Notes About The Poem

This was written for PTSD awareness month.  For millions of people around the world, the most traumatic events of their lives have never ended.

PTSD is a lingering reminder that turns every day into a potential minefield, with flashbacks and triggers potentially hidden around every corner. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month is dedicated to raising awareness about this life-long struggle and the people it affects, and how each of us can help make their lives just a little easier. 

A form of poetry created by poet Robert Keim in 2008. It is a 50-line poem of
short phrases and images. The "Blitz" poem is well-named, as the fifty short
lines are read in rapid-fire fashion. “The form really relies on sound and
rapid "flow." ~Rob Keim.
Here are the rules:
Line 1 should be one short phrase or image (like “build a boat”)
Line 2 should be another short phrase or image using the same first word as the
first word in Line 1 (something like “build a house”)
Lines 3 and 4 should be short phrases or images using the last word of Line 2
as their first words (so Line 3 might be “house for sale” and Line 4 might be
“house for rent”)
Lines 5 and 6 should be short phrases or images using the last word of Line 4
as their first words, and so on until you’ve made it through 48 lines
Line 49 should be the last word of Line 48
Line 50 should be the last word of Line 47
The title of the poem should be three words long and follow this format: (first
word of Line 3) (preposition or conjunction) (first word of line 47)
There should be no punctuation, except for an ellipses after the final two words
in lines 49 & 50.

Vibrations of heart - Blitz with Ink Empress


Can't stop flashbacks
Can't stop vibrations
Vibrations like echoes
Vibrations irritating wounds
Wounds that bleed
Wounds that torment
Torment the mind
Torment emotions
Emotions of guilt
Emotions full of anger
Anger from the past
Anger from shame
Shame that's distressing
Shame that's intrusive
Intrusive images haunt
Intrusive like storms
Storms striking like lightning
Storms louder than thunder
Thunder that's frightening
Thunder causing self-destruction
Self-destruction of the heart
Self-destruction of the mind
Mind acts recklessly
Mind reacts resentful
Resentful with regret
Resentful outbursts
Outbursts misunderstood
Outbursts they generalised
Generalised anxiety
Generalised questions
Questions of sanity
Questions of ability
Ability to stand
Ability to walk
Walk in fear
Walk through a hellish reality
Reality discarded
Reality unseen
Unseen persecution
Unseen war
War with life
War with time
Time is too intense
Time to surrender
Surrender to uncontrollable stuttering
Surrender to my misleading heart
Heart palpitations
Heart is numb flatline
Flatline
Palpitations...
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Singh Avatar
December 11, 2023 at 7:28 PM
Speechless,just wow(?@?_?@?)
Messina Avatar
December 11, 2023 at 4:27 AM
Wow! what an interesting form. I was trying to decipher who wrote which lines, but that doesn't matter. They are all written so well. Great collab...SO and IE!
Rose  Avatar
December 11, 2023 at 4:19 AM
wow done by two of the most talented writers I know here, Congrats, Love xo
Baker Avatar
December 10, 2023 at 10:05 PM
What a wonderful poem to create in such a unique form of poetry, for such a great cause. You both are brilliant. A FAV for my list, my dear friends. Excellent "Blitz" poem. The imagery and descriptions were clear and vivid. Thanks for sharing this form and your unique talents with us, Silent One and Ink Empress. Cheers! my dear friends. Bill
Pandit Avatar
December 10, 2023 at 1:57 PM
I appreciate the theme you and Ink chose--PTSD has been quite common for those who served and their lives are never the same. The form looks complex but you have delivered effectively. Kudos to you and Ink, for highlighting yet another ailment that inflicts so many lives.
Buehler Avatar
December 10, 2023 at 1:22 PM
A powerful, expertly written collaboration on a topic dear to many hearts. This is a form of poetry that's new to me, but I find this effort to be quite impacting. :)
Goldsmith Avatar
December 10, 2023 at 10:51 AM
WOW!!! What a creative/powerful Blitz write/collaboration. Thanks for the information on the top/it was helpful. I enjoy the two of you together. Many are in pain/hurting so be kind to everyone. Have a blessed day...............
Dietrich Avatar
December 10, 2023 at 10:29 AM
You two are in great tune here. I don't know your lines from Ink's. The message is very important, particularly in relation to the atrocious treatment by terrorists, especially near Israel right now. This is a form I generally dislike but you both nailed it.
One Avatar
December 10, 2023 at 11:00 PM
And how do you think the children in Gaza will be feeling?
Manley Avatar
December 10, 2023 at 10:21 AM
Only by dropping completely into left brain, the rational self have I been able to short circuit the horrors of CPTSD. But trauma brings it afresh and anew and grief is the worst. Grief is the red hot slag that pours over everything when you least expect it. This poem hits the mark.
Kelii Kekaula Avatar
December 10, 2023 at 7:52 AM
A wonderful collabaration you folks have concocted here, Silent One and Ink Empress. Very interesting storyline grasping upon the ills of our times, and within our lives and its affects upon us to its drawn conclusion, intense one. Great guys. Aloha, William
Empress Avatar
December 10, 2023 at 7:11 AM
Oh i remember doing this dear silent one you are so sweet and kind to post our collaborations together on soup. Thank you so much for that i was just thinking today of posting our collaboration for endometriosis. You are always the best to write on any subject with. Altho it is challenging i like always a challenge. Thank you for teaching me so many forms and so much. Im still learning from you. I hope many would understand the depth of ptsd and how it can be so difficult.
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