Ink Empress Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

For the contest " how are you feeling " by Seth Pina

Paper Protest

I slow danced with my scars,
tracing tiny specks of mourning stars,
as traumatized tissue
beneath a translucent sky translates
the skin of tortured twilight ~
the truth I hide behind
metaphors of melancholy,
like a heart carved from granite and grey.

Come and see,
for this poetic flame
keeps rising in sync with regrets
and timeworn memories,
where insomniac ink releases
3 a.m. sighs to heal in solitude,
amidst every scribbled sentence
that screams in desolate diction,
turning the page into a rage room
of storms and ghosts ~
a paper protest
against darkness and demons…

~ my reality, the push and pull,
  of torment and tolerance, 
        of pain and patience ~ 

So allow my soul to sew silver linings
with half-stitched seams
in skeletal silence ~
unconcerned, unaffected
by snakes slithering through
the haze beneath the sun…

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Victor Buhagiar April 4, 2026 at 4:09 AM We live our lives in pain and patience. What a great pot you are, Ink Empress. Such emotions and imagery makes it one of the best poems posted here. Silver lineings are important. Ink Empress April 5, 2026 at 1:21 PM Awwn thank you so very much dear Victor for your kind and empathetic response, im truly grateful for all your support. Sending you light always

Justin Bordner April 3, 2026 at 12:45 PM A snake spoke to a girl about water in the eyes and why fire dies, she didnt know that source of fire is love and that the purpose of eye water is to cleanse the flesh of fear, so when her love fire fell low she didn't know that the pain water would will the wisdom of love to leave the waste of ashen anguish, the serpent said to her...tears of fire become the diamond water of the wise...J.A.B. Ink Empress April 5, 2026 at 1:24 PM Dear Justin, I read this couple of times to fully grasp the philosophical depth of what youv conveyed here in comments so poetically too, how inspiring and uplifting, thank you for your empathetic response, im truly grateful, sending you light always!

Silent One April 3, 2026 at 10:45 AM Wow...I really loved this poem and how bled your emotions onto screen.. You leave me speechless expressing your angst... I can relate to so much of what you have written here.. I have been dancing with my scare since birth and that is why i can empathise with your words.. it all about push and pull.... sadly people dont look at themselves, that is why they blame each other, so that is why so much is lost in the silence.... and lets not get started on those snakes and the fakes around us... TC... Ink Empress April 5, 2026 at 1:27 PM Thank you so much, silent one for your encouraging feedback and kind response, its never easy, what you’ve shared in comments here. You are very strong. Its always a pleasure hearing from you. Sending you light always. Stay blessed

Karen Jones April 3, 2026 at 2:47 AM Oh Inky! The imagery the way you put this together makes it another masterpiece! Thanks so much for sharing this gem! Congratulations on your win! Ink Empress April 5, 2026 at 1:31 PM Awwn dear karen beautiful soul, thank you for visiting me and for blessing me with your poetic warmth! I appreciate you sincerely always! Sending you light always

Lin Lane April 2, 2026 at 7:53 PM As long as a poet can hold a pen, they can create a silver lining, even when darkness seems to have no end. That spark of home is the flame that will ward off our gloom and keep those slithering snakes at bay. Ink, our paper protests are symbols of hope. Ink Empress April 5, 2026 at 1:32 PM Thank you for such a poetic response dear linnersz, im grateful to have your support and kindness and understanding of it all! Sendinf you light today and always

Paula Goldsmith April 2, 2026 at 12:33 PM WOW!!! Your "Paper Protest" is so powerful from the first line to the last line. I enjoyed reading your very creative work. Have a Beautiful/Blessed Easter writing away............. Ink Empress April 5, 2026 at 1:34 PM Thank you sweet paula! You are truly a gem! Appreciate you always . Sending you light always

Daniel Henry Rodgers April 2, 2026 at 10:41 AM Dear Empress, framing the page as a "rage room" oh, that visceral necessity of getting thoughts out when they feel like "traumatized tissue." Painful! I personally know that there is a gritty realism in the "3 a.m." and "half-stitched" because it makes the act of writing feel less like a creative choice and more like a survival tactic. And sometimes I am in survival mode. I just love reading your verses! A Fav! Blessings, Daniel Ink Empress April 5, 2026 at 1:35 PM Awn dear daniel! Its so good to see you here in comments after a long time! I havent been on much but i will read you shortly. Thank you so much for your kind and empathetic response! Sending you light always

David Kavanagh April 2, 2026 at 8:36 AM This is heavy duty Ink, I hope this was just a one off bad night being described with amazing metaphor, such darkness is palpable, you have every right to (paper protest) against it, by penning a beautiful piece of poetry, so go ahead and sew silver linings even if only half stitched, sending you good vibes for today and the contest, cheers David Ink Empress April 5, 2026 at 1:35 PM Awn dear david! Some of my poems are heavy haha. I do also write rants some times but never post here as it could be too much. I appreciate your visits always! You are so kind! Sending you light always

Tom Cunningham April 2, 2026 at 5:14 AM Quite an emotional write IE, we all suffer trauma in our lives and we just have to try and rise above it. Better days are coming and the sun always shines. Good luck in the contest. Tom Ink Empress April 5, 2026 at 1:40 PM Thank you dear Tom for your unwavering support, i am always grateful! Truly. You always are so kind and supportive. Sending you light always

Andrea Dietrich April 2, 2026 at 2:06 AM Just as I expected. A poem oozing with imagery the likes of which I could never imagine to come up with myself. I like how you kept this briefer than usual , making all your lines feel connected to the main themes of melancholy, rage and the trying to balance contrasting feelings in the end. You do suffer and I hope you can keep yourself unconcerned about the metaphorical slithering snakes . I really relate to your insomnia. My favorite part of your poem . Ink Empress April 2, 2026 at 2:26 AM Awwn thank you my sweet soul aunt! This one was cathartic, writing. I appreciate you as you are one the most experienced poets in this entire universe hahah! (Im so cringey i know) but im made that way! I heart you sweet andrea!

Lioness Onpaper April 2, 2026 at 1:23 AM I slow danced with my scars,ooooo damn that is sexaaaaaay!! tracing tiny specks of mourning stars,… my goodness!! beneath a translucent sky translates the skin of tortured twilight .. just take my lungs papi damn!!! You got me gasping air with this gorgeousness.. turning the page into a rage room of storms and ghosts .. the way you make me move whn I read ur piece… unaffected by snakes slithering through the haze beneath the sun… ooooo this ending is damn powerful!!!! I love every line on this piece !!!! Ink Empress April 2, 2026 at 1:31 AM My comment flashed out hahb thank u papi u funny hahah