Premiere Contest WinnerA Gentle Hand -Mystic-

I almost didn’t make it here.
Not tonight.
Not to this day.
Not to this moment.

Because some days
breathing feels like begging,
and my ribs feel too fragile to hold up the weight of me.

And I don’t tell anyone.
I smile,
In the way glass smiles right before it shatters.
I laugh,
the way a mask laughs when no one’s behind it.
And I pray nobody hears the sound of me cracking.

And then
one day
a hand.

Not a fist.
Not a finger pointing out everything broken in me.
Not a grip trying to drag me where I wasn’t ready to go.

Just a hand.
Gentle.
Steady.
Human.

It touched my shoulder like it wasn’t dangerous to love me.
It reached for mine like I was worth reaching for.
And in that moment
every screaming voice in my head
got quiet.

Do you understand?
That’s what saved me.
Not thunder.
Not fire.
Not some miracle in the sky.

A gentle hand.

A reminder that I wasn’t too heavy,
that I wasn’t too late,
that I wasn’t invisible.

And I learned something that day
gentleness is not weakness.
It’s war.
It’s rebellion.
It’s armor that doesn’t look like armor,
but still keeps you alive.

So now
if I can be that hand for someone else,
if I can steady a shoulder,
hold a palm,
stop a fall
I will.

Because I am still here.
Because somebody, once,
offered me a gentle hand.

And that…
that was enough.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025


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Date: 9/26/2025 12:53:00 PM
Congrats on POTW!
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McGlynn  Avatar
Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/27/2025 10:09:00 AM
Ty!
Date: 9/25/2025 7:55:00 AM
An authentic Boston "wicked awesome"... I have been on both ends of that "hand". Beautifully written and paced by line breaks. A definite FAVE.
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/27/2025 10:09:00 AM
Thank you
Date: 9/24/2025 11:55:00 PM
WOW, I love your human touch theme, and what a masterpiece. It is a fav of mine now. Congratulations on POTW. Moon Harp
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/27/2025 10:09:00 AM
Thank you :)
Date: 9/24/2025 1:18:00 PM
Hello Jade, Congrats on POTW! t's so honest and powerful and just... real. You've put words to feelings I think so many of us have had but could never express.
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/27/2025 10:10:00 AM
Thank you
Date: 9/22/2025 10:10:00 AM
And I don’t tell anyone. I smile, In the way glass smiles right before it shatters...a gentle hand..beautiful!
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/27/2025 10:15:00 AM
Thank you Kim
Date: 9/22/2025 7:07:00 AM
Deep, sensitive write, Jade. Love heals, love supports, love is God. Warmest congratulations on POTW
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/27/2025 10:15:00 AM
Thank you :)
Date: 9/21/2025 8:16:00 PM
Dearest Jade, first I would like to say, welcome to Poetry Soup. Second, your thoughts hold meaning and depth. ' Somebody once offered me a gentle hand, and that was enough. ' The little things matter, indeed. Being there in the same way, for someone else. Congratulations on Poem of the Week. My best to you. Hugs, Brandy
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/27/2025 10:11:00 AM
Thank you!
Date: 9/21/2025 11:58:00 AM
Congratulations Jade on receiving the honour of poem of the week with your wonderful poem… Beryl
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/27/2025 10:10:00 AM
Thank you Beryl
Date: 9/21/2025 9:05:00 AM
Congratulations on your POTW win. I enjoyed reading your powerful "A Gentle Hand" write. Have a blessed day with your win as you go writing away..........
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/21/2025 10:00:00 AM
Thank you
Date: 9/21/2025 4:24:00 AM
congrats on your POTD designation on your poem....agree, the reaching out of only one hand--that gentle touch--can make a huge difference. Well penned
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/21/2025 10:00:00 AM
Thank you
Date: 9/20/2025 10:54:00 AM
Congratulations on your win and very touching write.
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/27/2025 10:10:00 AM
Thank you
Date: 9/19/2025 4:46:00 AM
Welcome to PoetrySoup and congratulations on your first place win. I read your poems earlier as you are listed under 'Hot new poets'. I am also FAVing this one.
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/19/2025 5:09:00 AM
Thank you :)
Date: 9/16/2025 7:18:00 AM
This gets better and better until its poignancy holds you still while its feel wraps around you. A gentle delivery of a hard-hitting emotive release. Truly a great read. I'm glad the contest brought attention to your poem. Congratulations on your win. Poetry hugs ... CayCay
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/16/2025 7:25:00 AM
Thank you sm :)
Date: 9/16/2025 6:14:00 AM
I absolutely love this, Jade. I will be sure to touch someone's shoulder today! Congratulations on your top win in M.R.R's Contest! A pat on the shoulder :) Charlie
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Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/16/2025 7:26:00 AM
Thank you so much :)
Date: 9/16/2025 5:07:00 AM
Hey jade nice ta meet ya. Congrats on first place win with this touching poem
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Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 9/21/2025 4:51:00 AM
Again
Woody Avatar
Tom Woody
Date: 9/18/2025 5:02:00 AM
Ooh, we've changed names
McGlynn  Avatar
Jade McGlynn
Date: 9/16/2025 5:42:00 AM
Thank you
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