The Knots [Short Poem]

I placed my foot into a world that was invisible to my eyes
It was full of twisted string, complex knots, and infinite little ties
I picked a tangle and let it trace my path, to guide me through the trail
My buzzing brain wasn’t able to absorb this world’s vast yet growing scale

I continued to walk, skipping from line to line without a care
My eyes went wide as new things formed everywhere
There was color and hustle, everything was alive
And every string and every node was starting to thrive

But as I followed the string things changed
Each node became more arranged
A stricter order, a perfect line
Each labeled with a sign

String went straight
Into a gated estate
All nodes the same
Just different name

Past nodes faded
Exits all blockaded
Absorb assimilate
Erect a tollgate

As I walk it changed again
Road now a single lane
All nodes twisted and merged
Before they suddenly surged

Spraying a torrent of rot
That consumed every knot
Once wrapped in mold
The knots began to remold

This new network looked so strange
Knots may include other things like
ties and lines which can often change
but if you have a problem don’t dislike
The best software to use is here for sale
Everyone says it’s very good and better
All you need to do is enter your email
To get the newest deals from our newsletter
We’ll tell you about the latest knots
And why they’re here at the best discount
Remember that you need to buy new pots
The algorithm knows how to account

ytngveehir msecbeo a sivmsae opol fo slgdeu
a nerev iegnnd nrreott of oimvt astp otu yb a
toorb that catn ltel ouy if tdayo si eydwasdne
ro ydusate utb nac eil htta it aws eth neerg
enm girnud het mono lndgani

lla eht same a lonmili esacf viotmngi a moliinl oentns
of yrulrs tnoo a watigin nahmu aecf on noe si uahmn
os yhw rty to be aihtngyn lsee enihygertv si grnateeed
tub olpsstnei uyo kwon het wsesnra os ti jsut ssprhaere
the ssetnuioq a millnoi siets lla tgaien ahce rohte but at
tsael teh nskae had eth eeuxsc it tetads oogd


Find more of my poems here!

Jonathon Greenall is a freelance writer, artist, and tabletop roleplaying game designer who has written for CBR, Polygon, Nintendo Life, Gayley Dreadful, Enbylife, and many other publications. They have also published several popular and highly-praised tabletop roleplaying games including “You Have One Ability….The Ability To Fuck This Up,” “Macarons, Milkshakes, And Magic,” and “Wander Wizards.”

Jonathon has always been fascinated by media, from the big hitters to the small, obscure, and often overlooked titles that linger on the sidelines, capturing both the on and off-camera stories that make these shows so fascinating.

Jonathon is also a major anime fan, having been exposed to the medium through shows like Sailor Moon and Revolutionary Girl Utena. Since then, Jonathon has maintained a passion for anime, watching most new shows each season and hunting down overlooked gems from previous ones.