Notes About The Poem

written for the contest " casualty of your cruelty" sponsored by Sara Jama

Premiere Contest WinnerCasualty of your Cruelty

L o v e ~ a crippled nightingale
b u r n i n g in bronze tears
of tornadoes,
limping and writhing,
screaming for release,
but
what if I am the mistress
             of glass-cut dreams,
crowned with 
 razor-edged regrets, 
and splintered serenity?
Would the raven breeze 
      then cocoon my soul
with delicate doom,
fueled by petroleum promises, 
searing in deadly flares,
as if I were destined
to be a victim of  
vindictive vengeance,
torn and tainted,
chained in poisoned
strings of pearls,
a reflection of resignation,
of how kismet calligraphies
draped me in haunting ivory,
                as the devil’s widow,
of when I vowed to serve
chastised chamomile,
of the night my innocence
was baptized in infected rivers,
rippling and ricocheting~
bleeding black with thorns…

O deranged twilight,
my heart aches in angst,
singing scars beneath
starless spheres,
where the moon is silenced,
eclipsed by the sun,
and the earth sighs
an unheard requiem
for the fractured skies,
stirring nocturnal feathers
to flutter and soar
in sync with the 
            beautiful tragedy,
while I lie in a sealed casket,
adorned with russet trinkets,
shadowed in macabre musings,
breathless and bruised,
alive, yet void of purpose 
awake but sleep-walking 
like an insomniac corpse
lost in the lethal gaze of life,
tracing emblems of the Valkyries,
caged between
the rising of dawn 
                   and frozen dusk,
pondering if this is the end
of the beginning~
a cursed reincarnation,
as I see no escape
from your ill-omened grip~
a casualty of your cruelty,
I remain, 
caught in the desolate 
                         haze of  h a t e…
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Jama Avatar
May 6, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Congratulations on placing in my contest. Your poem cuts deep. The rich dark imagery is brilliant. "fueled by petroleum promises, searing in deadly flares," one of my favourite lines. Petroleum promises is so creative. But insomniac corpse is hands down my favourite in your poem. Thank you for writing.
Empress Avatar
May 7, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Ah i tried to give something dark for you contest grumpy! Im so glad it won! Thank you for your encouraging and uplifting comment! And for mentioning what you love! Chocolate worthy comment it is! Sending you light always!
Bordner Avatar
May 5, 2025 at 8:27 PM
There's only one way to gift yourself freedom Poetess...You must first live for your own love...J.A.B.
Empress Avatar
May 7, 2025 at 1:35 AM
True, thank you Justin
George Avatar
May 4, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Wow... I see you as a trophy winner, many a time. I feel you deserve to be a champion. So very proud of you. Hearty Congratulations on your top win, dear Empress.
Empress Avatar
May 7, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Thank you sweet valsa i appreciate your kindness
Dietrich Avatar
May 4, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Congrats, Empress of imagery.
Empress Avatar
May 7, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Awwn sweet Andrea you are too kind
Edmonds  Avatar
May 3, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Truly wonderful poetry ink, it’s so sad when love ends with one becoming a casualty of cruelty, you’ve described the desolation well. Congratulations on your win in Sara’s contest…Beryl
Empress Avatar
May 7, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Thank you so much dear beryl! Appreciate your kind support always
Hind Avatar
April 29, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Deep, so much heartache, dear Ink. Your light is as strong as your darkness. Maybe more so -
Empress Avatar
May 7, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Thank you sweet paige
Beaufort Avatar
April 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM
IE, OMG this is a striking piece. As I read this and gain more appreciation for your ability to express emotion, I am thankful to be on your good side! There was no solace here, and I was reading and wondering if hope would come at all like you sometimes have it...but alas it didn't. But then at the end and realizing what you are doing and the way you do it, it just made me smile! You are one fantastic poet!
Empress Avatar
May 7, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Your comments always make me smile too! How kind of you thank you so very muchh truly
George Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I hear the sobbing of a soul devastated by love. The poem conveys a deep sense of sorrow...of the 'victim of vindictive vengeance'. Every line tells the story of a cruel betrayal and its inconsolable pain. "I lie in a sealed casket, adorned with russet trinkets, shadowed in macabre musings, breathless and bruised, alive, yet void of purpose awake but sleep-walking like an insomniac corpse" How powerful are these lines. We are all vulnerable to the vagaries of fate against which we have only very little resistance. An amazing poem and I envisage it to be a top winner. Sweet Empress, your pen is golden. Into my FAVE.
Poet Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 11:42 AM
WOW, what a wonderful poem, dearest Ink, about the complexity of love and the emotional anguish that may go with it. It also explores themes of sorrow, loss, regret, and the fight for identity and independence amid a turbulent relationship. The imagery of a "crippled nightingale," as well as references to "vindictive revenge" and "poisoned threads of pearls," convey a deep feeling of sorrow and captivity, emphasizing that love can be both beautiful and devastating. I appreciate your word choice; it's rich and expressive, with vivid images and emotional depth. Phrases like "flaming in bronze tears" and "shadowed in macabre meditations" produce a visceral experience that mirrors the speaker's distress. The use of oxymorons, such as "beautiful tragedy," emphasizes the contrast between love's appeal and misery. Furthermore, metaphors such as "mistress of glass-cut dreams" and "victim of spiteful vengeance" convey a sense of vulnerability and anguish.
Dietrich Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 10:37 AM
A very dark one. I envision her in her casket but the soul has no escape and that is truly sad. As always, you ended with some very fitting lines. A sure winner.
Buhagiar Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 5:39 AM
A dark story where imposed cruelty reigns. Great imagery as usual. You did well.
Lane Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 5:12 AM
When I began to read, I thought, "What a witch!" Only to discover that she was the victim on the night her "innocence was baptized in infected rivers, rippling and ricocheting~ bleeding black with thorns…" What an excellent dark tale of drama you've woven, Ink.
Rhymes Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Rising of Dawn and frozen dusk . So beautifullly written as always
Liguori Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 3:01 AM
I’m going to have to figure out how to do pictures now too. Great photo. Great poem. Instant fav.
Cunningham Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 2:58 AM
What was once disguised as love shows it's true colours as controlling and cruel. Situations like that you often hear about and many suffer in silence unable to escape the clutches of a twisted partner. Good luck in the contest IE and have a great week ahead. Tom
Andresen Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 2:42 AM
- A victim in a cold and dark world, Ink - A deep and thoughtful poem... painful :( - hugs
Jama Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Sis, this is powerful and heartbreaking in the most beautiful way! “Mistress of glass-cut dreams” and “singing scars beneath starless spheres” just hit so deep. Your words bleed emotion and strength with such stunning grace. Every line tells a story only you could write. I'm always in awe of your talent. This is a win for sure. I was going to write for it but is there a point now?! Brilliant!! A masterpiece. And that picture is haunting and very fitting for this poem. My fav of favds
Empress Avatar
April 28, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Awwn thank you so much sis for feeling this poem… appreciate always your sincere and kind comments truly
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