Notes About The Poem
Venting or Redemption Poetry Contest
4/3/2026
Sponsor: Seth Pina
I think the saddest part of this process, was spending over 12 hours to write this poem, edit, finalize and post, only to have it not even "show" for the contest. At least it's now getting plenty of views....Thanks!
The Absence of Joy
There is a silence in the house now,
a gentle hush that lingers in the corners,
where laughter used to echo and
her soft voice called my name.
I move through rooms painted with memory,
each wall holding a story she told,
each window framing the world
as she taught me to see it.
Her absence is a shadow that follows me,
in the pale morning light and the drifting dusk.
I search for her in familiar places— the kitchen,
where she stirred soup and comfort;
a chair by the window, where she watched the day pass,
a book half-opened in her lap,
her smile, a quiet warmth that never needed words.
Now, the days stretch wide and hollow,
their edges frayed by longing.
I miss the wisdom she shared in moments
both grand and ordinary,
the gentle touch of her hand on mine,
her eyes shining with pride or concern,
always knowing, always present.
Grief lives in the spaces between breaths,
in the ache of remembering,
in the emptiness that fills my arms where
she once held me.
I speak her name into the stillness,
hoping to hear her answer, but only echoes return,
soft and unyielding.
Yet, in the quiet, I sense her somewhere beyond,
woven into the fabric of who I am,
her love a thread that binds me to everything good.
She was my Mother, and losing her was the saddest
time in my entire life. Even as tears still fall through
the years, I carry her forward, her memory a compass
guiding me, her absence shaping the depths of my
sorrow and the strength of my love.
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
