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Tears When My Fingers Hurt - a Collaboration With James Swartz

When my fingers hurt 
the pain binds and forms 
at the base of my greatest fear

I never knew fear
Until it knocked on my door
So fierce that 
What words were on the tip of my tongue 
Are drying up into dust in my mouth 

The taste that lingers a lifetime 
a sickness summoned for the saints 
to strafe the fear growing inside the soul

My heartbeat escalates to full speed
But my body is numb to the floor
And my mind is in a twirling tornado 
Tears of fear rush down into streams

When my fingers hurt and I can not write 
this fear beckons to my mind 
as I use the verbs to clear the nerves

Can you hear the drops of my tears
Drumming to the beat of my fear

Copyright © Akkina Downing | Year Posted 2017

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Paul Callus Date: 4/16/2018 4:05:00 PM An excellent collaboration, Akkina & James. Most of us have experienced fear of the known or the unknown, but few can express it so well in poetic language. Isn't the fear of not being able to write also heart wrenching! Best Regards // paul Login to Reply

Robert Lindley Date: 12/16/2017 9:58:00 AM TRULY SUPERB POETRY WRITTEN IN HARMONY AS IF ONE VOICE! Congratulations to you both on creating this wondrous and inspiring piece my friends! A fav..... Login to Reply

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 11/30/2017 8:20:00 PM Congratulations to both of you on having this wonderful poem honored for POTD! : ) Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/30/2017 8:33:00 PM Our appreciation for your sweet comment Ms. Connie :) thank you so much! Hugs and smiles :)

Silent One Date: 11/28/2017 3:04:00 PM Congrats on POTD to both of you.. Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/28/2017 3:45:00 PM We thank you so much Silent One... hugs and smiles always :)

Eve Roper Date: 11/27/2017 10:14:00 PM Congratulations on POTD, Akkina & James. Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/28/2017 10:12:00 AM James and I thank you Eve, we appreciate your comment :) hugs and smiles :)

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 11/27/2017 2:13:00 PM - Congratulations to both of you :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/27/2017 2:31:00 PM We thank you so much dear Anne... hugs and smiles :)

Arturo Michael Date: 11/27/2017 12:22:00 PM There's a lot of fear there my dear...Really nice poetic expressions used in this poem...Congratulations to both of you... Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/27/2017 12:45:00 PM James and I appreciate your support dear Arturo. We thank you so much... hugs and smiles :)

Freddie Robinson Jr. Date: 11/27/2017 11:02:00 AM Simply beautiful poetry, Akkina and James. Classic line ... Can you hear the drops of my tears drumming to the beat of my fear. Kudos for POTD. Love and more love forever. Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/27/2017 12:43:00 PM You made me smile and happy with your sweetest comment. Thank you so much dearest Freddie. Your support means a great deal to us.... hugs and smiles

Tracy Storrier Date: 11/27/2017 9:36:00 AM Excellent poem, thank you both x Congratulations on POTD Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/27/2017 12:42:00 PM Awe thank you so much Tracy. Hugs and smiles :)

Vijay Pandit Date: 11/27/2017 7:11:00 AM Congrats to you Akkina and James--well deserved pick for the POTD!! Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/27/2017 12:40:00 PM James and I appreciate your support Vijay. Thank you so much! Hugs and smiles :)

Maria Williams Date: 11/27/2017 7:00:00 AM I am so happy to see this as POTD . Congratulation you two Akkina and James....Maria xxx Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/27/2017 12:39:00 PM We are so honor for this and truly grateful. Thank you so much my lovely and sweet friend Maria. Always happy and appreciate your support ... hugs and smiles :)

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart Date: 11/27/2017 6:19:00 AM Fantastic pen you two! Congratulations on potd :) xomo x2! Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/27/2017 12:36:00 PM James and I thank so much Maureen, we truly appreciate your support :) hugs and smiles :)

Susan Ashley Date: 11/27/2017 5:25:00 AM Akkina and James, returning with congratulations for POTD honors for this awesome collaboration. Warmest wishes always.. Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/27/2017 12:35:00 PM James and I are very happy for your super lovely comment my dearest Susan :) thank you so much..hugs and smiles :)

Winged Warrior Date: 11/27/2017 3:43:00 AM Wow!...what a wonderful collab Akkina and James...And Congrats on POTD!!!...my friends...god bless...*WW* Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/27/2017 12:30:00 PM "WW" we thank you so much, I am smiling a white one :) hugs and smiles my dear friend :)

Tim Smith Date: 11/26/2017 5:42:00 PM A lovely dance you two...I like it Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/26/2017 6:41:00 PM Awe, thanks so much Tim, we truly appreciate your support... hugs and smiles :)

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 11/26/2017 1:03:00 PM - A great co-write from both of you ... with ink and tears - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/26/2017 3:02:00 PM James and I thank you very much, Anne... hugs and smiles :)

Edward Mccall Date: 11/26/2017 8:04:00 AM What an amazing collaboration by the two of you. as someone who suffers from cronic back pain I can relate to this poem. I have shed those tears my self. Well done you two well done into my faves it goes. Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/26/2017 8:46:00 AM James and I thank you my dear friend Ed. We really appreciate your support... hugs and smiles :)

Silent One Date: 11/26/2017 5:55:00 AM Tears are silent, because they cleanse the soul from all the pain.. This is very deep and emotional.. An excellent collaboration by the both of you.. Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/26/2017 6:43:00 AM James and I thank you very much. Your support means very much to us... hugs and smiles :)

James Edward Lee Sr. Date: 11/25/2017 6:35:00 PM Akkina & James, as I've told another poetess I love collabs and duets. Stellar write. Keep doing what you do. wonder verse. ---James :) Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/25/2017 8:16:00 PM We thank you kindly ,James :)

Susan Ashley Date: 11/25/2017 1:14:00 PM Wow! Such a sensational write Akkina and James with memorable lines and wonderfully 'anxious' imagery. Your styles blend smoothly together in your intimate poem of fear and anxiety and your last two lines are brilliant A great collaboration! Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/25/2017 3:10:00 PM James and I thank you my lovely and fine lady poetess friend :) xoxo

James Swartz Date: 11/25/2017 12:10:00 PM Thank you Akkina for writing this with me. It was fun and i think it came out great! Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/25/2017 3:07:00 PM It was really fun james and thank you so much... hugs and smiles :)

Joseph May Date: 11/25/2017 9:14:00 AM I like how you "use the verbs to clear your nerves"...Very nice collaboration Akkina and James Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/25/2017 3:06:00 PM James and I thank you Jospeh very much... hugs and smiles :)

Maria Williams Date: 11/25/2017 7:36:00 AM Well written Akina and James - a seamless write - I cannot tell who wrote which part. Well done, you have poignantly portrayed the fear of loss in the poem - a great collaboration my dear friend ...Maria xxx Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/25/2017 3:05:00 PM Thank you my dear Maria, we appreciate your lovely comment. Means a lot! Hugs and smiles :)

Jan Allison Date: 11/25/2017 7:32:00 AM you portray fear and anxiety so brilliantly, a fabulous collaboration Akkina and James:-) hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Akkina Downing Date: 11/25/2017 3:04:00 PM Thanks so much Jan... hugs and smiles :)