Sam Kauffman Poet Free verse

If Only, I Wish, Maybe

If Only…I Wish…Maybe…

If only…
Shards of shame
Lay splintered
In unresolved pieces –
Bits of crystal intentions
Unrepairable…

I wish…
Minutes of regret
Not revived – 
Living unreachable 
In lifeless echoes sighing
No resuscitation…

Why…
In a whirlwind
A tornado
Uproots shallow graves 
Screams at the unknowable
Unanswered…

Yeah but…
Expletives excuse -
Bargains with
The blank face of denial
Unrelenting tears of truth -
Pacing energy…

Maybe…
A star at midnight -
A wishing star -
Bends down in prayer
Points to a northern light
Always there…

Could it be…
Time makes a way - 
Ascending 
From ashes of stone -
Grace has its own mission
Acceptance.

8/4/20

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John Watt August 8, 2020 at 8:09 PM A powerful and poetic rendering of the grieving process, my dear friend. I hope you have been able to share this and bring comfort to those enduring a season of grief. A always, you bring your compassionate heart to your poetry of sympathy. Congratulations for your win, and may God bless you richly, my friend. Sam Kauffman August 9, 2020 at 9:44 AM Thank you so much John! My heart is so grateful for your always thoughtful messages and your friendship! Would love to find a way to get this out to grief support groups - so grateful for the suggestion! Take care - sending you a bushel of blessings!

Aditi Mishra August 7, 2020 at 10:38 PM I love how you use grace as the central theme in your outstanding poems Sam. Indeed a blessing from painful experiences that you've so honestly portrayed and then beautifully transformed to hope and acceptance. Congratulations on your win my friend. Much love :) Sam Kauffman August 9, 2020 at 9:38 AM Thank you so much my friend. I am indeed humbled by your beautiful, and generous, message. This theme just seemed to scream the grieving process. I so hoped that this poem would address this process with a transparent honesty. Thank you for your affirmation! Sending back to much love and many hugs...

V. Deepa August 6, 2020 at 8:06 AM True.. phenomenonal write mam:-) Grace has its own mission acceptance~thought provoking lines.Enjoyed your Muse. Congratulations on your wonderful win.:-) Keep inspiring.Warm regards~Deepa:-) Sam Kauffman August 9, 2020 at 9:24 AM So good to hear from you Deepa! Hope you are doing well. Thank you for your very kind words, congratulations and encouragement! In the grieving process, I think acceptance is the hardest stage but with grace I do believe it will ultimately happen. All the best to you!

Vijay Pandit August 5, 2020 at 2:47 PM Much to ponder in this wonderful write Sam--BIG congrats on your podium win. Sam Kauffman August 9, 2020 at 9:18 AM Vijay, thank you for your visit and your congratulations. I maybe wrong but I think all of us who write hope that our words will leave a footprint on the heart and soul of our readers. So grateful for your affirmation. Continued blessings to you and your delightful muse!

Anne-Lise Andresen August 5, 2020 at 11:17 AM - Beautifully written, Sam ... thoughtful :) - Congratulations on your win - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Sam Kauffman August 9, 2020 at 9:10 AM Thank you so much Anne-Lise not only for your congratulations but for your lovely words. They are encouragement! I am grateful! Smiles and hugs back to you!

Jennifer Proxenos August 5, 2020 at 11:12 AM This is a beauty Sam and you crafted this write into superb poem which earned you a win and our congrats. Anger, denial and then acceptance- there is little more than the third stage that we can do, just accept it with grace and hold the grief in your heart as it mellows. Hugs and blessings, Sam Kauffman August 9, 2020 at 9:08 AM Hi Jennifer! Thank you for your congratulations and beautiful message. I agree with you -"accept it with grace." That can be the hardest stage. I like your concept that grief "mellows." That is profound. And, thank goodness we have God's grace! Sending back hugs and blessings to you.

Malabika Ray Choudhury August 5, 2020 at 10:23 AM Dear Sam, A big Congratulations! Love the way you formatted the poem - I want to try this form sometime, this is amazing! Yes!! This time both of us met the requirements - what an achievement! Hugs, Mala Sam Kauffman August 5, 2020 at 10:29 AM Thank you so much Mala for your congratulations - so grateful. This theme just seemed to lend itself to an overarching theme of grieving so I used the stages of grieving as the foundation for the verses. Hope you enjoy playing with the format. Would love to see the results! Blessings!

Silent One August 5, 2020 at 7:46 AM Grace has its own mission.. yes so many lack it, and are not accepted.. I like how you formatted the poem and how you started it off.. It really reads very well.. Congratulations on your placement in the contest.. Sam Kauffman August 5, 2020 at 9:43 AM Hi SO. Thank you for sponsoring this theme, taking the time to judge and for your placement. Most grateful. I do love that line and wanted to highlight the stages of grieving - "wish" I had put a note to that effect at the bottom of the poem. Oh well. Again thank you. Blesssings to you.

Ilene Bauer August 4, 2020 at 1:51 PM i once took a course about stress management and was taught that the two most useless emotions are worry and regret. totally true! your poem captures the regret part perfectly! Sam Kauffman August 5, 2020 at 9:47 AM Thank you ilene! I so agree with you. Have taught communication skills classes. Worry is a projection of what might happen in the future. I think your class was spot on! Hope you are well! All the best.