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.
i thought i could
i thought i could, but i can’t
i can’t love your heart when i know
when i know
when i know
when i know
it’s breaking mine
– B
September 30, 2024 at 1:03 PM
settled
it’s taken some time but you’re settling now
into this new life of yours
and the coffee you’ve been brewing
is waiting to be poured
the boxes are unpacked (mostly)
and your u-haul has been returned
dust is even starting to settle
on that new white couch of yours
therapy has been scheduled
gym visits are becoming routine
you have time for netflix binges
and you’re crushing single-parenting
you’ve never been single
or lived entirely on your own
and three months isn’t long enough
for this new life to feel totally natural
but i see what no one else does
and i know the depth of your pain
i know how this all seems unfair
and how the man you used to love said “you’re entirely to blame”
i know you believed this to be emphatically true
i know how his words have broken you
but just like the boxes that took time to un-pack
your old beliefs need to be sorted through
then you can determine
what beliefs stay
and which ones go
its’ exhausting work — i know, i know, i know
get settled
move on
it’s just you now
and it’s time to go
–B
March 3, 2024 at 6:01AM
i won’t hurt my soul
your prayers arrive empty
because they aren't god's words
i won't hurt my soul
to ease yours
i won't hide my heart
because you lack one
i am who i am
and i am done
trying to change that
at least you love yourself
you like to talk about yourself
pretend that you're listening to me
while you're still thinking on
the next thing to say about you
bud, you are a friend to no one
and only a lover of yourself
ocean eyes
you misjudged me
saw one side of me
thought you'd call me
a drop of water
look up now
into my eyes
see me for
the ocean I am