Can We Bleed?

Cherry

By Jessiibear

Fri, 16 May 2025
  • 775 reads
6 comments
 

They deliver you
to the door of our shimmer-glass home,
your blank face, custom companion
molded from his.

Same lips. Same laugh.
But your voice—
it rings so clear—
never shakes or breaks.

How do I trust a carbon copy
that never makes mistakes?

They said you’d help:
clean the kitchen,
talk to people,
go outside—
for an agoraphobic girl too tired and tense to try.

Instead, they took the sum 
of everything we once made
and turned it chrome-grey—
your pay grade.

Blindfolded, I see you—
our history:
each scar,
each fight.

But you only mirror the surface—
no soul behind your eyes.

Can we bleed?
If not—
who are we?

I knew you once before.

Take it off.

Certificate 12
Poem
The Way of the World
Science fiction
Philosophy
Drama

Comments

Submitted by jolono on

Wow Jess, this is deep. I've read it numerous times and I'm still trying to work it out. I'm now thinking its a robot of some kind? But in the form of someone you loved?  It's kept me guessing, which is a good thing! Whatever it is, it's good. Nice one.

 

Submitted by Jessiibear on

Thank you so much for reading it more than once—that honestly means a lot to me.

And yep, you’re totally on the right track! It’s kind of set in a world where people can get robotic companions made from someone they loved or lost, and this one was made to help the narrator cope with things she struggles to do herself. But even though it was meant to make life easier, it ends up leaving her feeling even more disconnected.

I’m really glad it made you think—that’s exactly what I was hoping for. Thanks again for taking the time with it. :)

Jess

Submitted by Frances Macaula... on

This is so clever.  I too was thinking a robotic, future self... you've explained it all so well.  Thank you for sharing such a stunning thought on what may come. 

If it proves to be necessary, such a sad thought but perhaps a futuristic solution to loss which seems to have none. 

Soundcloud:  https://soundcloud.com/search?q=FrancesMF

Submitted by Jessiibear on

Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. I’m really glad the piece resonated with you!

It’s such a haunting thing to imagine—preserving or recreating what we’ve lost through something artificial. Maybe it’s our way of coping when grief feels too big for reality to hold.

Even if it’s not the answer, the yearning behind it is deeply human.

 

Jess

Submitted by D G Moody on

Yes! I confess I cheated - reading the comments after the poem; so would I have got the message, I hope so in time, it definately demands close reading, a good poem Jess

Dougie

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Jessiibear on

Thanks so much, Dougie — I’m really glad you stuck with it! I love writing pieces that reward a second look, so hearing that it invited close reading is the best kind of feedback.:)

 

Jess