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The Jagged Edges

J with Four Options Poetry Contest: Free verse 
sponsor :Constance La France 
Date:7/31/25

“Not all pain howls, some sharpens”
by poet


I never asked to come out clean
life carved me raw on purpose 
some parts were shaped in silence
        the rest I had to burn
not all soft things were meant to last    
I watched them melt then vanish
      while I turned thorn to anthem
       and dressed my hurt in steel
you think I cracked but I evolved
I had to break open just to breathe
if I could trace the shape of my breaking
      I might learn what it means to remain
still I stand here not whole but aware
jagged edges still holding what I could
I walk with wounds that never fade  
        but shine beneath the skin
my scars all lines of poetry
the world was too quiet to hear
there’s beauty in the splintered
      when you stop calling it a flaw

Copyright © Brenda Chiri | Year Posted 2025

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Terry Miller Date: 8/21/2025 2:52:00 AM Pain is not merely something to endure but a crucible that remakes the self, giving birth to strength, clarity, and a fierce sense of self. Congratulations Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 8/21/2025 11:16:00 PM Terry thank you and you are so right! It should shape you!:)

Constance La France Date: 8/19/2025 9:24:00 PM Brenda, congratulations on your win in my J With Four Options contest. Your poem is wonderfully penned and I love the quote, Constance Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 8/21/2025 11:15:00 PM Thx so much Constance!:)

Paul Callus Date: 8/9/2025 1:01:00 PM For someone who has had to endure so much 'pain' in life, I am in awe at how you stamp on the past and rise to face the world with strength and vigor, ready to move on despite the scars, but as you say in this striking poem you "shine beneath the skin", dear Brenda! Warm regards // paul Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 8/9/2025 1:13:00 PM Paul you my friend are too kind! But you see if one does not learn from their pain then it will always remain….lol you should always wear your scars with pride because if done right then you learn!;) thank you Paul!

Joseph May Date: 8/5/2025 6:24:00 AM "The thorns and hurt leave scars which become lines of poetry." Very nicely penned Brenda Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 8/6/2025 12:17:00 PM Joseph thanks so much:)

Victor Buhagiar Date: 8/4/2025 11:33:00 PM Great poem. Glad you're back. I've seen some wonderful poems here, but most are still in need of development. Others simply ignore me. Can't be helped. BOL. Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 8/6/2025 12:18:00 PM Ahhh victor this may be true but your poetry is timeless!;)

Gershon Wolf Date: 8/2/2025 9:16:00 PM Remarkable, razor-sharp rebuke to any and all conventional notions -- from one tough customer. ~ gw Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 8/3/2025 11:59:00 AM Gershon! I have missed your work so very much! Thank you my friend!;)

Crystol Woods Date: 8/2/2025 5:52:00 PM Beautiful! Perfect for this contest and could also double for mine... beauty in the eye of the beholder! Xo Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 8/3/2025 11:59:00 AM Thank you Chrystol my thoughts too! Thank you!

Maria Williams Date: 8/2/2025 7:05:00 AM Brenda, this is breathtaking. Every line feels like it was carved from truth and lit by fire. There's such strength in the way you’ve embraced the breaking and turned it into something luminous. “My scars all lines of poetry / the world was too quiet to hear” — that gave me chills. Your voice reminds us that survival is its own kind of art, and that there’s fierce beauty in what the world once called flawed...Hugs Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 8/2/2025 2:09:00 PM It is all about the journey not what that journey is called! It just hit me when I read the titles we got to choose from ;)our journey is never over till we die somtimes we have repeat it until we get it right ;) thanks Maria ! :)

John Hamilton Date: 7/31/2025 9:03:00 AM I have to say Brenda your writing is even better than before, hope this does well in the contest. Fyi brake-break? Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 8/1/2025 3:26:00 AM Me too! I had to go back and add four lines since it was supposed to be 20 lines! I learned from those on another app! It was great fun rappers and poets together if you can believe that! lol! I got there try to write structured poetry but they had no clue so my free verse I fear may have suffered a bit and it was always my favorite! So I truly appreciate your kind words! It does feel good to be back on the soup! It as time for to leave there so I thought what better way then on top! Lol I wrote telling them goodbye and the rappers “goated” me haha! Which in rap is very very high compliment! ;) thank again again John ! Or thanks for the spell check don’t know what I was thinking lol!

John Fleming Date: 7/31/2025 7:20:00 AM Real gritty stuff, Brenda Lee! Love the ending: "there’s beauty in the splintered when you stop calling it flaw". Really good write - enjoyed lots! :) john Login to Reply Brenda Chiri Date: 7/31/2025 7:39:00 AM Well thank you John I do believe you are my biggest fan!;)

Tom Woody Date: 7/31/2025 5:31:00 AM Remarkable free verse with a survival theme. You might like Crystol 's piece - Sisterhood of Scars Login to Reply Tom Woody Date: 8/1/2025 4:55:00 PM She's a gem Brenda Chiri Date: 8/1/2025 3:28:00 AM Tom thx and I did find her it was a very beautiful piece! I told her you sent me lol hope you don’t mind :) Tom Woody Date: 7/31/2025 7:40:00 AM Woods Brenda Chiri Date: 7/31/2025 7:38:00 AM Thank you Tom! Crystol who lol! Sorry I’m just coming back from being gone !:)