Dust on the Ground
Written, August 11, 2026, For Poetry Challenge: One-Syllable Words
Rules: All words should be one syllable.
August 10- August 16, 2026
*************
The cold night sweeps in,
the stars hide; the sky dulls—
wind hurts deep,
and dust coats the ground.
Pain is a wide cut,
weighs the heart—
with more beat,
tears fall slow,
while eyes weep.
Hope sparks bright,
warm lights rise—
hands stay tight,
dreams lift, then drift,
and fade from sight.
Light breaks dawn,
arms reach out—
peace moves soft,
home leans near
love finds its way—
and stays true.
They say destiny is written in stars,
Everything from your triumphs to your scars.
So I stand on pedestal, gazing at dark skies,
Trying to find a reason for another try.
My legs get weary and they shiver,
Somewhere, my hope also quivers.
I try to support my head as tears fall down,
While in despair, I try not to drown.
The soil beneath gets salty from my tears,
Perhaps my hope was shattered in a haze of fears.
But then again, hope, is addictive and fierce,
Like sunlight through stormy clouds, it knows how to pierce.
I again look up to find my destiny written in stars,
As I try to find the counts of triumphs and scars,
Maybe it’s written that I will reach for the stars,
Only when I battle unafraid of the scars.
The tears fell and fell and fell
You would think my face was raining
It started at 4am and went on from there
No-one will ever understand my life
That is okay, but I could cry rivers
Hopefully, the ocean will welcome my tears
with open arms and bring stunning glory
All will finally be erased in a fulfilling way
I will move on a changed person and at peace
I will be what I search and strive for daily
I wish no complex turmoil like this on anyone
I wish for happiness, love, and fun for everyone. If only we could all hold hands and smile!
Heidi Sands
3/9/26
(C)opyright
I am in that in-between space
where nothing matters
yet everything does.
So much noise around me
while something quietly died inside.
Is it a magnetic frequency?
Misplaced energy?
Not to speak in codes—
I simply do not know anymore.
Surrounded by many,
yet still lonely.
Never truly understood.
No support from anyone.
Are we alone in this universe?
Do we pray to a God who does not exist,
or one who chooses not to listen?
Sometimes
I feel like a broken-winged Pegasus.
Will my wing ever mend?
Will I ever fly from this cliff—
to admire the stars
as the calming wind touches my face,
soaring higher
while the valley grows smaller below?
Tears run to my lips
as I watch the sun setting,
feeling the warmth of its fading glow.
At least that is what I imagined
for a wounded warrior
praying for days
of peaceful existence.
I still wonder—
will it have
a happy ending?
Pestilence rushes in like a river,
My heart beats faint,
My eyes run dry,
My frail body trembles,
Yet still, I refuse to die.
When my sun sinks beyond the hills,
I shall see Him,
And all will be well.
At His feast,
My hunger will he satisfy,
My tears will he wipe,
My wounds will he bind.
The past—just a shadow forgotten,
A new dawn will rise.
But for now,
I embrace my pain with a smile.
I thought I understood I thought I knew but the truth is I don't and I didn't. sometimes I wish I could disappear do you ever feel that way?
sometimes I wonder if anyone would care if I die,
there's a few people who would.
sometimes I wonder if my family would be better without me,
that's just the depression and stress talking you know as much as they can be disappointed in you they still love you.
sometimes I wonder if I have any friends who care about me,
I can happily say you have at least 4 who care and one of those people is your boyfriend.
what would happen if I never got out of bed again?
sometimes you just need a hug some confidence maybe you are loved even if you don't feel like it there is at least 1 person who would care if you died.
sometimes you just need to look past the bad things in your life and realize you'll be okay even if it doesn't feel like it.
The days are coming
that will be daunting for all
hopelessness beckons.
____________________
There's this prayer in my heart
Chanting everyday like I can't live without
Consuming my mind, my body and soul
Silently taking control of my whole.
There's this King in heaven who has promised me peace
So I take all my troubles and leave it at his feet
Those silent cries, of course he hears
Those hardened vows, I have to adhere.
But my feet are shaking, my hope is failing
This prayer has lasted so long, my heart is aching
Yes, I believe all that he has promised
But I can no longer control my pulses.
At my lowest and wretched state, I still look into the sky
Waiting for a glimpse of hope not minding the price
He can never forsake his beloved, at least I believe so
But never the less, don't forsake my loyal soul as I wait in one glimpse of silence with great faith untold.
Passed the setting sun,
is the inevitable —
The unknown,
The necessity,
The silence,
after the last word spoken,
The way the room forgets
your laughter,
your pain —
Over time, the door closes
and the walls exhale your name,
Collecting dust,
to settle in your place.
I can't do this anymore. I can't be me anymore. This is not a cry for help. This is not for empathy, but a sadly tragic epiphany that I'm endlessly falling too relentlessly with myself. But I am not a martyr. You are not my sins. Just an unknowing silent audience. But my epiphany is not of an ending. It's of a new beginning. A rise in the tide and my broken spirit and thoughtful mind finally decide that I am worth it. And I'm about to be a God they have not unearthed yet. So keep words soft spoken, as my mind begins to open and I finally become the person that I myself have chosen.
The self-whirling storm blows over the placid surface
of the wilderness encompassing my deserted life.
Unaware of the niche of bliss nestling in my heart,
I fail to discover the oasis of the gentle ambiance,
not until the debris of the wrecked lives I witness
crushed in the tempest of the tormenting times.
The teary faces of starving children on the pavement,
the stony eyes of mothers who lost their children,
the silent sighs of the destitute resigned to destiny,
all crowd in my arid wasteland with poignant pathos,
yearning to find in the quietude of their suffering
the ever-flowing fountain of divine benevolence.
Garnering the grace of God in the sanctum of soul,
the reservoir of generous humane feelings I empty
to assuage the pain of those hurt under the fallen sky,
convey God’s eternal blessing of sanguine solace
to kindle hope in the dark abyss of anguished hearts
with the consoling candle of compassion.
I’m overjoyed perceiving how positively
the deranged course of life stream can be changed
by the overwhelming power of kindness.
.
Saw your heart
Shattered in a million pieces
By the past
I wanna just try to understand
Saw the pain in ur eyes
And I know
we can’t put back the pieces
A puzzle that’s will always remain incomplete
I am your present
Can’t make the past disappear
I will just try to do everything
To make that smile come back
Even it’s for a little while
Just want to heal you
Being with you
Living the moment
Wishing it will go on forever
Fourtle Poetry Contest //Sponsored by: Charles Messina
Contest Judged: 9/21/2025 8:25:00 PM
( 2nd Place )
Written: September 15, 2025
Bright star, shine far
Deep scar, leaves mar
Drenched in tears, I wrench in response to the pain I sense.
Caused by wrong desirers, walls, guards, and the electric fence.
Put here to stop free choice by man,
To keep him from becoming all that he can.
To hold imprisoned, crushing hopes and dreams.
To in flick hurt and pain, I can hear the screams.
Today, though they’ve been torn to their foundation,
They, once again, become a free people nation.
They now have hopes and dreams, both the young and old.
Thanks to many that died and many that were bold.
The challenges will be hard, but their hearts are filled,
With a burning desire, their lives to rebuild.
Pain holds its insistence pressed against me.
I dream of a misty, selfless new morn ~
soft as maternal skin ~
easing me free with a true smile
to greet a
sweet day born!
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