Like ghosts in my pockets, weighing me down,
burdens echoing with quiet sorrow,
coiling tight around the soul in silent pain.
Some weights like umbrellas cast aside after storms,
others iron shackles, rusted, locked in permanence—
all carried unseen, but deeply felt.
Knots in the spine, scars engraved on the mind,
tangled threads, riotous roots of clinging shadows—
held tight, wrapped in sorrow and guilt.
The weight of unspoken words,
unfinished tasks, unkept promises,
and unmanageable memories—
all soaked deep in regret.
Letting go is not an option
when remorse is all you have,
and anguish your only friend.
Categories:
unkept, grief, heartbreak, memory, sad,
Form: Free verse
The t.v. series,
A Little Princess,
reminds me
of my dad's gift
of a dark-haired
porcelain doll...
...I gave away
to compensate
for feeling spoiled
--that I begged
for her at all
Being a generous
gift-giver was one
of my dad's
main languages
of love
I hope even though
I've hardly kept
any of his gifts
he still cares--
up above
Categories:
unkept, father daughter, giving, heaven,
Form: Ode
No matter what I do
I am the same
I am the same little girl
all those years ago
No matter what I do
the world is still as grey
as all those years ago
New year, new me
the same insecure teenager
crying over her stale hair
Resolutions becoming unkept promises
school feeling like a second home
gone before dawn back after dusk
And tears that shed on my childhood bed
felt like it was nearly the end.
Categories:
unkept, 8th grade, childhood, new
Form: Free verse
America 2020, yet another Hell on Earth
Her premise sadly unkept
The world-at-large simply shrugged
~ Fools and Poets wept
Categories:
unkept, america, cry, obituary, poets,
Form: Epigram
P eople hurt others with their unkept promises.
R ain of tears from the hurt.
O ver and over you say the same thing.
M e and you never again.
I have forgiven many times.
S ee it all starts again.
E nough is enough of unkept promises.
Date Written: 6/2/2020
3 Place The Promise Contest Judged:6/6/2020 Sponsored by: Silent One
Categories:
unkept, forgiveness, hurt, me, people,
Form: Acrostic
Like a dream dreamt on a clear morning
As vivid as a vision
Your face was so alive and gloriously kissable
You radiated beauty
Your eyes never flinched, when fixed on the sun
The sun’s fire never seemed to blind you
I always thought you were angelic, saintly, lovable
I truly loved you
But you left
I did not dwell on it but my insides churned violently
Remembering, I can't forget what you said before you left,
“I must go and find myself; who I am.”
I always thought you knew who you were
That we knew who we were...didn’t we?
We had fought our families for our love
And knew we were the same
Our love would not be torn by social norms you said
but you left, soon I understood the real meaning of your empty words
People and lovers move on no matter what promises are made
Regretting your lying promises but being wiser now
I fell asleep and dreamt of a new dream.
Categories:
unkept, dream, gender, heartbroken, lost
Form: Free verse
I told secrets,
Not to be revealed
To my grief, I felt a breeze
Around my world it wheeled
Like flaming fire in the forest
My secrets you never sealed
I heard what mouths spat,
That my injuries never healed
For salt to be rubbed upon,
For my weaknesses to be peeled!
Categories:
unkept, betrayal,
Form: Bio
why didnt he keep his promise to me?
i thought for sure he would not lie
how patient do i have to be?
when weeks with no word from him
keeps passing me by
how can in one night he confess his love?
told me in my arms he felt like he had come home
i,ve never felt like this before
but time and distance between us exists
i feel so lost and alone
two nights maybe three he talked to me
like he had known me all his life
there is a bit of complication that keeps our souls apart
sadly that fact is im another mans wife
but its my soulmate who holds my heart
Categories:
unkept, sad love,
Form: ABC
Through thick and thin those rules of a vow bent
It pricks within a bond never heaven sent
Numerous signs shown to eyes so love blind
A devious design should have been left behind
Boundaries we both set grossly overstepped
Promises meant to be kept now mostly regrets
Prayed for a family but deviated from folded hands
Heart slayed a tragedy then meditated to understand
Grass looked greener hopped the fence it was scorched
Needed a disclaimer the whole front yard torched
Searchin for a solution that holds no retribution
Never found absolution so separations the conclusion
To break out of bondage make sense out of nonsense
For a sexual offence have to find mental defense
Cant keep giving chances when options are squandered
Life would be advanceless if this i just pondered.
Sha'ntez Jefferson
10/16/12
Categories:
unkept, husband, wife,
Form: Free verse
i....gave my own soul
fallowed by my hart....
stretched so long... it continued
i a lender giving my hand... reached out
taking your troubles away...
in return.... a secret to be kept.
you... i my self trusted
not knowing what i sincerely troubled...
fear im laid.... about to become....
a night mare so to be.. opened to me
foreshadow don't... hide anymore...
worn me forevermore...
i.... to see another time of misfortune
Categories:
unkept, teen
Form: Free verse
i....gave my own soul
fallowed by my hart....
stretched so long... it continued
i a lender giving my hand... reached out
taking your troubles away...
in return.... a secret to be kept.
you... i my self trusted
not knowing what i sincerely troubled...
fear im laid.... about to become....
a night mare so to be.. opened to me
foreshadow don't... hide anymore...
worn me forevermore...
i.... to see another time of misfortune
Categories:
unkept, teen
Form: Free verse