When the Soul Wrestles with Light

(Sijo 1 – Pattern: 14 / 14 / 16)
1. In the quiet hours of fear, I whisper prayers I cannot voice (14)
2. Shadows gather at the edges, testing the thin walls of my faith (14)
3. Yet a small spark rises within, insisting even trembling hope still counts (16)

(Sijo 2 – Pattern: 16 / 14 / 14)
4. My heart wages hidden battles, torn between surrender and belief (16)
5. Every doubt circles like a wolf, seeking a weakness in my spirit (14)
6. But courage stands guard, steady, guarding the threshold of my mind (14)

(Sijo 3 – Pattern: 14 / 16 / 14)
7. I walk the valley of silence, waiting for answers to descend (14)
8. Faith does not always thunder sometimes it arrives as a breath, a hush (16)
9. And in that hush I rise again, learning that strength begins small (14)

(Sijo 4 – Pattern: 14 / 14 / 16)
10. When despair claws at my ribs, I lift my face to morning light (14)
11. Though the night left wounds behind, dawn stitches them with gentleness (14)
12. And I stand new, knowing faith survives every storm that tries to drown it (16)
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025


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Date: 12/3/2025 3:44:00 PM
Congrats on your placement, Amahle. I’m delighted ! Well done. I c your soup mail is not activated yet. Perhaps you should mail admin to find out why. I need to send you a mail.Lotsa love,Ghairo.x.
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Amahle Ayabongwa Dlamini
Date: 12/5/2025 10:08:00 AM
Thank you so much, Ghairo your words mean a lot to me! I truly appreciate the support and the love. I didn’t realize my soup mail wasn’t activated yet, but I’ll reach out to admin and sort it out. Thanks for letting me know. Lots of love back to you!
Date: 12/2/2025 7:30:00 AM
I am sure that this one is a good one but the telling what it is, and the syllable counts on there is so distracting to me. Congratulations on being featured on homepage today. Sara K
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Amahle Ayabongwa Dlamini
Date: 12/5/2025 10:14:00 AM
Thank you so much, Sara. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my work and share your thoughts. I understand what you mean about the notes and syllable counts I’ll definitely keep that in mind going forward. And thank you for the congratulations, it truly means a lot.
Date: 12/2/2025 5:59:00 AM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Welcome to Poetry Soup. I welcome you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
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Amahle Ayabongwa Dlamini
Date: 12/5/2025 2:38:00 AM
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my poem and share such thoughtful words. I truly appreciate the warm welcome to Poetry Soup. Your message and the verse you shared mean a lot. Wishing you blessings as well, and thank you for spreading kindness through your faith and your words.
Date: 11/29/2025 11:49:00 PM
Hi, Amahle ! I’m pleased to meet you here. I don’t c a soup mail icon next to your name ~ I’m not sure why. So I’m writing this here. If this lovely poem is for the contest, soup mail the sponsor to ask if the lines & pattern no. must be specified. I don’t think so. Ask him before submitting or to edit & resubmit. Love y’a, Ghairo. X.
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Amahle Ayabongwa Dlamini
Date: 12/1/2025 5:29:00 AM
Hi Ghairo Thank you so much for reaching out and for noticing the little details I completely missed. I’m not sure why the soup mail icon isn’t showing on my side either, but I really appreciate you taking the time to guide me here. I’ll definitely check with the sponsor about the line and pattern requirements before I submit. Your kindness and clarity honestly make this whole process feel a little less overwhelming. Love and gratitude to you too. Thank you for looking out for me. X
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