Dean Rader

SELF-PORTRAITS: A TRIPTYCH

I.

This moon is

here, this

light is free, this sea

       is now,

this globe

               is orange, this life

is dark, this sky

is yours.

II.

Skin, I have

     forgotten

you again. Forgive

    me. Because

of you I know

the salt,

because of

     you I bleed.

III.

Death,

           I am wearing

your red robes.

Read Poems by Tags
Write with us. Learn with us. Publish with us.
Join a growing community of poets & readers.
Early access to calls, workshops, and updates.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
No spam. No ads. No data-selling. Unsubscribe anytime.
MEMBERSHIP PORTAL    |    FAQ   |    SUBMIT
2025 ONLY INK, Inc. All rights reserved.
ONLY POEMS®️ and associated marks are trademarks of ONLY INK, Inc. All individual works are copyrighted by their respective authors. All poems, essays, and artworks published on this site remain the intellectual property of their creators and may not be reproduced without explicit permission. The views expressed in published works are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ONLY INK, Inc., its editors, or affiliated entities. While many works draw on lived experience, they may contain fictionalized elements; no reference to any real person is intended or should be inferred. ONLY POEMS is an ad-free, independent, reader-supported publication.