Clutched jaw, grinding teeth against pulp,
until ash and blood coat a deadened tongue.
The nightsong quiets—a pulsating silence encapsulates the land
as I walk up to a pyre built of withering dreams and deadly nightshade.
The cold, bitter air brushes against protruding flesh.
Looking toward the skies, faith stripped and shamed,
I climb and take my place among my ancestral spirits.
The silence of the night breaks, with chants of *Burn the witch* filling the void.
Leering eyes and foaming mouths scream obscenities my way.
But even among this fanatic freakshow, I hold on to my dignity.
I do not let them see the fear festering beneath my eyes,
nor does my lip quiver.
With insurmountable strength, I hold my head high
as I watch the torches preparing to set me ablaze.
Closing my eyes one final time, I breathe in everything I have ever held dear.
Memories flood—of loves lost and gained,
of the changing seasons,
of my connection to this glorious earth.
I can feel the flames licking at my feet now.
But I will not scream,
for my resurrection will come soon enough.
Categories:
quiets, dark, gothic, imagery, night,
Form: Free verse
though long loftier are visited much
like space empty needed seeing some stars
your wisdom scales twice thrice at least as such
brings peace ends bloody loud proud wicked wars
less more deeply thought seals the sentence fought
upfront counting costs gains what matters most
asides any passions which wrath has wrought
humbly speaking what all others would boast
exceptions abound all you only one
heart once longing can no longer endure
when love finds disappears passion's deep fun
or holding true forever fixed and sure
falls victim arbitrary disease death
builds wall thick long tall none can ever climb
memory pain lingers each ev'ry breath
capacity drops words cease out of time
quiets all long-winded pseudo gravity
calms hears soothes sighs sees always brevity
Categories:
quiets, absence, bereavement, cancer, death,
Form: Sonnet
Water is always my release,
release of that impulse to dive.
Dive fish-scaled and iridescent,
iridescent swells the water.
Water quiets and feels like home,
home undulates but stays sacred.
Sacred like every rolling wave,
wave that binds my soul to water.
Categories:
quiets, emotions, sea, water,
Form: Other
Lure of sunset quiets the soul
Mellowing hazed thoughts from day's work
Nothing but herbal tea clears mind
Oft not , caffeine- loaded Starbucks -
Peace wafts by brewing turmeric
Acebedarian Contest: sponsored by nette onclaus
June 12, 2025
Categories:
quiets, cool, drink,
Form: Abecedarian
She laughs, she cries, then she sighs
brimming with confidence,
the pain within she denies
Her heart thumps then skips a beat,
as she reads poetry, a taste of bittersweet
In quiets empty moments, a hole
remains deeply in the soul,
an abyss, an unmeasured chasm
It’s the space p~o~e~t~r~y fills
Her personal dead poet society
stirring her deepest passions
awakens her dormant desire
her quest not for fame or fortune
but for the elusive treasure of inner piece
Her confidence misconstrues itself for vanity perhaps
sureness
positiveness
conviction
certitude
reliability
assuredness
assurance
validity
conclusiveness
authoritativeness
truth
factualness
self-possession
nerve
poise
aplomb
presence of mind
phlegm
level-headedness
cool-headedness
firmness
courage
boldness
mettle
fortitude
belief in oneself
faith in oneself ...
…
…
...are all just more vanities?
free-spirited or lost soul?
do both make one another?
the vanity of human wishes?
work in progress…
Categories:
quiets, confidence, feelings,
Form: Dramatic Verse
We do not speak out of our own strength,
Rather it's a response.. the word of God makes,
He gives us the keys of authority to speak against fear,
And the word of God speaks loud and clear,
Our voice is an instrument and the chords open doors,
The beauty of His word shows our hearts more,
He sets the stage as we stand at the alter,
He leads our hearts as we watch him put it all together,
Stepping down can be standing up, the heart can speak louder than words,
When your strength is weak but your heart is stirred,
And you respond accordingly, you heed to the call,
Sometimes He quiets your heart to say nothing at all,
Treasuring His purpose while purposely forgetting your own,
You see it's not your house.. it's His home,
And his love will touch the very depths of your soul,
The tears you cry of letting go of your own,
Releasing, tearing down walls, responding and speaking out His words,
Knowing in your heart what's meant to be heard,
Love is a digger... find me in Him,
His love is my treasure from within
Categories:
quiets, beautiful, blessing, deep,
Form: Light Verse
When it’s quiet in the city,
It’s a temporary hush,
A break from all the noises
Of the normal urban rush.
The bustle is suspended
For a holiday, perhaps,
Or the hour’s just so early,
From the hustle there’s a lapse.
When it’s quiet in the country,
That’s the way it’s gonna stay,
Though some birdsong or some scampers
May accentuate the day.
Many love the peace and silence,
Where their stress they can suspend,
But I much prefer the city sounds,
Just waiting ‘round the bend.
Categories:
quiets, how i feel,
Form: Rhyme
a cool, refreshing summer breeze you are
your smile is like the fresh breath of nature
quiets thoughts of you so near even when you are so far
alleviates the feelings of my wanting to meet the maker
your skin against mine is like a smooth motion massage
the warm rhythms of your touch relaxes my mental
totally eliminated is my self serving mirage
the sweet kiss of the reality of you makes life itself feel so gentle
the moonlight and the sunlight merge to construct the perfect election
all memories of you are so happy, peaceful, and whole
joyfully and gratefully resurrected is my long since hibernated ********
oh, how your unique creativity soothes my rejuvenated soul
my love for you is as natural as the perfect rain
how i so give God Thanks each and every night for your love and guidance taking away the strain
Categories:
quiets, appreciation, for her, love,
Form: Sonnet
They asked me, “Why do you love her?”
As if love could be taken apart and neatly categorized,
Like items on a shopping list.
They wanted me to speak on your eyes,
The way they draw me in and keep me lost.
They wanted me to speak on your smile,
The very smile that I would kill to see.
They wanted me to speak on your voice,
The sound that quiets the pandemonium within my head.
But the truth is, I never needed a reason to love you.
It’s simply a part of me,
Etched into my skin the day I was born.
From my eyes, love isn’t about reasons or checkboxes.
It isn’t about slotting perfectly into some predefined notion.
I don’t love you because you are beautiful.
I don’t love you because you are intelligent.
I don’t love you for what you give me or how you make me feel.
I love you because you awaken something within me.
With you, I don’t just exist, I thrive.
My world isn’t dead flowers and rain clouds anymore.
It’s perfect roses and daffodils.
It’s sunlight that shines peaceful rays down on my skin.
And that’s why I love you.
Categories:
quiets, appreciation, beauty, cute,
Form: Free verse
Still as the wind who sings breathless praises
to the tune of a softly glowing moon,
stars whispering to the night, twinkling graceful
abiding in the music, a soothing rhythm
erasing the anxieties, the doubts, the fears
wiping away the darkness, the gentle tears
with a beautiful melancholy, a promise that appears
when twilight fades to darkness and the trees
sigh, praising the One who is life, the story
burning in the soul of those who know Him,
the One who quiets eternity to reveal
a heart who is destined for heaven, where He lives.
Categories:
quiets, appreciation, emotions, faith, god,
Form: Free verse
His peace rises, against the heart
Forever healing, growing warm
His breath is faith offering a fresh start
While the edges of doubt try to dissuade
His wonder falls quietly on the soul
Giving such peace – such gentle hope
He is the amazing that makes hearts whole
Promising love that will forever console
His light rests against the spirit of grace
Erasing the darkness with a light of acceptance
He offers such love with His tender embrace
Quiets the doubting who can’t find their way
His love is a promise that heals and reveals
The story of a life who gave all so we might live
He is the music that plays as the soul kneels
Remembering this grace that saves and forgives
His story unfolds in the heart who believes
Offering assurance that love surely agrees
He is the reason our love soon conceives
The light who shines so that His gift is complete.
Categories:
quiets, appreciation, blessing, christian, gospel,
Form: Rhyme
circles of tears
she sat in her closet wrapped up like a ball
wading through old letters containing darkened secrets
reading wrinkled notes and looking through faded photographs
that were left to be forgotten
she tried to forget the haunting memories
that invaded her sleep
the familiar faces buried in her mind
that never freed her from the feeling of being watched
i look for her now when darkness quiets my heart
wishing i had never come across the note
bearing her name scribbled at the bottom
beside the stain of dry circles of tears
oh, the memories we dreamed to someday have
yet she was finally overcome by the last one
and now i am left holding it
she should not have gone on that cold november day
now i clench the memories like a wilted bouquet of dried brown roses
faded like dreams often do
i could have said goodbye if only i had known she was leaving
taking with her the bundle of dreams
drowning in her circles of tears
@ tolbert
Categories:
quiets, sad, suicide,
Form: Free verse
Light* that lights all lights continues to glow
triumphant midst woe toward jubilant today 'til tomorrow.
Blest light wakes soul up
perking with God's prop.
Divine light wafts hope
propels faith midst cope.
Sun light for work height
prods glad labour might.
Light to brighten time
sounds achievement chime.
Gentle light ends grief
ushers joy's relief.
Smiling light from face
defies angst; shows grace.
Pardon light we see
makes our spirits free.
Light against stress-hush
quiets heart's strong rush.
Light amidst love bliss
never should we miss.
Lord of light brings joys
cheers restive night’s poise.
Light that lights all lights smites evil darkness' blights
illumining humankind toward goodness' delights.
*John 8:12 - Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
December 8, 2024
Categories:
quiets, appreciation, blessing, cheer up,
Form: Couplet
In the depths of chaos, you softly appeared,
A beacon of warmth when the darkness neared.
Your touch, a whisper, your gaze, a song,
With you, my love, I’ve found where I belong.
Your beauty transcends the stars in the sky,
A masterpiece crafted by heavens on high.
Your eyes hold worlds where my heart takes flight,
A sanctuary born of your gentle light.
The storm in my soul quiets at your voice,
In your arms, my chaos has no choice.
It bends, it bows, it fades, it stills,
Replaced by the love your presence instills.
Every beat of my heart is a hymn to you,
A rhythm eternal, steady, and true.
Every breath I draw speaks your name,
A wildfire of love, an unending flame.
You are my euphoria, my radiant muse,
The brightest light I could ever choose.
Forever, my darling, my heart is your own,
With you, my soul has found its home.
???
Categories:
quiets, appreciation, best friend, for
Form: Free verse
so what if i did?
what would you do, what did you do?
you watched me self destruct, cave in from the bottom, vanish.
i've been blamed for being a coward, but believe me, i was banished.
with every step, a growing rift tears between.
a quiet space, infinitely small. a solitary shore.
in silent whispers and loud glares, love becomes unseen.
your eyes revert to how they were before they met mine.
as echoes fade, our voices fall with the sun and speak no more.
the laughter we once shared softly quiets, like petals from roses gliding through the wind.
so as i step forward, a somber feeling of acceptance, my feelings suprisingly do not rescind.
that slight, but blinding light has vanished from your eye.
as life continues, as does the cycle. whatever lives must eventually die.
farewell love, it was good while it lasted, although not physical, this is our final embrace.
i let you go, you are set free. you belong to the world once more.
but know this, there would've been a spot for you in the chambers of my heart forever, in time and space.
as my breath quiets down, my body runs cold, remember i love you always. you can visit me, you still have the keys to my door.
Categories:
quiets, 11th grade, absence, crush,
Form: Rhyme
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