Notes About The Poem

Written on August 26th, 2025 with Ink Empress for Robert James Liguori's Tears of the Dragon Contest.

Premiere Contest WinnerTears of the Dragon Collab with Ink Empress

Within the creeping shadows,
do you think you can find me?
Before chaos implodes my soul ~
I’m lost amongst childhood
memories, pounded to ash and dust,
clouding my sight,
as silence stifles my screams.

Whilst rivulets of water collect
around cracked soles,
cold liquid rushes
with each word left unsaid,
rising as foreboding
talons scrape against the ballast
stones of despair.
Spiritual hunger gnaws at my insides,
pain filling a closing throat.

O Helios Flare,
burning the crystalline odyssey,
sailing through sinister sapphires ~
I let my muse
spill cues of clemency,
allowing the salt of stillness
to kiss the bronze bones
beneath my quivering skin.
As I taste the   f   e   a    r   s , 
the trembling turmeric
of the sun I once loved ~
soaked in 
t   e   a   r   s of the dragon,
           for you and for me.

Yet will the green-eyed gales
ever know, ever feel,
the truth I have traced?
The caged nightmare
that bound my gossamer,
leaf-like wings,
taming me to a gruesome game
of bleeding blame and bruises,
as though I were fated
by the blaze of kismet ~
to be the chained dreamer,
drowning in darkness,
choking on unspoken sorrow,
suffocating on splitting stars,
oblivious to the opalescent
shimmers of moonlight
singing within these vain veins…

So tonight, in muted midnight,
I write ~ and I weave ~
swaying to sulfur-laced,
gustless breezes,
all whilst the choir of dead dreams
serenades abounded hopes,
departed in fractured equilibrium.
No longer able to stay
afloat amongst raging riptides
of repressed trauma, I plummet 
into the  seas of tranquility,
   hoping to emerge
           b a p t i z e d  by the
empathetic estuaries
            flowing through heavens...
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Liguori Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Watch out poetry world when two of the best poets get together for a collaboration… stars will shine brighter than ever before. Yes I could tell which stanzas were from who. I absolutely adored your collab… and it was only fitting and necessary to give you both the trophy. Congratulations and I look forward to seeing your poetry, individual and/or together again!!!
Jama Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Thank you so much for giving us both the trophy. I have always enjoyed writing with Ink. Yes our stanzas and style of writing is different but blends well together. Thank you for placing us. Always a pleasure to write for your contests. They are always unique which I like.
Dietrich Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 11:15 AM
A beautiful duet by a beautiful duo. Congrats on the POTD on this collaborative work. Both of you have magic in your pens. Congratulations to you both.
Jama Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Thank you so much Andrea.
Empress Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Apologies for my typos~ long nails ;)
Empress Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Congratulations Sara on POTD, thank you for inspiring me to do this collab by starting the poem to begin with ~ you are a talented poet and you dont need my flowery lines to win any contest. I love this song! And i appreciate robert for placing our collaboration, and altho we cant take halves of this virtual trophy, what matters is the experience ~ you are one of the first i have collaborated with five years ago , on instagram besides silent one, and we have been there for each other through so much! And I am proud to say and assure any one who thinks we are dishonest that, Sara Jama is one of those few authentic poets who deserve more than this virtual trophy as an accolade! Thank you all for reading these comments ~
Empress Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Dear Soupers, Apologies for my absence, I choose to prioritize my health and real life, which requires my attention right now. However I just wanted to thank all those who commented on my collaboration with sara jama, we did this collaboration together as the conrest requirements DO NOT indicate that the poem cant be a collaboration, and it wasnt planned but as Sara is grieving over her nanas death, on her death anniversary, we decided to write TOGETHER! Those who have read my poems would know, which lines are my lines, and which are Saras! Once again, thank you all for commenting and showing me that soupers, there are some of you who remember me still and appreciate me, likewise, I appreciate you all! Sending you all light
Empress Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 10:40 AM
I just said that :D
Jama Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Thank you Ink. Yes we wrote TOGETHER. As we have known each other for 5 years and have both published our own books and I am publishing another one now. We have both wrote for years TOGETHER and separately way before poetrysoup. And those who know us can definitely tell which stanzas are from which person.
Hind Avatar
August 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Sorry...sorry I am belated with POTD Congrats! Ink, where are you? I hope you write more and soon! Sara - this is beautiful, Ink, you both did well together! <3
Jama Avatar
September 4, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Thank you so much.
Goldsmith Avatar
August 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
WOW!!! Dear Sara and Ink, Congratulations on your POTD win. What a write and picture you have here. Love Both... Enjoy your day with your wonderful win.........
Jama Avatar
August 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Thank you so much.
Jama Avatar
August 29, 2025 at 12:18 AM
My love, you and sis created something hauntingly breathtaking here. “Silence stifles my screams” hit me so deeply, and “to be the chained dreamer, drowning in darkness” line lingers in my psyche. The blend of raw emotion and mythic imagery is just stunning. A truly formidable collab from you two besties and a big congratulations for a well-deserved Poem of the Day.
Jama Avatar
August 29, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Thank you so much my love.
Rodrigues Avatar
August 28, 2025 at 2:06 PM
talons scrape against the ballast… sailing through sinister sapphires… the trembling turmeric of the sun…a few bit of fun imagery… Congrats on POTD!
Jama Avatar
August 28, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Thank you so much.
Lane Avatar
August 28, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Sara and Ink... Your lines mesh so beautifully together, as if you shared the same thoughts, the same heart filled with emotions. Congratulations on having your poetic partnership chosen as Poem of the Day. Forgive me for being a day late. Yesterday was a bit of a hassling day for me. Hugs to you both!
Jama Avatar
August 28, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Thank you very much for the kind words.
Nicole Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 7:03 PM
' Within the creeping shadows, do you think you can find me ? Yes, I believe it's possible. I love the picture. Very captivating. I almost feel like I've entered another time and place while ready this. Fascinating indeed. Congratulations Sara and Ink, on Poem of the Day. :) Blessings and hugs, Brandy
Jama Avatar
August 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Thank you for the kind words.
Anaya Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Congratulations on your POTD Sara! You both, impressive collab, Fab!
Jama Avatar
August 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Thank you so much.
Alhemaidy Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 3:40 PM
To both of you :-) Congratulations on your p.o.t.d.
Jama Avatar
August 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Thank you very much.
Kavanagh  Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Congratulations Sara and Ink on your deeply symbolic and evocative POTD, metaphorically off the scale, so much dark, yet beautifully expressed imagery, with perhaps a faint hope of absolution at the end, you both deserve some after this blockbuster, brilliant! Cheers David
Jama Avatar
August 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Thank you for the kind words and feedback.
Gentile Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 1:50 PM
A big congratulations to you both! Enjoy your POTD honors!!
Jama Avatar
August 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Thank you very much.
Baker Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Congratulations on your fine collaboration poem as POTD! Enjoy your special day of recognition. Bill
Jama Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Thank you so much.
Onpaper Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 7:48 AM
I’m lost amongst childhood memories, pounded to ash and dust, clouding my sight, as silence stifles my screams… damn the heaviness!! Spiritual hunger gnaws at my insides, pain filling a closing throat… mmm I’m hungry now !!! I should eat.. burning the crystalline odyssey, sailing through sinister sapphires.. taming me to a gruesome game of bleeding blame and bruises, ooo can’t me through alliterations…what a stunning collaboration.. this piece carries a heavy emotion that beams in such a powerful weave ! Gorgeous!
Jama Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Thank you so much for all the kind words.
Seeker Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Wonderful collaboration, striking imagery, outstandingly penned ~ congratulations on both POTD and the trophy win!
Jama Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Thank you very much.
Etgen-Baker Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 4:16 AM
outstanding imagery, beautifully penned. Congrats on your POTD designation
Jama Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Thank you so much.
Edmonds  Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Wonderful poetry Sara and Ink. Congratulations on having received poem of the day… Beryl
Jama Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Thank you very much.
Kitchin Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Sara, congratulations to you and Ink on POTD, a great poem.
Jama Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Thank you very much.
Liguori Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 12:52 AM
You and Ink make for a wonderful collaboration team! Absolutely fantastic poem. Well deserved trophy win and POTD! Enjoy your time in the sun!!!
Jama Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Thank you for placing us in your contest.
Andresen Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM
- Congratulations on your p.o.t.d., a great poem Sara :) - hugs
Jama Avatar
August 27, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Thank you so much.
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