or metrical pattern are characteristic of free verse, allowing for a natural and conversational tone. The poet's choice to forgo traditional structure emphasizes the raw and unfiltered expression of personal feelings, aligning with contemporary confessional poetry.
where you left me
what should i feel
when i stand where you stood
at our favorite bar in town
in the only bathroom stall where we used to kiss
where you cheated on me with him
how could i not imagine you kissing him
how could i not wonder if i wasn’t enough
how could i not be mad?
so many questions
that will never be answered
so i just pretend it doesn’t bother me
pushing down the emotions in my body
holding back the tears from my eyes
i just want to use the bathroom
but this is where you left me
long before
you left me
–B
February 17, 2025 at 12:02 AM
About This Poem: "where you left me" by Bryce Eldridge is a free verse poem that delves into themes of betrayal, emotional turmoil, and personal reflection. The poem's structure lacks a consistent rhyme scheme or metrical pattern, characteristic of free verse, allowing for a natural and conversational tone. The vivid imagery and introspective questioning invite readers into the speaker's intimate experience of confronting a painful memory. This style aligns with contemporary confessional poetry, where poets candidly explore personal experiences and emotions.
at least you’re consistent
you always say the right thing
after
you realize how you said the wrong thing
–B
January 27, 2025 at 7:30 AM
About This Poem: The poem "at least you're consistent tho" by Bryce Eldridge reflects on a pattern where someone offers corrective words only after recognizing their initial missteps, highlighting a cycle of habitual insensitivity followed by attempts at amends. This candid examination of interpersonal dynamics aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets openly explore personal experiences and emotions. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows for a natural and conversational tone. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a confessional free verse poem.
your actions suck bro
your words are perfect, but
your actions — pathetic
so thank you for making it easy for me to see
i’m just your option, and
i’ll never be your priority
–B
January 26, 2025 at 5:59 PM
About This Poem: The poem "your actions suck bro" by Bryce Eldridge critiques the disparity between someone's words and their actions, highlighting feelings of being undervalued in a relationship. This honest examination of personal emotions aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets openly explore their inner experiences and vulnerabilities. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows for a natural and conversational tone. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a confessional free verse poem.
FOOTNOTES: Some poems come out perfectly, but it’s rare. A lot of poems come out where I can tell there are some solid truths, a good play on words, a great rhyme scheme or just the potential of something that feels really honest and pure. I don’t always leave footnotes on every poem, but wanted to point out with this one how when it came down to editing the poem I reversed the original order (because it didn’t really make any sense tbh) and then just asked myself, “what am I trying to say” so I don’t have to make the reader guess here. I don’t know if anyone reads these little footnotes, but it’s fun to add them in!
Original poem:
I’m your option, not your priority
Your words are perfect
Your actions are pathetic
you were so cruel
i would’ve left me too
it’s just…
i wouldn’t have left like you
–B
January 14, 2025 at 2:12 PM
About This Poem: "you were so cruel" by Bryce Eldridge is a concise free verse poem that delves into themes of abandonment and personal introspection. The poem's brevity and lack of a consistent rhyme scheme or metrical pattern are characteristic of free verse, allowing for a raw and unfiltered expression of the poet's emotions. This minimalist approach emphasizes the depth of the speaker's reflection on the nature of their departure compared to another's cruelty.
stupid couch
stupid driveway
stupid door
stupid kitchen
stupid floor
stupid dog
stupid house
stupid boy
stupid couch
tell me, which time was it?
cuz i stopped countin’ after three
can’t count how many times i wanted
to say i love you,
but you want him,
you don’t want me
i’m not surprised anymore, but
and i don’t care anymore, but
did you notice, how i was always there?
why’d i have to block your number
until you were ready
to show up
to show you cared?
stupid driveway
stupid door
stupid kitchen
stupid floor
stupid dog
stupid house
stupid boy
stupid couch
is it love when you convince yourself?
tried to wish upon a star
but what came true is we were meant to see
what came true is i was meant to see
that baby we weren’t aren’t meant to be
just one last hug
one more kiss
then i’ll leave
before i leave
i miss that rug dog
i miss that house
i miss that boy
i miss that couch
–B
December 30, 2024 at 7:51 PM
About This Poem: The poem "stupid couch" by Bryce Eldridge reflects on the emotional turmoil associated with revisiting spaces tied to a past relationship. The repetition of the word "stupid" emphasizes the speaker's frustration and lingering attachment to these familiar places and objects. This candid exploration of personal emotions aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets openly share their inner experiences and vulnerabilities. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows for a natural and conversational tone. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a confessional free verse poem.
the wrong type of love
you were the type of love
not that could get me through anything
but that put me through everything
–B
December 6, 2024 at 9:49 AM
About This Poem: "the wrong type of love" by Bryce Eldridge is a brief free verse poem that explores the theme of a detrimental relationship. The poem's lack of consistent rhyme or meter allows for a natural and conversational tone, characteristic of free verse. The poet reflects on a love that not only failed to provide support but also introduced significant challenges. This concise expression highlights the emotional weight of the experience, aligning with contemporary confessional poetry that candidly examines personal and often painful experiences.
never again
i
will
n e v e r
let
you
love
me
again
– B
October 28, 2024 at 12:03 AM
About This Poem: The poem "never again" by Bryce Eldridge is a succinct declaration of self-preservation, emphasizing a firm decision to prevent a past lover from re-entering the speaker's life. Its minimalist approach, featuring a vertical arrangement of words, draws attention to each individual term, enhancing the emotional weight of the message. This stylistic choice aligns with concrete poetry, where the visual arrangement of text is as significant as the words themselves. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a concrete poem.
a lovesong that ended
i listen to that song we danced to in your kitchen
i listen to it long enough to appreciate what we could have been
but i never
listen to it long enough to stay stuck fantasizing of what we never were
a beautiful moment in time, but
we were a lovesong that ended
i wish could have lasted forever
– B
October 27, 2024 at 11:57 PM
About This Poem: The poem "a lovesong that ended" by Bryce Eldridge reflects on a past relationship, acknowledging its fleeting beauty and the acceptance of its conclusion. This introspective examination of personal emotions aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets candidly explore their own experiences and feelings. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows for a natural and conversational tone. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a confessional free verse poem.
did you even hear what i said?
you wouldn’t know
because you don’t ask
but my god
how you love to talk
i mean —
did you even hear what I said?
– B
October 12, 2024 at 5:07 AM
About This Poem: The poem "did you even hear what i said?" by Bryce Eldridge expresses frustration over a one-sided conversation, highlighting feelings of being unheard and undervalued. This candid examination of personal emotions aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets openly explore their inner experiences and vulnerabilities. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows for a natural and conversational tone. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a confessional free verse poem.
it will be okay
it will be okay
it will be okay
it will be okay
why do people who hurt you the most love to say
everything will be okay
easy for you to say
move on and you’ll be okay
did you ever feel the same way?
if you did you wouldn’t say
it will be okay
you don’t love me like that
so you never felt the same way
easy to say
easy to say
easy to say
move on it will be okay
you don’t love me like that
don’t feel the same way
so easy for you to say
so easy for you to say
why do people who hurt you the most love to say
it will be okay
–B
October 8, 2024 at 8:11 AM
About This Poem: The poem "it will be okay" by Bryce Eldridge reflects on the dissonance between words of reassurance and the emotional pain inflicted by those offering them. This thematic focus aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets candidly explore personal experiences and emotions. The poem's free verse structure, characterized by repetition and the absence of a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows the raw emotional content to flow naturally. Therefore, this poem can be classified as a confessional free verse piece.
can love be resurrected?
am i surprised
or is this pain to be expected
when love from the past
becomes resurrected?
– B
October 2, 2024 at 1:40 PM
About This Poem: The poem "can love be resurrected?" by Bryce Eldridge contemplates the emotional complexities of rekindling past love, questioning whether the resulting pain is anticipated or unexpected. This introspective examination aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets candidly explore personal experiences and emotions. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows for a natural and conversational tone. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a confessional free verse poem.
FOOTNOTES: omitted the bottom part out of the poem because I felt it drug it out. Sometimes it’s what you don’t say, what you don’t add, that makes a statement (or a poem) powerful. It’s all in the edit. : )
dead or alive?
alive or dead?
either way i don’t know —
if our love is living or dead?
sort it out
everything seems disorganized — everything seems messy
i try to sort it out and feel bad
that i haven’t already sorted it out
sorta seems like nonsense…
how could i sort it out, before i sort it out?
– B
October 2, 2024 at 1:30 PM
About This Poem: The poem "sort it out" by Bryce Eldridge reflects on the frustration of attempting to organize one's thoughts or life, only to feel inadequate for not having done so already. This introspective examination of personal emotions aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets candidly explore their own experiences and feelings. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows for a natural and conversational tone. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a confessional free verse poem.
if you want to hurt me
if you want to hurt me
you’ll need my permission
and i’m not giving it to you
respond as you will
do as you do
say whatever you want
karma comes around, baby
and you’ll hurt yourself
trying to hurt me
– B
October 1, 2024 at 11:17 AM
About This Poem: The poem "if you want to hurt me" by Bryce Eldridge asserts personal boundaries and resilience against potential harm from others. This candid expression of self-empowerment aligns with confessional poetry, a style where poets openly explore their inner experiences and vulnerabilities. The poem's free verse structure, lacking a fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allows for a natural and conversational tone. Therefore, this piece can be classified as a confessional free verse poem.
open wounds needs closed
you shut me out
angry if i do the same
relentless with your ego to be strong
you crumble and good for good reason
then use your rubble to throw stones at me
when i express the same sentiment to you, as you do me
“let me be here for you” you say as i open up
“let me be here for you” i say as you shut me out
maybe it’s who you are
maybe it’s what you are
maybe it doesn’t matter whether it’s who you are or what you are
all i know is that you pull me in
and then push me away
i can’t live on standby
i can’t just stand by
i won’t pretend that it’s okay for you to live a fragile life
and cut me every time you break
your breaking is breaking me
i’ll bleed out
open wounds need closed
–B
October 1, 2024 at 11:12 AM