Michelle Faulkner Poet Free verse

Cities of Sonnets

It was tantalizing, sweet completion
Lines of blue ink filling white space
Tastes of emotions, colors of consonants
Music of vowels, syllables singing
To create, and satiate

Then, time thinned
Responsibility and stress stepped in
Poetry, after all, does not pay the bills
Stop cloud watching and become an adult
They said, and they were right

So I packed her away, that silly girl
relegated to the dusty back room of memory
Gray and wilted, foolish scribblings
Nobody cared about anymore

Years, decades of feigned disinterest
Begins to dissolve in rediscovering
The flash of joy in composing
Ignited by a song-writing friend
Who dared encouragement 

Steps sluggish, atrophied, but there
Saved in muscle memory
I hungered for nourishment, for balance
On unsteady limbs - I wanted my silly girl back
And I have her, revived on Soup from
My poetry sisters and brothers

Now, I am gaining
The reach of my wings
Soaring over cities of sonnets
Neighborhoods of roundels and rispettos
A haiku hamlet, an acrostic alleyway
Kingdoms of pantoums and villanelles
To the unfenced openness
Of free verse

I am still the bedrock of me
Stretching to climb taller trees.

2/23/19

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John Watt June 27, 2020 at 1:17 AM Came back to revisit and enjoy again one of my favorites of yours. So glad you found your poetry wings again!

Line Gauthier May 23, 2020 at 9:57 PM Nice to revive your inner poet. Superbly penned poem, Michelle. Love it.

John Watt May 16, 2020 at 5:48 PM (3) Going in my faves! Michelle Faulkner May 18, 2020 at 6:59 PM So flattered!

John Watt May 16, 2020 at 5:47 PM (2) and we need to hear and feel that there is value to what we do, and ultimately to who we are. That discouragement is common among writers, for often it doesn't pay the bills and the time we spend feels like we're sending our words out into the void of outer space. In your case, "Tastes of emotions, colors of consonants / Music of vowels, syllables singing /To create, and satiate" won you back, and how grateful I am that it did. Loved all your alliterative word pairs and great ending. ~ John Michelle Faulkner May 18, 2020 at 7:04 PM That means a lot, especially on a day like today, when my pen is being uncooperative! Your effusive thoughts have cheered me up:)

John Watt May 16, 2020 at 5:42 PM (1) Michelle, so much to say about this exquisite write, I don't want to limit myself to just one comment. Let me say a big 'thank you' to your songwriter friend who recognized your gift and joy of writing and encouraged you to get back onto the page. Your writing has brought so much joy to myself and the soupers who read and leave their lovely comments. Many writers have reached a point where they feel their poems are "Gray and wilted, foolish scribblings Nobody cared about anymore". Michelle Faulkner May 18, 2020 at 6:59 PM Yes, I wrote this around my one-year anniversary of joining the Soup, and now it is over two years with this caravan of creativity :) I am so grateful to have met poets like you, who are both so talented and encouraging!

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart May 13, 2020 at 8:59 PM ...am crying now. I didn't write poetry for about a decade before stumbling across this place restored my muse, integral to my mental health. Again with the closing lines. It's the eve of my 48th, been a soul shedding past few days; I think I needed this tonight, thank you. xomo Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart May 14, 2020 at 2:10 PM I am glad too. I think of you now every time I put "Like A Prayer" on to bounce to on the rebounder. It already was my favourite but it has the best beat. ;), xomo! Michelle Faulkner May 14, 2020 at 12:12 PM Yes this is so valuable for mental, emotional, spiritual health - and your poems are always a joy to read, Mo, and I am glad we connected here-

Brenda Chiri June 29, 2019 at 8:12 PM Congrats on your placement!;)

John Hamilton June 29, 2019 at 7:53 PM Nice write Michelle, congrats on a fine win!

Eve Roper March 2, 2019 at 9:09 AM Wow! Silent one was right a brilliant way to express your love for poetry. Nicely done. Congratulations on your win. Hugs Eve ~`* Michelle Faulkner March 2, 2019 at 1:35 PM Much appreciate your kind words, thank you, Eve!

Heidi Sands February 28, 2019 at 7:24 AM Congratulations for your win Michelle! :) Michelle Faulkner March 2, 2019 at 1:36 PM Thanks, Heidi!

Anne-Lise Andresen February 28, 2019 at 5:56 AM - Poems means a lot for those who love it :) - Congratulations on your lovely win :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Michelle Faulkner March 2, 2019 at 1:38 PM So true, thank you for your kind comment!

Silent One February 28, 2019 at 5:27 AM Love the last two stanza, just brilliant expressions for loving poetry.. Congratulations on your placement in the contest.. Michelle Faulkner March 2, 2019 at 1:38 PM I am so touched, thank you for placing me in your contest!

Mystic Rose Rose February 26, 2019 at 5:56 AM I am so glad you shared this poem Michelle. It helps me to know you better. What a lovely feeling it is when we go back to our first true passion and give it its proper place. Writing is our saving grace dear poet, like you I rather write a poem then anything else. Blessings and hugs. xo Michelle Faulkner February 27, 2019 at 7:54 PM Yes this past year on Poetry Soup has been so much fun thanks to the great supportive people like you!

Mark Toney February 25, 2019 at 11:24 PM Love it, Michelle! ~Mark Michelle Faulkner February 27, 2019 at 7:55 PM Thank you, Mark!

M. L. Kiser February 25, 2019 at 9:39 AM There's no poem as much fun as free verse...it is us. Michelle Faulkner February 25, 2019 at 10:41 PM Thank you again!

Kim Rodrigues February 24, 2019 at 6:06 PM My fave verse the next to last! So cool! Michelle Faulkner February 24, 2019 at 6:18 PM Glad you like it, Kim!

M. L. Kiser February 24, 2019 at 1:52 PM Would that we could spend our lives doing nothing but, reading and writing it; alas, you are right about the money. Beautifully penned. Michelle Faulkner February 24, 2019 at 6:14 PM I know, reality can be so annoying!

Heidi Sands February 24, 2019 at 8:01 AM Excellent poem Michelle! This holds so much meaning and is great to hear :) Michelle Faulkner February 24, 2019 at 6:12 PM Thank you for your comment, Heidi!

Gershon Wolf February 23, 2019 at 9:30 PM Bravo! What a beautiful tribute to your inner self, as well as STRUGGLE, through which is forged (gratifying) personal growth! :) gw (soupmail on unrelated topics, please). Michelle Faulkner February 24, 2019 at 6:11 PM Thank you, my friend!