Same Roof
We shared a roof, a table, the same four walls,
and still I lived on the far side of a door
no one had thought to knock on.
Their voices filled the house each morning,
familiar as the kettle, the taps, the stairs,
and none of it ever reached me.
I was in the room. I was not seen.
You can stand in a doorway for years
and be furniture to the people you love.
They were meant to be the ones who knew me
before I knew myself,
who could read the weather in my face.
Instead I learned to fold my heart small,
to keep it in a pocket
where no one would ask what it weighed.
I have grieved the things that happened.
That grief has edges. It has names and dates.
The other grief has none.
It is the hush where the conversation should have been,
the hand that never reached across,
the people I sat beside for years
and never met.
I was not only mourning what was done to me.
I was mourning the child who kept waiting to be known,
and the closeness
that never had its chance to exist.
And the Lord said,
Lo and behold,
Take this day of rest
And gaze directly into
The high and unbeholdable.
(8/30/26)
That blind kid dances like the floor knows his feet.
No watching his footsteps, just following the beat;
While everyone is looking for somewhere to go,
The music does the seeing — his body's in the know.
We look at our partners; we measure the floor.
He hears where we're going, and listens for more.
No eyes on the rhythm, no watching the crowd.
He sees every movement by hearing out loud.
Music does the seeing!
Music knows the way!
Shut your eyes and hear it!
Let your body play!
Most people dancing will close both their eyes.
As though shutting out vision lets rhythm arise;
They surrender to something their eyesight concealed—
The music does the seeing, and dance is revealed.
So who are the blind ones when the dancing begins?
The watcher outside, or the listener within?
The best feet need music, not eyes keeping score—
Close your eyes, let it see you, then dance even more.
Music does the seeing!
Music knows the way!
Shut your eyes and hear it!
Let your body play!
If it is right now
In last is bread and butter
Before first was bread
It seemed like a journey
Preparation of some kind
Thinking being knowledge
Becoming wise and assured
That is where I learned about myself
Different from everyone else
Life introduced me to who I am and meant to be
Purpose was down the road
Clouds ochoing my name Courageous
Walking on into my destiny
Whispers encouraging on to fulfill and establish
The mirror showed my reflection being successful
Challenging my own self of shall
I was created for a mission
Task that will be my assignment
Spiritual eyes that will observe
Goodness built in
Wonderfully made
Onward and forward of potential
Endless road leading me out.
If thee can see the natural beauty of any tree,
Even in all of the different ways that any tree can be,
Then thee is far better than the worst of humanity.
He's back
like he never left
with scary undertones
in tow
The story goes
They're chasing ghosts
& a known host
of other things
Who knows
what they're really
after in reality
They know Casper
brings a mentality
that borders on
unfriendly
Never mind the surface
it's what's
underneath the matter
that counts
The numbers continue
to mount because
of the unseemly
things that are about
This is a stout reminder
not to take anything
in life for granted
On this planet
the thinly constructed
veil hides more
than they surveil
With a heavy head
I say frail appearances
shouldn't be taken lightly
Granted they talk
a good game
but can they play
them all the same?
So many strange things
casually happening
but this is no
coincidence
They coincide with
certain incidents while they
claim they're on
the fence
His cryptic brilliance
is in question
but I swear that's
nothing new
It's true his
suggestions grew wings
& flew the coop with
an air of exposing truth
For those that know
this is the proof
that they try but cannot
hide
He resides somewhere
between what is seen
& not seen with
normal eyes
I see you looking at me,
so cunning and smug.
Must we start our day off like this?
I am your friend,
please be my friend.
If I smile at you,
will you smile back?
See all it took was a smile.
Now I will be on my way,
have a great day.
Celebratiions are over, calibrations must
start'
trumps in office, the wars continue in fits and starts..God said they will celebrate peace and safety, then will come the end..
It could be amost upon us.? But i can't see farther than the next bend.)
WAYS OF SEEING
conventions
extending
meaning
&
rapidly
remain
in
a
spontaneous
wellspring
of
spontaneous
utterances
unrestrained
simple
impulses
expressed
signs
of
primeval
quest
for
harmonic
exotic
figures
The topics I’m the most scared to write about,
Are parts of me that are currently in hiding,
But that assist in the shaping of me.
The Divinity behind conscious touch,
The Spell cast from the touching of lips,
The ripples oozing each time bodies meet.
How sacred to feel hearts beating together,
Shoulders brushing and energy building,
Two beings amplifying... How Holy.
Hair scented like love,
Soft Hands holding tight,
The thought of it has me folding.
The Divinity becomes lost in touch,
In convenience and in ease,
Creation Rituals turning to disease.
Accessible performance videos,
Disconnected from the magic,
Widespread, and fed to thee.
God runs through the veins that pulse,
Source charges batteries when aware,
Seeing stars together and becoming free.
Tarnished terminologies,
Toilet humour to cover primitive urges,
The most beautiful manipulating the we.
Yearning for transformation through touch,
Once experienced all else unfulfilling,
So sacred, to experience Soul Fueled Intimacy.
iris diffuse
colour irrelevant
silver slivers radialize
as dark emotions pass
light cadences
kaleidoscope
eyes remain core's mirrors
refracts every rainbow facet
ascending prisms delight
iris is bridge
___________________
Third Placement: Standard
Sponsor: Sotto Poet
June 26
I see movement
On the lines
Accepting, rejecting
Paying chaotic fines
What looks like a gift
Reeks of solid exchange
The price for living
Is desire, rearranged
Nothing fits just right
Catywampus is the shape
Push and shove, here and there
To prove, the debt is paid
Cold and tired all around
You will never have rest here
The fire is lit for show
A home for every fear
Grateful to finally know
You can't find value among thieves
They take while giving
So that the soul is always shedding leaves
Written by Trudy Schrader on 06-09-2026
his parents had never met his girl
she had not said a thing about going with him to Christmas
Their love was new, she had moved in less than a month ago
He really liked her
She was personable, friendly, kind
Empathetic, and gorgeous
But how would they react?
He did not know if he wanted her introduced to their madness
Going without her seemed logical
He had made his mind up
He would travel back to Ohio by himself
Until he came into the kitchen and saw her
She was humming to Christmas music
decorating a little tree, with her hair up
Oblivious to anything but joy
She was exactly like his mother!
He knew at this minute he was buying two tickets
Unsure now if he could go another day without her
She turned and gave him a gorgeous smile
He had never seen such caring eyes
Bright white light ~ sprite in the night
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
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