#newfound

Half a bowl is merely a plate

Half a wall is a fence

Half a shoe means one is lost

And half a penny makes no cents

Half the air in a tire makes it flat

Half a tree makes it dead

Half a pen is useless

And half a sentence leaves much to be said

Can half a priceless painting still be a treasure?

Half a diamond can still have value, right?

Half a crown can still be worn somehow

So what about having half your sight?

Because half of the world is all I now see

Half of whatever I used to so care-freely

Never a thought about how precious it could be

Just seeing it all and never considering

That one day it could be gone

And that which I would only now begin to treasure

Was the whole of everything I saw

Wishing I had appreciated it better

You hear these stories

You read the tales

Of foolish kings

And ne'er-do-wells

That never truly took a measure

Of what they had and the simple pleasures

And learned by loss what is was they had

And that the despair isn't just about being sad

But I really must say to live your life

Suddenly in the tale, having it filled with strife

Oh how cruel, how painful it is to be

Living in a story not knowing the ending

No one tells you that having only half your sight

Doubles the pain of the loss

Don't you see?

It's like breathing with half your lungs: painful and agonizing

So here I lie in darkness

But only half at least

And create something from half my thoughts

It seems only fitting, you see

For what could be better fitting to explain my pain

The grief of the loss for which only recently i had a name

Than to create something beautiful once again

From the painful time just as it was once said

Half a couch is a chair

Half a stem is a flower

Half of my heart is in pain

Half a castle leaves a house with a tower

Half is half is half is half

The perspective is, of course, key

Because whenever you halve something

Note: this post does not include proper nouns (ie. New York) or "news"

'Taylor Swift'

(nothing new)

'Fearless (Taylor's Version)'

Mr. Perfectly Fine: Because I hear he's got his arm 'round a brand new girl

'Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)'

Never Grow Up: So here I am in my new apartment in a big city, they just dropped me off

Innocent: Time turns flames to embers, you'll have new Septembers

Innocent: Today is never too late to be brand new

'Red (Taylor's Version)'

Red: Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street

Red: His love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street

I Knew You Were Trouble: I new notch in your belt is all I'll ever be

Holy Ground: Spinning like a girl in a brand new dress

The Lucky One: New to town with a made-up name

Everything Has Changed: All I know is a newfound grace, all my days I'll know your face

Girl At Home: While she waits up, you chase down the newest thing and take for granted what you have

Nothing New: Will you still want me when I'm nothing new?

All Too Well (10 Minute Version): But I'm in a new hell every time you double-cross my mind

'1989 (Taylor’s Version)'

Welcome To New York: It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat

Blank Space: New money, suit and tie, I can read you like a magazine

Shake It Off: My ex-man brought his new girlfriend

This Love: Tossing, turning, struggled through the night with someone new

Wonderland: Didn't it all seem new and exciting?

New Romantics: Baby, we're the new romantics

Now That We Don’t Talk: You grew your hair long, you got new icons

Is It Over Now?: Blue dress on a boat, your new girl is my clone

'reputation'

Call It What You Want: High above the whole scene, loves me like I'm brand new

'Lover'

Cruel Summer: And it's new, the shape of your body

Cornelia Street: Sacred new beginnings that became my religion, listen

'folklore'

The 1: I'm doing good, I'm on some new shit

Cardigan: Vintage tee, brand new phone, high heels on cobblestones

The Last Great American Dynasty: There's only so far new money goes

'evermore'

No Body, No Crime: And I noticed when I passed his house his truck has got some brand new tires

Happiness: I haven't met the new me yet

Happiness: You haven't met the new me yet

Closure: I know I'm just a wrinkle in your new life

Right Where You Left Me: Trends change, rumors fly through new skies

'Midnights'

Lavender Haze: All this shit is new to me, yeah, oh yeah

Other Songs written by Taylor

Best Days of Your Life: Live out my dreams with someone new

Eyes Open: Every lesson forms a new scar, they never thought you'd make it this far

You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home: Find a whole new life and jump in

Official Alternate Releases

I have been vividly inactive,,,, but now I have an important thing I am very  invested in and excited about!

I won Newfound Org’s 2019 Prose Chapbook Prize ^^^

And Things From the Creek Bed We Could Have Been is my debut collection of surreal short stories from this independent press and it’s out for preorder now in both ebook and print here!

https://newfound.org/product-category/print/chapbooks/prose/claire-oleson/

I’m very proud of this work and so delighted it’s found a home with a press that makes beautiful and hand-bound books.Consider taking a glance if you’ve got a moment or an interest in learning about Magritte or fish guts or Cerberus or gender thank youuuu. 

Why are the peaches in the river and how are they about divorce? Gonna have to find out.

The newfound planet K2-288Bb, illustrated here is slightly smaller than Neptune.

Located about 226 light-years away, it orbits the fainter member of a pair of cool M-type stars every 31.3 days.