Constance La France Poet Verse

Notes About The Poem

Poetry/Verse/Intrusive Thoughts/AI Free
Copyright Protected, ID 06-1738-183-10 
All Rights Reserved, 2025
Copying any part of the work is prohibited without permission

Written, June 10, 2025
For the International Contest, Pick-A-Title, Vol.52
Sponsor, Edward Ibeh, Judged 06/14/2025

FIRST PLACE

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Published in Poetry Soup's Anthology Diverse Voices, 2026

Intrusive Thoughts

I have a voice within my mind that never stops talking,
it is rattling and annoying and intrusive most of the time:
though, at times it speaks to me of random memories,
like the smell of grandma's cookies with hints of chocolate;
or the feel of my baby's soft downy hair.

But, there are moments when my voice is hateful to me,
telling me that I should do this or that now:
its voice rough, unfriendly, cold, yelling, and full of hate,
and I just wish it to stay quiet, depart, leave me alone;
then, it can be smooth and soothing. 

At times, the voice is a whisper or a murmur drifting,
like the sound of music enthralling me to listen:
the air around me seems to smell like lavender scents,
and I hear the laughter of a little girl, me, as I run;
down a street of my past memories.

The voice invades my dreams at night disturbing me,
it says remove your fuzzy blanket and venture outside;
why, I ask, JUST DO IT, the voice yells loudly insisting,
outside in my dream, and put my hands in the snow,
cold, like stabbing me with a thousand needles.

The voice has no face, I have no concept if female or male,
is it a friend or foe, although, it can help me write:
most of the time it makes me feel sad, it is seldom positive,
I have tried methods to push it away, but it creeps back;
guess, it is just piece of me.

When it is just chattering away with negativity,
I shout at it (was that a real yell) to go away please:
and I imagine it whimpers and crawls away for a time,
only to return with its intrusive low voice in my mind;
on and on, but, I am not listening today.

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Kim Rodrigues June 16, 2025 at 6:45 PM Congrats on your first place win! Hard to get rid of that intrusive voice.

Paula Goldsmith June 15, 2025 at 11:15 AM Back with Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful "Intrusive Thoughts" write again. Have a blessed day with your win................

Len Gasun June 15, 2025 at 5:21 AM An excellent poem my dear poet friend Constance! Big congrats on your well-deserved top win! Thanks for sharing. Hugs

Edward Ibeh June 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM Wow! This is vintage you, Constance. Impactful and harrowing. Heartiest congratulations on your top win in my contest with this phenomenal poem. I loved it!

Paula Goldsmith June 10, 2025 at 1:10 PM I enjoyed reading your wonderful "Intrusive Thoughts" write. You will fix that voice, "I am not listening today." Great Ending... "Good Luck" Have a fun day writing away.......... Constance La France June 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM Paula, thank you so much for the comment, appreciate ~