It must have been April when we both strayed
Vindictive, I refused to warm fire’s glow
When livid words raged... triggering my ire
Though pleading sorry, I shunned Kate’s hello.
Yet at nights when laughter used to ripple,
I knew burning bridges kept us apart ,
And missed all our years graced by kinship's bliss;
Enduring rain and snowstorm of life's chart
On Kate’s doorstep I knocked to mend this rift...
How my eyes burned like splinters of dark ray;
She had gone -- far off--- my closure too late
A void bitter ... oh on her natal day.
Isn’t our life a clever game of chess,
Where chance and actions equally pay
We can’t approach life like a naïve amateur
Each move be cautious for success to pave way
Some ties, though broken need to be mended
When a crack forms, it can be fixed with cement
Every dissension or hurt do not deserve goodbye
With a little effort, some bonds, we can easily mend
When ego masquerades as dignity or self- respect
One is hesitant for a compromise or reconciliation
A humble word or a kind gesture can heal a hurt
They can easily pave way for instant reparation.
Some relationships are extremely toxic,
Where one longs for a permanent liberation.
There, the bridge is to be burnt down,
Without any qualms or the slightest hesitation.
Life is all a question of sound selection.
If one makes choices that are dependable
One can effortlessly chart one’s way to success
Mend fences worthy and burn bridges ignoble.
With every word spoken in flame,
We burnt our bridges, played the game.
Letters to ash,
Actions too rash,
The ravine is widening, we can't turn back
Our past is broken, now we fear attack.
Burn or mend.
Instead let's speak words with grace,
Bridging the gap, reclaiming our place.
Letters take form,
Actions preform,
No turning back, it's not just a bridge rebuilt,
But a mended past, from all of our guilt
I have no desire to mend the fences,
life is now lived in past tenses:
heartbreaker
joy taker
misery maker
I was told don’t burn those bridges,
trouble only comes in smidges:
pitches
switches
stitches
The stars are not arranged for comfort,
but to sparkle, shine and extort:
take chance
moon dance
romance!
Carry on my wayward son
there’ll be peace when you are done*
life gives
love lives
forgives.
*Kerry Livgren
Mend the fences they will say,
give forgiveness as you pray.
Is there a smile in the suns bright ray?
Maybe I do not want a pretty flower bouquet.
I think you should be on your way,
fly out of my life like a blue jay.
I do not want to mend this fence today,
you bring me clouds of gray.
I want only a happy day,
make it fast with no delay
AUTHOR'S NOTE
This poem is inspired by the true story of poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. Bedridden and isolated, Elizabeth received a letter from Robert that began, "I love your verses with all my heart." Over 20 months they exchanged 574 letters that mended her fear and gave her life back.
574 LETTERS
Elizabeth lay bedridden in a lonely room,
A wounded bird behind walls of gloom.
Then came a letter, soft as a spell,
_"I love your verses with all my heart" Robert would tell.
A crack of light filled her cage of fear,
Whispers of love drove the mist from here.
574 letters crossed the night,
Mending her wings with gold and light.
Like lilies that grew in abandoned ground,
Her broken life to heaven was bound.
He didn’t burn the past or the pain,
He wrote her hope till she lived again.
So mend, don’t burn. Write, don’t run.
Love can heal anyone, anyone.
Mend white fences until you see
Harm in lies neglect denim deceit
As one crying wolf in dark night surprise
Is beast in sheep clothing evil disguise
I tend to lend empathetic emerald ear
Until there’s a reason for caution fear
Narcissistic people cause much pain
Drop them they’re toxic as acid rain
Then burn those bridges fire red
Don’t forget they get in your head
With twisted hearts and black greed
Don’t be a victim instead break free
I don't think u can fix it
I'm ripped apart by the stains I spilled
I tried to clean it up
shoved and smeared
into a mess of something I wished we could've had
I want brand new
not left outside
to sink into the clump of regret
not left outside, letting the whole world know it's damaged
that we let it fall apart
Im sitting here waiting for someone to fix it
an object left to wait on the side of the world
a piece of myself exposed to everyone
Can u even attempt to see who I was before all I became?
What if you can't fix me?
Where will I end up if I let them take me away
If I continue to let them use me like they can't tell im not the same
until I no longer serve my purpose and am replaced
I don't think u can fix me
throw me back on my side of this place we used to love
and continue to pretend im fine
All the tape and bandages aren't going to mend this broken heart ~
When you abandoned me without goodbye you tore my world apart.
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
Vaults of wealth, goodwill
Grabbed fistful, spill o'er like sand.
No one's worried still.
Sweeter are found fruits in hand,
And sour, higher up to fend.
Mocks a mocking bird:
Not grapes, sour seem ways to mend,
Change ere sour turns curd.
_______________________
Tanka (Senryu) | 08.11.2025 | bird, change, fruits, goodwill, wealth
Note: Wealth and goodwill when invested and nurtured would yield well. But man’s first instinct is to grab like a miser. For, grapes are sour if too high to fetch. A mockingbird mocks in this Tanka.
I just had a thought
and I'm thinking of her
pulling the strings
tugging at my heart
running rings
'round my emotions
now I'm wondering
where it will end
and if once broken
will it ever mend
as she cracked the code
broke the lock
giving rise
to a state of shock
I'll never be the same
but I'm to blame
as I opened the door
then hoping to win
opened my arms
and let her in
When love fades, and hearts grow apart,
Words left unspoken, tears in the dark.
Memories linger, whispers in the night,
Aching souls yearning for lost light.
In the depths of sorrow, tears softly sigh,
Whispers of pain, echoes in the sky.
Lost in the shadows of a heart torn apart,
In the symphony of sadness, healing must start.
Time will mend what once was torn,
New paths emerge from feelings worn.
Embrace the sorrow, let it be,
For in the end, you'll again be free.
Poetry Form: Limerick
Sponsor: Joseph May
Date: June 14, 2025
A crow on a wire watched me cry,
He cawed at the clouds in the sky.
“You break, then you mend,
But the hurt doesn’t end—
Just learn how to smile when you lie.”
Into me
A voyage
To discovery
Oh what strength lies ahead
Ain't afraid
Ain't ashamed
Out there searching
Forgetting the past
So focused on the future
Where skies will never gray
I part ways with my inner demons
Cast them aside like I was once
A brand new me
In the flesh
Don't judge
Don't criticize
I'll stand here
Till you see all you are missing
I might not be the cutest
The most gifted
But I am inspiration
I am my own interpretation
I struggle and fall
I always get up
I will continue on despite you
I am everything you are still searching for
Perfectly broken till we mend.
Best way to mend a broken heart:
To fall in love again, make new start.
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