Sorrow
On occasion I find the passing loss of something un-named
Something found and yet unbiddened
A some thing of the past or future or present I know not what
Yet sorrow it is
A feeling both sad and strange
I filled the night's chalice with knots of desire,
a secret that daylight would burn into dust;
my spirit is consumed in an unspoken fire,
where shadow meets passion, and darkness meets lust.
I crave to be cherished, to fall in your arms,
yet love is the phantom I dread to embrace;
I run from your touch, while I yield to your charms,
I seek your affection, yet flee from your face.
I love you, I hate you, this agony grows,
as night weaves its terror and tears at my skin;
the monsters emerge as the darkness shows,
to feed on the sorrow I carry within.
I hide in the blackness, unseen and alone,
and carve out my soul to the one I adore;
I write with my blood on an altar of stone,
to offer the longings I harbor, once more.
Yet bound by this torment, I pray for the end,
and wish that our paths had never been crossed;
that time would reverse, and this heart would unbend,
to release me from misery, and all it has cost...
Butterfly Wings to Angel Wings
By Deborah Herber 2026
Out of the Smokey Mountains
A phenomenal legend was born
In her coat of many colors
It's pride and honesty she has worn.
She blessed us all
With the magic of her voice
She taught us compassion and kindness
Was something to rejoice.
From rags to riches
She made her dreams come true
And she saw only the good
In me and you.
She taught us to believe
And never give up
To face that open door
And fill up that cup.
Butterfly wings for angel wings
Dancing through heaven's gate
Singing “I will always love you”
And embracing her journey's fate.
In the arms of Jesus
She lies with that humble smile
Watching the world remember her
And the stories she carried every mile.
She was a queen of country music
Bold & feisty to boot
But she loved unconditionally
And never forgot her roots.
A lifetime of memories
Will follow in her wake
Her songs repeating in our minds
As our hearts continuously break.
Dedicated to Ms. DOLLY PARTON
8/26/2026
When Should I Smile?
Smile, they say. It will help break the ice.
Smile, they say. It does not cost anything.
Smile, they say, it will help fix everything.
So, why should I smile?
To show that I am not sad?
To make you feel less bad?
To forget my anger?
I don't think so.
I will smile when I want to.
I will smile when I need to.
I will smile when I feel like.
I will smile....for me!
By Priya Nair
You played with feelings,
I played with hope.
You called it a game,
I called it love.
When you left the game,
I was left with scars.
A single second feels like a decade,
As painted visions of your visage fade.
Yet winter passes; golden petals bloom,
Releasing hearts from their protective gloom.
I yearn to feel your timeless, soft caress,
While gently hiding all this phantom sadness.
I place my faith in you, my happiness—
Mi Helecho, praying you return in wholeness.
My Helecho, I miss you so much,
Longing to whisper "I love you" in your ear,
I was in urgent need of your warmest embrace,
Father God, always bless my one and only Helecho.
Desolate clown's
traveling train
tours famed cities
onto quaint towns.
He mimicks glee
for his ousted
heart's sutures
are dismissive
frowns.
Balloon twisting's
what he knows--
cause joggeling act
makes kids mope;
And sparking globe-nose
bombards
the Top's bleachers
with plumes
of blinding smoke.
His onesie sports
ink-stains for color;
And oily-face
with white base
sweating turns
cream-soupy butter;
Shoved and ridiculed
by crowds-even peers,
cause he studders.
His Mass Bay clown
soles have holes--
with grimy socks,
torn by nails and corns.
Grey's his story--
when a caboose's
the only corner
where he
can call home.
He'll tumbling fall
to gain their laughs-
cringing weeps
in silence--
from prying eyes.
The show must go on--
cause he's a star;
Like his forefathers
before him-since then past on.
Forgive the man I am today,
Why won’t the past just go away?
The child inside still bears the weight
Of pain that slowly turned to hate.
Forgive the walls I still hold high,
The silent tears, the hollow lie.
The angry words, the pride, the shame,
The countless times I placed the blame.
I cannot change one yesterday,
Or wish the darkest nights away.
Every morning brings another fight
Between my darkness and my light.
Please, dear God, show me the way.
One broken step past yesterday.
Some days I stand. Some days I fall.
Some days the darkness still takes it all.
So judge me not by where I’ve been,
But by the fight I have within.
I wish this story would just end…
Instead, tomorrow starts again.
Many people have asked if I had a good 4th
and I did enjoy the festivities and time with my husband
but in all honesty, I have been sad this weekend
It was a holiday and these days we are spending all holidays
without a member of our family
and summer is a busy time for many and we haven't
gotten to spend much time with other family members as well
so, this heartbroken mama had a sad holiday
I am sure I will have many more, but I am learning to be honest about it
somber
morbid, solemn
depressing, darkening, distressing
funeral, tragedy, party, achievement
reveling, admiring, celebrating
pleasurable, enjoyable
festive
I do not want your love
unless you know precisely how repulsive I am,
and, knowing it,
find yourself compelled to love me all the more.
I don’t know how sadness comes
After all, an hour ago it wasn’t here
Perhaps it’s the fault of the shoe
Standing askew by the door
Or of the clouds that suddenly appeared in the clear sky
Rolling in droves, embodying
Variable cloud cover
Or it's due to the photos from years gone by
Or all of this together
Falls down to engulf me
With a wave without water and air without light
The dark sun stares at me
Without the slightest sympathy
And I stare at the floor
Unable to lift my head.
When i was a little girl, i wished to be a princess that has a king come save her. But does that king ever come? It seems as kings only come in fairytales and never in real life.
Theres all these new definitions that ive learned about like "guy pretty" or ratings, apparently each guy looks for the same features in a girl like light eyes, straight teeth, perfect skin, along with the ratings of how they rate a girl being ugly or beautiful.
I have never been that girl that guys choose over any other female. I've never been given that unconditional love that everyone talks about. The kind where the guy falls head over heels for a girl and shows that he loves her. Ive never had that and I want that. Its making me question so many things. Like, Am I Unlovable? Am i just pretty enough to look at but not date? Only good when you need me but when you don't i dont matter?
I feel unlovable, I want to be loved but I dont think thats meant for me.
- E.B
Tell me something good
On my deathbed
Tell me it's not
All been bad
Tell me it's okay
Tell me it's okay
On my deathbed
And not a word before
Tell me I was good
Right before I quit
Tell me I wasn't all wrong
Right before I give up
Tell me something good
On my deathbed
Tell me my entire existence
Wasn't futile
Right beside my deathbed
After I've taken my life
Tell me it's not
All been bad
Right before
I end it all
Referees getting paid to guess
They always miss the mess
I jump to block, they callin’ net
This always makes me so upset
One bad call makes us lose the game
The refs are always the one to blame
My coach yelling out loud
It sounds like a thundering cloud
The other team enjoying their time
We going to get them back sometime
Coming home filled with sadness
I wish they could get rid of this madness
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