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Malignant Memories

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Written for " chaos in my heart" sponsored by Sara Jama

I trace bitter trials of another Helios spark~ as a collapsed marionette, barely seeing colors of clarity, between onyx-glazed flames, tangled in the hollow temple carved in medieval calligraphies, bleeding seething scars, incensed with coiled confusion~ reverberating macabre voices that thrum distant decays, clouding inner dusk with disoriented dandelions. Yet heaven waits above the impregnated wilderness, its unlocked gates eager to wrap me in cryptic clusters of withered, cold oleanders, poisoning my poetic pulse with ceaseless critique~ as if I am a sacrilegious sin~ no longer your muse, but a blistering burden, unmoved by the warmth of frozen asteroids, a gossamer blasphemy, suffocating the spectral sighs singing star-spun psalms to the swan-soft skin of the mythologized moon, still plagued by malignant memories of truth I once wore~ a frangipani on the fervent frills of your milky-quartz dreamscape, now a festering flicker of bewitched demons, a phantom ember breathing elegies for a dark romance long deceased... You'll remain my immortal camellia soaked in the crimson wet rush of raining silence, oblivious to the ominous odes etched to the cosmos, mirroring chaos in my heart, as every chamber within homes glacial grief~ frost-clawed rivers ferrying forlorn phrases, stirring the air that emanates triggers, casting tiger-snake spells from the slithering angst of Medusa’s mourning mane, turning midnight runes of my soul into stone-rinsed sorrow, cradled in the dust of distress, forevermore…

Copyright © | Year Posted 2025




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Date: 4/24/2025 12:36:00 PM
Congratulations on placing in my contest. Your writing always draws me in. " I am a sacrilegious sin~ no longer your muse, but a blistering burden, unmoved by the warmth of frozen asteroids, a gossamer blasphemy, suffocating the spectral sighs singing star-spun psalms to the swan-soft skin" is one of my favourite stanzas you have written. Gorgeous gothic imagery. Delicately dark and fantastic use of metaphors.
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Date: 4/23/2025 12:40:00 AM
Heartiest congratulations dear poetess on your top placement in this poetry contest with a superb poem littered with exotic imagery and alliterations expressing the chaos in your heart. I feel so humble to comment on your poems as you bring them to such a high pitch. Wish the light of divine blessings ever rest with you.
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Date: 4/22/2025 7:54:00 AM
Congratulations on your irrefutable high placement in Sara's contest Ink. The purest poetry delivered in exquisite beauty x
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Date: 4/21/2025 1:34:00 PM
Now we have double trophies, Ink. Congratulations on yours, too. Hugs, sweet friend.
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Date: 4/20/2025 9:47:00 PM
"homes glacial grief~ frost-clawed rivers"..."stirring the air" this is so powerful, those lines..
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Date: 4/20/2025 5:40:00 AM
Each time I feel embarrassed to say that your poetry goes above all expected marks. Expressions like- 'collapsed marionette, coiled confusion, sacrilegious sin,, spectral sighs, blistering burden, slithering angst'....all add to the snake imagery of Medusa. I feel you struggle to free yourself from the coiling satanic memories. This poem is indeed a reflection of the chaos in one's heart. All the Best.
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/20/2025 7:56:00 AM
Thank you so much sweet valsa you are such a humble kind and generous soul! So precious! Appreciate your kindness and how you lift me up always! Sending you light
Date: 4/20/2025 12:41:00 AM
Absolutely breathtaking sis. Your imagery is spellbinding “a gossamer blasphemy, suffocating the spectral sighs singing star-spun psalms to the swan-soft skin of the mythologized moon” gave me goosebumps. And “tiger-snake spells from the slithering angst of Medusa’s mourning mane”—pure magic. Your words bleed emotion, haunting and beautiful all at once. This is poetry that lingers in the mind and is felt deeply. It was good to see a touch of the old ink throughout this piece. A fav of mine
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/20/2025 7:57:00 AM
Sis yea i almost thought of old times! When i wrote dark always. Now i have to tone down a bit. What an honour it is to receive your comment and compliments and fave and detailed thoughts on my poem! Im truly so grateful! Sending you light today and alway.
Date: 4/19/2025 7:44:00 PM
Loved so many lines in here. Like the part of the poem your title is based on and the words like frangipani. I can't even remember what it means but it sounds so cool. Your alliteration is off the charts and always you emote so well. Have a blessed Sunday, Ink
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/20/2025 7:58:00 AM
Ah dear sweet andrea! Thank you always for being so kind
Date: 4/19/2025 12:53:00 PM
Nobody does angst quite like our Inky. Poisoned by ceaseless critique? Who could bear up under such a burden? Eating oleander might be a preferred alternative to such a dismal life. I think of the poor children whose parents never pay them a compliment, never grant a hug, only negative all the time. Ugh! This world just needs to end...
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Tom Woody
Date: 4/20/2025 9:19:00 AM
Haha, yes just the bad
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/20/2025 8:04:00 AM
Gosh, thats a scary thought,to want for the world to end: i wish for the bad to end, yes there may be some parents who dont spend time with their children in a loving manner and i feel for them too, but i hope for a better long life with loved ones. And i wish the same for you! Always appreciate your kind comments
Date: 4/19/2025 10:50:00 AM
This Ink Empress is the reason for gothic or dark poetry, It allows the poet to express profound emotional state, reflecting the poet’s ability to encapsulate her pain and sorrow within, imagery and symbolism convey ‘coiled confusion’ and ‘a dark romance’ What? “with ceaseless critique~ as if I am a sacrilegious sin~ no longer your muse, but a blistering burden” Never, who would do such a thing? With your magnanimous demeaner and tenacious attribute you have changed bitter into better, and nice into sweeter and I thank you for that~ Great entry!
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/20/2025 9:33:00 AM
Thank you yes i used to write dark rants more, but somethings in life made me go lighter, i appreciate your detailed thoughtful and appreciative comment and what youv said also about my presence here is very kind: altho i never think of it that way: i always hope to give what i think is best. I am always grateful for your kindness!
Date: 4/19/2025 8:51:00 AM
I was knocked sideways with this read Ink - such power in "poisoning my poetic pulse with ceaseless critique~ as if I am a sacrilegious sin~ no longer your muse, but a blistering burden" and "breathing elegies for a dark romance long deceased" then the sadness of the closing lines "cradled in the dust of distress, forevermore" left me almost shouting no at my screen! Best of luck in the contest with this thrill ride!
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/21/2025 11:20:00 AM
It is indeed a big deal to get this high praise from you really! Thank you so much haha i felt like i scared many with this poem glad i didnt scare few. So grateful for this uplifting comment
Date: 4/19/2025 7:19:00 AM
Exploring themes of inner conflict,loss,and the quest for meaning amid suffering.Deep and profound..Wish the best.
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/21/2025 10:31:00 AM
Thank you so much for understanding the essence of this poem. Grateful truly
Date: 4/19/2025 7:07:00 AM
We are, in our human form, a conglomerate of dark and light expression -- for my often contrary views on the subject of spirituality, I fear I would have been burned at the stake in the not so distant past. Certain some loving Christians here would like to take me back in time. This is a great and honest exploration of feelings and soulful being. Just my immediate reaction to your musing, probably different from yours and others. "a phantom ember breathing elegies for a dark romance long deceased..." God loves us...and forgives us, after our realization and then refocused love, no matter how far away we have drifted. This is just speaking for myself. What I have discovered in my life. Probably inferring wrongly and too much as I usually do.
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/21/2025 10:30:00 AM
What a profound comment dear joe, this poem is about heartache, and sometimes dark romance can be for “ toxic relationships” not a sinful one. And your comments are always so detailed and thoughtful! I appreciate them always!
Date: 4/19/2025 6:57:00 AM
Stunning forboding imagery IE, malignant memories best forgotten, not an easy thing to do though. Best of luck in the contest and enjoy your weekend. Tom
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/21/2025 10:29:00 AM
Thank you so much dear tom for always being so supportive
Date: 4/19/2025 6:40:00 AM
I love the way you have used the extended metaphor of plants and other natural phenomena to anchor the poem. This is a feast for the senses and a (disturbing) delight to read and be savoured.
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/21/2025 10:28:00 AM
Thank you dear suzette, haha disturbing delight love the word pairing there! Always grateful for your visits
Date: 4/19/2025 6:27:00 AM
An unrepentant "sacrilegious sinner~..." would never be allowed inside heaven's gates. This kind of dark writing goes so against the grain of what I know of you, Ink. We all suffer chaos in our hearts from time to time. No one is exempt, but if it's dark Sara wants, you've gifted her with it in this one.
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/21/2025 10:28:00 AM
Awwn thank you dear linnersz, yes sara the queen of darkness as you might know by now, wants dark i assumed, so i gave her dark, hopefully she appreciates this take. Always grateful for your comments
Date: 4/19/2025 5:00:00 AM
Would it be too much of a cliché to say what amazing imagery? You have a gift. Oops, did it again!
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Ink Empress
Date: 4/21/2025 10:26:00 AM
Thank you so much hah, your comments are fun! Appreciate your support dear keith
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Keith D Trestrail
Date: 4/20/2025 9:20:00 PM
Yikes! I had to Google that.
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Tom Woody
Date: 4/19/2025 12:55:00 PM
You and Britney!
Date: 4/19/2025 4:20:00 AM
Loved reading this as always
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