I Write Myself into The Margins

Ah, praise be to the margins,
the only places I call my own.

Redecorate, make comment, 
doodle or make complaint,
the margins are my safety zones.

While the rest of the page is fossilized
in words (some strange)
typeset in stone,

I write myself into the margins.

They are fair game:
snow covered fields the author has abandoned.

In academia, the margins are white columns 
to support a palace of knowledge.

Pillars I greedily graffitied with sparks and false tries:
warning flares over dead zones,
and when the story ends,
a way to say goodbye.

Ahh, thank goodness for the margins,
so no one has to read alone.

©2025 | K. F. Hartless

This was written for d’Verse’s Tuesday Poetics: Diving in to the Margins. Won’t you join us?

Ondara “Saying Goodbye”

27 responses to “I Write Myself into The Margins”

kim881

Your poem made me smile, Katie, I so enjoyed it. I especially love the lines:

‘While the rest of the page is fossilized
in words (some strange)
typeset in stone,

I write myself into the margins.”

I once bought a second-hand book in which the notes in the margins were more interesting than the actual text!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you, Kim. I have a lot of books with amazing marginal notes. I always did think of it as a way to communicate and make my reading more interactive. Now, I see my daughter doing the same thing. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comment.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. kim881
    
    My pleasure, Katie.
    
    LikeLike
Brendan

Really love this poem, Katie. Margins ledge the cliffs where all the leaping occurs.

LikeLiked by 2 people

Reply
crazy4yarn2

Love this, Katie! I’m a certified margin scribbler.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Indeed! I think we should start a club then. Thanks so much for connecting to my poem.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
Dora

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this, grinning from ear to ear and nodding fervently, “praise be to margins” indeed! So many turns of phrase and expression I enjoyed, like those already mentioned by Kim, but especially identified with the “Pillars I greedily graffitied” in academia where many times not only did I graffiti but hoped to find graffiti in the used books I bought. So as you say so earnestly, “no one has to read alone.” A delightful read, Katie.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you, Dora. Yes, I loved a highlighted textbook in college. It was a treasure to find one with wonderful marginal notes. I really enjoyed this prompt. Thank you again.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
utahan15

suffer the children. holy writ and will above our ability to comprehend.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)

Love that thought, the space the athour has abondened (or maybe left to write yourself into their story)

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  With all of my classic literature courses, I definitely interjected myself in the margins. I think it was my way of conversing with the characters. Thanks for stopping by. Here’s to more noteworthy fiction.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Helen

Margins as ‘fair game’ … what a great line!!! Your poem reads beautifully and is entertaining to boot. Thank you for leaving a comment for me.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you, Helen. I always enjoy reading your blog. Yes, I do love the margins. With my favorite poets, I’ve even scribbled away. I think it is my way to connect with them. They will never see these notes, but it is still like a documentation of reactions. When I revisit a favorite text, I look forward to my old notes in the margins. I always wonder how has my perspective changed?
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
Bob

Wonderful!

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you, Bob. I think our comments on word press sort of function as a margin in many ways. Here’s to a new year of reading and commenting.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. Bob
    
    That’s a wonderful way of looking at it.
    
    LikeLike
Truedessa

The opening lines expand the boundaries of self discovery. The margins a place to call your own. An interesting take on the prompt.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you. I think it’s that sort of open door space that I enjoy. I enjoy swapping pages with interesting margins as well. It’s a bit like looking into someone’s diary, those notes. Cheers to 2025 and comment-worthy fiction.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
ben Alexander

Katie, this is such a beautifully playful and reflective piece! Your imagery of margins as safe havens, creative playgrounds, and spaces for connection is both comforting and inspiring. It’s a joy for me to read.

Much love,
David

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you kindly, David. I think it’s great to have a space where you can insert yourself into what you’re reading. I spend a lot of hours reading which makes for a great way for me to dialogue with the text. Oh, it’s so lovely to hear from you. Cheers to 2025 and more note-worthy writing.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. ben Alexander
    
    *hug*
    
    LikeLike
I Write Myself into The Margins – Reviewed | Adam Fenner

[…] You may find the rest of the poem here. […]

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
AdamFenner

Katie, Your poem, “I Write Myself into The Margins,” is such a thoughtful exploration of how we interact with text and make space for our own voices. The way you’ve elevated the margins into places of freedom and creativity really resonated with me. It’s a powerful reminder of the personal connection we can form with the written word.

I regularly review poetry from various poets and time periods, and I was so inspired by your work that I shared it as part of my reflections. You can find the review here. Best, Adam

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you kindly, Adam. I am honored that you would elevate my work on your platform. May we forever find the margins of life to scribble in and create our own meaning.
  
  Cheers!
  
  Katie
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
paeansunplugged

I love this, Katie! I loved scribbling notes in my books and notebooks. This has my heart.❤️

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply
1. Katie Frances Hartless
  
  Thank you. It fills me with gladness as well. Cheers to our inner dialogue finding a welcome space in the margins.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
  1. paeansunplugged
    
    You are very welcome. Indeed, cheers!
    
    LikeLike