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Anywhere But Here

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written for the title "anywhere but here" sponsored by Edward Ibeh

But wherever you are, I no longer want to be: for you are thunderstruck moonlight, and I am a scarred sunset ~ a secret in saffron, melting into the myth that floats forever, within silenced dunes of scorpion stones, where the cryptic coldness of sand feels like~ Cupid’s daggers piercing through my aching skin and bones. Frost-kissed vines wrap around my wintry heart, screaming for a sacred release from the tethered torment of satanic sapphires, breathing within the haunted caves of unending nightmares ~ and the twilight that wanes behind flatlined promises. Tonight, I feel like arrows of angst, ricocheting within these woeful walls of my melancholic mausoleum, mirroring the heat of a burning breeze ~ like an epitaph lost in the sweltering air. The clover of golden green glimmers, like fireflies around my wrists, luring distant ravens, croaking above paralyzed dreams, to untangle the crooked lines of lies, crawling within clouds of comfort, oblivious to Lilith’s serpent slithering around my fragile feet in slow cadence, pushing me to the darker dusks drawn above the prying valley of putrid prunes, where these wistful musings will remain as mere voiceless ashes, cremated in vain, with flames of forgotten folktales echoing as faded music within a glass urn. So, if tomorrow I’m gone, remember me ~ I still breathe silver snippets of hope, a frozen quiescence, etched in seven arcs of stardust, longing to be anywhere but here. Perhaps as the last verse of your poem, or could I be the lone rose, forever thriving in the galactic gardens of love, where hate and greed, tangled in jinxed jewels, dissolve into nothingness ~ like rusted ribbons of the crestfallen lunar. I hope lilacs and lavenders will bloom in hypnotic hues, to calm raging rivers flowing within the arctic arteries of a dark poet, longing for a home away from hellish hands, so I can serenade songs of survival and rhapsodies of resilience, while watching every tear I’ve shed crystallize into pearls and diamonds, like born-again stars in violet skies.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 3/2/2025 7:22:00 PM
Dear Ink, soulful poetess, your artistic use of imagery and metaphors captivates my heart and imagination. Striking verses like "I feel like arrows of angst,/ricocheting within these woeful walls" are viscerally felt. A deep, rich, soul-stunning piece. So evocative, emotive and splendid in every way! Congratulations for your success in Kai's contest. It's an honor to share the podium with you, my poet friend. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
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Date: 3/1/2025 10:39:00 AM
Alliteration and imagery weave a tapestry so beautiful, it would be unworthy of my peasant eyes. You truly live up to your name Empress.xoxo
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Date: 12/14/2024 2:37:00 PM
So lovely- always so delicate - love "fireflies around my wrist" very beautiful <3
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Date: 12/12/2024 6:03:00 PM
IE, the master of metaphors and alliteration ~ artistically crafted musings, warmest congratulations on your top win
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Date: 12/12/2024 2:43:00 AM
"you are thunderstruck moonlight" - What a wonderful metaphor! Indeed, your poems are filled with figures of speech of every nature. This is one of such too. Congratulations!
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Date: 12/11/2024 5:56:00 PM
Inky, heartiest congratulations on your top win in my contest with this masterpiece. So much to love here: alliteration, metaphors, vocabulary, imagery, euphony, etc. This is a fave for me!
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Date: 12/8/2024 6:04:00 AM
Great take on the theme. Last line is my fave, starting with "while watching..." Gosh, you sure have a way with words and an endless flow of inspiration
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 10:36:00 AM
I love the last line too. Thank you so much for the visit and for your comments i have alot to catch up on here: hope your weekend is going well
Date: 12/6/2024 7:33:00 PM
I like these stanza of emotional evolution. I felt a relief that the romance ended with a resolution to move on. She seemed to have found peace. This is a keeper.
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 10:35:00 AM
Awwn dear sweet hilda, i always am grateful for your poetic presence and selfless support. Thank you so very much truly for leaving wuch a kind comment I appreciate it
Date: 12/6/2024 2:06:00 PM
so I can serenade songs of survival and rhapsodies of resilience, I believe you have done that time and time again, because your poems are both strong and direct. I love your brave heart Ink,
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 10:32:00 AM
Awwn thank you sweet rose! So kind of you to say that: I appreciate your empathetic comments always
Date: 12/6/2024 10:09:00 AM
Hi Dear Ink, you certainly put your heart and soul into this one, wish you well in the contest. xx
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 10:26:00 AM
Thank you so much dear john. Always appreciate your kind visits
Date: 12/6/2024 9:06:00 AM
Dearest Ink, Your powerful poetry tackles enticement, anguish, calm and salvation. It contrasts inner agony with nature's beauty, illustrating lost love and the longing for change. The poem also tackles the emotional landscape which includes solitude, pain, and a need for consolation. It conveys these feelings using nature, celestial bodies, and light and dark visuals. You used strong metaphors and imagery in your word choice. Words like "thunderstruck moonlight," "saffron," "satanic sapphires," and "cremated in vain" evoke empathy. Despair and optimism alternate throughout your wonderful diction. Best Wishes for the contest, Warm hugs and blessings.
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 10:12:00 AM
Thank you so much for the detailed feedback and also for the warm blessings always a pleasure hearing from you
Date: 12/6/2024 8:35:00 AM
"Frost-kissed vines wrap around my wintry heart, screaming for a sacred release" -- ain't that the truth. Cupid's arrows have two opposing points. "Lilith’s serpent slithering around my fragile feet in slow cadence," -- only human to sometimes become bitter. "I can serenade songs of survival and rhapsodies of resilience," -- We have what the mind declares, and the depth of a loving heart~ Seconds. Wow! As always your lovely poems are an Emotional Trip of spiritual revelation!
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 10:05:00 AM
Dear Joe, thank you so very much for being so kind and generous with your time and for leaving such sincere comments always i am truly grateful
Date: 12/6/2024 12:54:00 AM
Another poetic gem is born from the dark womb of pain. Some of the feelings expressed here may be fancy, but only from the depth of one's heart such moving verse of melancholy will flow. "When I am gone, remember me.............................Perhaps as the last verse of your poem, or could I be the lone rose, forever thriving in the galactic gardens of love," This part made me tear up. What deep and heartfelt feelings of love and longing!..... "every tear I’ve shed crystallize into pearls and diamonds, like born-again stars in violet skies." Your poems have the glitter of diamonds... no exaggeration! Definitely this will bag a first place. All the best, dear sweet friend.
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 10:02:00 AM
Thank you sweet valsa i truly am grateful for your kindness and support
Date: 12/5/2024 11:27:00 PM
Stunningly beautiful, and dark and melancholy. The imagery is a treasure! The final verse is amazing. This is a fave.
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 9:57:00 AM
Thank you so very much for reading and for the fave too. Always grateful for your support.
Date: 12/5/2024 4:30:00 PM
you know Ink, they say love and hate are two sides of the same coin, if that is the case then this poem exposes the depth of love...because the depth of turmoil flowing from your poetic words is like a raging river of grief...you are a very impressive poet, dear poet and the well you write your words from seems endless in its depth
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 9:48:00 AM
Your comments and compliments really mean alot dear frederick as you are truly a very gifted poet, that i enjoy reading too. Thank you so very much for visiting me and for leaving your heartfelt analysis. I am grateful
Date: 12/5/2024 3:58:00 PM
IE, the intensity level of despair you describe could not be any more than it is. You do make an impression that goes far beyond the last line of anyone else's work. It has a light of its own. Although this is for a contest, I find it hard to believe you do not feel some of this...but in any case I do like the hope you display at the end of many of your poems like this one. All the tears and the way you share them certainly do become gems that inspire us to take care of each other. Smiles!!
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 9:32:00 AM
Dear duke your comments are always so very thoughtful and im truly grateful for your poetic support and presence. Thank you so much for leaving your thoughts here
Date: 12/5/2024 2:13:00 PM
This is really beautiful, definitely a favorite.
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 9:28:00 AM
It means alot to receive a fave from you, thank you so very much for reading and for leaving your comment
Date: 12/5/2024 1:46:00 PM
Amazing imagery IE, colourful metaphors and your vocabulary is on another level. Best of luck in the contest. Tom
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 9:22:00 AM
Ahh thank you so much dear Tom, you are so kind i appreciate your support always
Date: 12/5/2024 1:32:00 PM
This is another amazing poem from you, Ink. It is sure to make the winner list, most likely a first place. It speaks strongly to the theme and ends perfectly. So that was his second title choice? I was thinking it was something else!(Oh I looked to see. He gave like four choices. I wonder which is the most popular)
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 9:21:00 AM
Thank you always for being so supportive sweet andrea. I need to write to you soon, hah been away from social media for a bit
Date: 12/5/2024 1:00:00 PM
you are thunderstruck moonlight, and I am a scarred sunset.. oooo the heaviness in that line!!! Cupid’s daggers piercing through my aching skin and bones… mmmm the intensity is gorgeous.. ricocheting within these woeful walls of my melancholic mausoleum, ooo child!!! these wistful musings will remain as mere voiceless ashes,Omg that is freaking genius!!! forever thriving in the galactic gardens of love, Mmmm my heart has stopped! to calm raging rivers flowing within the arctic arteries of a dark poet,.. mmmm tear I’ve shed crystallize into pearls and diamonds,.. stunning… an absolute beauty papi!!!
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 8:59:00 AM
Papi your comments are an absolute beauty to my soul
Date: 12/5/2024 12:42:00 PM
Beautiful … my fave line , where you are , I no longer want to be ..
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Ink Empress
Date: 12/8/2024 8:59:00 AM
Hah thank you so much dahlin

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