Ember Days-A poet’s diary

My hasty steps echo
on the cracked stone tile,
before the bus door hisses
shut—Late again.
"It's a wonderful life," the clouds sing in chorus.
Their church choir harmony almost offensive,
if I didn't know,
they truly believe
life is lullabies and steaming apple tea.

Swear-soaked hair clings to my neck.
I call these ember days:
when smoldering urban air chokes—
Yet the clouds drift,
marshmallow white—
Like porcelain swans on azure water.

I watch the bus hustle
away, breath too ragged
to properly curse.
The clouds grin,
like they're genuinely satisfied—
—just being.

Wouldn't that be something.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025


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Date: 5/26/2025 12:35:00 PM
Awesome first submission jasmine. The clouds are a mere facade here, apparently. Stinking smog!
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Tsai Avatar
Jasmine Tsai
Date: 5/26/2025 7:19:00 PM
Thank you! I do envy the clouds... They always look so bright and fluffy, floating in the sky without care... But then again, they don't get challenged or surprised like we humans do, so who's to say they're the winner here? Sometimes (on my good days, haha) I think that simply based on the fact that we get to write our own stories, we as humans are blessed.
Date: 5/24/2025 7:23:00 AM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Welcome to Poetry Soup. I welcome you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
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Tsai Avatar
Jasmine Tsai
Date: 5/26/2025 7:17:00 PM
Thank you so much to your kind reply, Beata. I do believe that faith is one of the few things in life that grant us meaning. Having faith despite the minor yet constant disappointments in life... It's something I still struggle with, but I believe things will be better as long as I see them through :)
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