Cast Off Poems

Old Sins Cast Long Shadows

As the Moon rises in the east
barely showing its face above the horizon
the Penumbral Eclipse takes form
heralding the full weight of the time
a new Shadow was about to be cast over me.
Dark has cloaked my deeds up until now.
The Blood Moon enchants with its splendour
and ultimately the reflected light from the Sun 
is embraced by illuminated corners of my heart—
subdued, as it reflects tentative forgiveness
rewarding me for changing my ways.

I’m set in my ways.
I yearn for unconditional forgiveness
of the ingrained dark corners of my heart—
reflecting my own perception of me. 
A Blood Moon stirs fear in the heart
as my darkly disturbing thoughts reveal secrets.
Old shadows are difficult to cast off—
taunted by the recall of lighthearted times.  
When the Penumbral Eclipse faded
remorse latched onto the dark side 
of the moon on its arc to set in the west.

LISTEN to the Wind

LISTEN to the wind, howling like a baying wolf! 
With a high-pitched voice, relentless as it cries.
Circling around the trees in search of prey
Pushing aside the leaves, rattling its chains.
Competing with the rain, as it takes control.
Whistling in jest, as builds and gains more strength.
Boosting momentum with wreaking havoc in mind
Oblivious, to those hiding under cover.
Watching and listening to its awful roar
As it sweeps away any object in its path.
Relentless now, its laugh is evil and loud.
Swirling and sashaying down every path.
Gaily painting a picture of devastation
Relishing in its strength and force of destruction.
A force that no man can tame, once released.
Running amok, as it has its wilful way.
Yet, once winds force is spent, will cast off its demon.
Cool down, taking a gentle calming breath. 
Return to its former refreshing breeze.
Yes, LISTEN to the wind, as it sweetly sighs.

Redemption Through Grace

Father, let the hardened hearts grow soft,
Break chains of sin, lift burdens off.
Let those who wander find their way,
Through mercy’s light of dawn’s new day.

I plead for souls who walk in night,
Let love restore their fading sight.
No wound is greater than Your grace,
No past too dark for You to face.

Through change, O Lord, redeem the lost,
Show them the worth that bore the Cross.
Wash them in rivers, pure and wide,
Hold them forever by Your side.

Let every tear be seed for bloom,
Let every step cast off the gloom.
And bring them home, redeemed, renewed—
Forever bound in love with You.

Wings of the Withered Flame - inspired by Tears of the Dragon

Written: August 14, 2025 for contest Sponsored by: Robert James Liguori

          **********

The wind remembers what I tried to forget—  
a voice in the fire, a name in the rain.  
I stood on the edge of the world I had built,  
watching it crumble, stone by pain.

The dragon I drove was born from fire,    
It flew through the dusk of my silent revolt,  
chasing the ghosts I could never tame,
Its claws were echoes, and its air was dire. 

I cast off the armor, I buried the sword,  
but the war in my chest would not cease.  
Each heartbeat is a drum, each silence a scream,  
each tear a fragment of peace.

The sky opened wide as a wound in the soul,  
And I leapt with no promise of ground.  
The dragon dissolved into vapor and song,  
And I fell where no chains could be found.

Now I walk through the ashes with wings of my own,  
not golden, not whole—but free.  
And the tears of the dragon still fall in my dreams,  
But they no longer belong to me.

To Rise Above Our Age

     She awakened to a world she did not know
        where fair maidens dress the world does show
     their charms in unseemly, wanton pose
        cast off their virtue ere their beauty glows

     Reached for the coach had conveyed her there
        Alas! Her fingers grasped but frightful air
     Lay her down by virgin clearwater brook
        Her reflection gasped, her once-sweet life she took... 

     We fool ourselves we’ll rise above our age
        ~ Best heed the words written 'cross this page

Weighed Down

Sometimes I wonder why I can't move on
From thoughts and feelings weighing down my mind.
I wish I could cast off this awful weight
So I can plan my future and be free.
Perhaps I need to find another path
A different trek so I can start again.
With choices made that keep my mind at peace
Instead of dread that I can't disconnect.

Our inner turmoil locks us in our past
Yet, we're the only ones who can remove.
The strings we weave that then become our ropes
That tie us up preventing our release.
So, as I sit and contemplate my way
If I forgive myself, and then stay true.
Believe I can indeed remove my chains
And never let them weigh me down again.

Molting

Snake whispered,cast off the skin to grow,
life forces you to do the same,
shed old version of yours and flow,
evolve into something,you never tamed.
Do not fear your evolution,even small changes -sparks revolution.
when you are not feeling good enough,
remind yourself how far you have come.

Summer by the Pool

Laying out by the pool, Jules was caught
wearing less than the rules said she aught

She was asked by the cop
why she'd cast off her top

Her reply? "it's s July and I'm hot"

The Sacred Hollow

Need some inspiration?

Title.
The Sacred Hollow.

(A lone voice whispers)

Have you been subtly conditioned to overlook your true potential? 

Does a voice sometimes whisper?
Whether in sleep or in daylight? 

Open your tired eyes wide and reach for the stars. 
See how far you can go. 

Cast off the chains of conditioning 
That appeared as you grew older. 

Be courageous and break free from what you’ve been told. 
Mould a new mindset before you become set in your ways or too old 

Setting an example for future generations to follow, 
Before your spirit returns to The Sacred Hollow. 

(C) Copyright John Duffy

DEAR DANIEL

Dear Daniel, your judgment's swift and keen,
Too quick a glance, a surface scene.
 
Sit down, I pray, and linger near,
Meet the authentic me, cast off all fear.
I'm nothing close, I swear it's true,
To the image that resides in you.
A stranger sketched in shades of doubt,
 
 
A surface seen, the depths left out.
Don't be afraid, there's nothing to dread,
 
Just a heart that longs to be read.
So stay awhile, and let me be,
The truest version, wild and free.
Shed the assumptions, preconceived,
 
And the real me, you'll perceive.
No monster hides, no shadows creep,
Just a soul that's buried deep.

The Shepherd's Diadem

The torment is relieved!
No more the whip and scorn.
Perfection in reprieve
Of agonizing thorns.

No more shall man transgress,
With whip, or fist or thorns.
His head now fitly dressed:
Announced by sounding horns!

All glory to our Lord
Who for mankind prevailed.
He overcame death’s sword
And all that sin entailed.

Cast off Thy carnal crown
Composed of thorny stems!
Put on what jewels surround:
The Shepherd’s Diadem!

Behold His crown of gems!
Glorious the story!
The Shepherd’s Diadem:
But a sparkle of His glory.

Victory Sunday

Bright light pervades the tomb.
Wrappings neatly folded, laid aside.
Perfect Son of Man resuscitates;
Adorned in power and majesty.
Darkness of death irreversibly erased.

Salvation in Christ’s sanctified being.
Lamb -  head-to-heels immaculate.
Brilliance of dayspring greets groom.
Perfume of heaven saturates atmosphere;
The Rose of Sharon satisfies.

Lambent Messiah cast off sin.
His eyes bear no pain,
Nor shade onrushing sun.
Intensity of love and majesty;
Zealous to embrace His victory.

Writing

With my thinking cap on
sometimes too tight
restricting thoughts
or words to write.

Inside my head
a jumbled mess
frustration reins
I must confess.

The words must rhyme
or maybe not
a stitch in time
solutions sought.

Paper drafts
lay everywhere
of idea's cast off
for which I did not care.

Much time is given
for words just right
a poem well written
is now in sight.

The stage is set
time to prepare
with words arranged
I now can share.

In life’s great vessel

In life’s great vessel, we sail on the sea,
Do you trust in wealth that is fickle and free?
False praise surrounds you in your time of cheer,
But when you are gone, your name disappears.

A young man with virtue is cherished and bright,
His knowledge and wisdom will lift him to a height.
Why dwell on deceit or petty affairs?
Let’s cast off the dirt, shed the weight of our cares.

THE MAKING OF US IS NOT RIGHT FOR US-part 1

THE MAKING OF US IS NOT RIGHT FOR US

I am not for that
Though I do not remember giving of suck
From my mother’s breast
I was not made to be drinking, ingesting cow’s milk

THE MAKING OF US IS NOT RIGHT FOR US

Not supposed to was purposeful to eat vegetation
Not raw nor cook burning meat
Processed rephrased chemically altered

Though I be melanin we of the dark persuasion
Not created to be subjected, cast off and enslaved
I for be a King mine soul mate a Queen

THE MAKING OF US IS NOT RIGHT FOR US

I AM of I AM
Not your tool, servant, animal
I AM melanin man
Birthed from the heavens, a temporary visitor
Residencies abiding on vacating world
Where we’re supposed to toil

Not judge by fellow man, not to abuse womb-man
Birth spiritual placed temporal in a vessel
We alive
Only our matter dies
We are incarnate energy
WE Rise
THE MAKING OF US IS NOT RIGHT FOR US


12/16/24
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2024©

• Short Cast Off Poems
• Famous Cast Off Poems
• Best Cast Off Poems
• Read Cast Off Poems
• Long Cast Off Poems
• Cast Off Quotes