Writing from the Turning Point of Chittenden County

WFR Got its start at the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County, and Nelly is leading a great group there now. Here’s some fantastic work, so dig in and share!

It Was My Turn 

by Jordan

What did you say? What did you say?
Where did this come from? What made
you so dismayed?
I remember how much your
words played, how many syllables
it took to bring it all crashing down
Wall. Now it's my turn...
twist and churn, choke on your 
words and fall away as the past
boils and yearns. I saw it all
and planned for the worst.
Now it's my turn to destroy your world. 

There Was an Obstacle 

by Jordan 

Every turn, everyway
Every second of everyday
make progress
shout out
loud, hit a stone wall, break 
the sound
I fight, I stay, I break
away, and I crave.
Repeat it all again and 
again, every new obstacle 
is a potential win. 

It was My Turn 

by Meghan O'Connor

It was my turn, always, somehow,
to hold the family secrets
like heavy weights
My fragile back, hunting me down
I saw that birthday card on the altered fridge
the one with the 
the sad balloons, from a family 
long estranged, and somehow 
the balloon felt heavy too.
Why don't I just ever so 
slowly float away? 
Now I've got heavy weights
and these shadow fucking balloons
trailing my way.
Doesn't anybody anywhere 
have something sharp
to pop them? So maybe just
maybe, they might go
away?
Who's got a knife,
or a sharp word, or 
big hands to smother
them, to lighten my 
load?
So I might be free?
Or is it still 
my turn?
Somehow 
always to carry
the weight?

The Next Turn I Took 

by  Shauna

I am not sure it was the right one, the well lit street I used to drive down is now dark. Frogs and worms squirming anxiously in the rain as if there was something keeping them tethered to the pavement rather than into the grass, to their home. I drive swerving, trying to dodge, but all I think about is my next turn, not the frogs, not the rain, not the darkness. Where is the light?? Where is the fork in the road?! Maybe I should stop and talk to a frog. Does he know the way? Talking to this frog will surely bring more clarity than the contacts in my phone.