CONFESSIONAL is a poem by Guggenheim fellow Denise Duhamel, published exclusively by theVERSEverse, and visually interpreted by Cuban artist Marlon Portales.

Portales graduated from Havana’s Higher Institute of Art (ISA) with honors. His practice is multidisciplinary and includes diverse media, such as painting, installation, video art, photography, performance and NFTs. His views in the fields of politics and ideals yield works that carry evident sociological and philosophical quests. Ultimately, through his work, he aims at engaging the observer in a dialogue about different point of views as well as universally shared reflections.

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CONFESSIONAL

Now that I can write
anything without fear
you will read it

I have nothing shocking
or transgressive left to say
except Forgive me, mother,

I have sinned. It’s been
two months since your death,
since my last confessional poem.