Walking blind in the darkness 

outreached hands 

calling no names

godless

I ask where I am 

and nothing answers 

dante walked with a poet beside him

but my path is wordless 

no witness

I wail so someone will hold me 

the darkness clothes my body

Read and leave comments (0)

The park that Saturday felt ordinary, deceptively calm. Sunlight filtered through the branches, leaves rustling underfoot, the kind of day that offered no warning. I had been watching over my younger sister all afternoon, something that had long since become habit rather than choice. When I told her it was time to go home, I believed I was doing what I always did, protecting her.

I did not know...

Read and leave comments (0)

On the day of the recital

A warhead crashed down on our house.

Three of my family died

And only I survived,

But, though I shan’t find peace again

That very evening

I played, in pain.

 

The music did what music does;

I gave them Mozart, Bach and Brahms.

Soon grief seemed not to matter,

As all fell back into its arms,

And evil turned to trivial

As wonder filled

...

Read and leave comments (2)

Yours

I am yours
not as something kept or claimed,
not bound by hands or marked by name,
but as the stars belong to sky,
still burning bright, still passing by
never asking where to lie.

The way the moon belongs to tides,
never touching what it guides,
pulling oceans in their sleep
undeniable force that needn’t speak.

How morn belongs to birds that sing
in early light on fragile ...

Read and leave comments (2)

I used to think time was something chasing me.
Lately, I’m learning it may simply be asking me to stay.

—
Invited By Time

The clock is not a warning.

It is a witness.

Every second,
a quiet record
of who I am learning to be.

It does not rush me.

It does not ask
for more than I can give.

It simply continues.

Steady.
Unconcerned
with whether I keep up.

There was a ti...

Read and leave comments (0)

Gibberish

 

If all those dying in the fray

Were laid from end to end,

They would stretch for many a mile

And no doubt grievously offend,

Behind their desks so far away,

The same men talking gibberish

With a sickly, spray-on smile.

 

As it happens

 

No one needed to die today

But, as it happens, sixteen did.

Of the usual bagged variety:

Men, women and so...

Read and leave comments (0)

Someday, I want to do more than just exist.
I want to live
without apologising for it
without begging for permission.
Perhaps some freedom from my own thoughts
and that constant mental battle of attrition. 
However, for now
I am just here.

I've been lost in waves of silence,
drowned beneath the weight of it all, 
I've stood toe to toe with the edge of cliffs
knowing just how far there...

Read and leave comments (0)

Crumbling and tumbling come the edgings off a cliff

A cavernous range of sprawling, mountainous ruin

An iron will no longer is this

But this is not my will

 

A squadron of feathered warriors glide freely

Their vision piercing and true, full of meaning

An iron will can be no more evident

But this is not my will

 

An army of ants, cohesive and coursing

Like a river r...

Read and leave comments (0)

Everyone wants to grow old, but no one wants to be old.

 

All long to see the years in gentle rise,
Yet none would dwell where age has made its home;
The mirror bends the truth of weary eyes,
And hearts protest a fate they call their own.

The body, once a vessel tuned to speed,
Now trembles under weight of time’s command;
Each step recalls a fire that once would lead,
Now falters li...

Read and leave comments (2)

Prologue They met in ways that broke them first, Each life a thud, a hunger, thirst. Not born to lead, nor raised to shine, But time had worn them past their line. What castaways might find anew— You'll see, if you read all way through. The Mule (Once a Builder) He once laid brick with steady pride, Now drags his boots from site to site. His back's a map of breaks and bends, He buri...

Read and leave comments (7)

A figure slumped beside the road, a heap of ash and thread. No face, no shape, just heavy cloth, and eyes that looked half-dead. “Who are you?” asked the wrinkled one, with voice both calm and kind. “I’m Sadness,” said the shape, half-formed, “the one all try to bind.” “They turn from me,” the figure said, “as if I bring disease. They smile too wide, deny the weight, pretending th...

Read and leave comments (1)

I’ve sipped from empty cups too long, Been told to wait, to play it safe, To shrink my voice, to just belong— But silence never saved the brave. They fed me crumbs, called it enough, Said, “Be polite, don’t reach too far,” I smiled through hunger, swallowed tough, And wore my limits like a scar. No mo...

Read and leave comments (5)

A giant rises — towering, proud, severe, Yet check the sun before you yield to fear; For oft a dwarf, by stretching out his hand, Can throw a giant's shadow on the land. It is not the wind that drives the course you sail; The set of your own sails will tell the tale. The storm may roar, the sky may fall to grey — The sail decides if you advance or stray. The clever man will not o...

Read and leave comments (4)

When tempers flare and voices rise,
It’s wise to breathe, not moralise.
A quiet word can cool the flame,
While shouting only spreads the blame.

When someone mocks or plays unfair,
Step back – don’t answer with a stare.
For digging traps for someone’s fall
Might lead you to your own downfall.

If rumours swirl and trust is thin,
Let honesty speak from within.
Your name is worth more th...

Read and leave comments (5)

“The Bitter Cup” reflects the themes of enduring hardship and finding strength in the face of suffering, inspired by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “Surrounded by Good Powers...” The sonnet explores the idea of accepting life’s trials with quiet courage, symbolised by the "bitter cup," and trusting that even through pain, we move towards light and renewal. It echoes Bonhoeffer’s own spirit of res...

Read and leave comments (3)

Today, three years ago, Russia launched its brutal invasion of Ukraine, shattering peace and unleashing a wave of destruction. Towns were levelled, lives torn apart, and a nation thrust into an endless struggle for survival. Despite the relentless violence, Ukraine remains unyielding, its people refusing to surrender. The world has watched as the cost in blood and suffering continues to rise, and ...

Read and leave comments (5)

This poem is about a society increasingly divided, where accusations fly and truth seems lost. It speaks to the urgency of listening instead of blaming, understanding instead of judging, and choosing hope over fear. In a world where opinions are quickly voiced and emotions run high, the poem urges a shift in perspective—one that values connection, love, and the strength to find hope, even in diffi...

Read and leave comments (5)

In Wang's Dīngzihù*, the poem explores the unyielding defiance of a man who refuses to let go of his home in the face of relentless urban development. Wang’s small "nail"house becomes a symbol of resistance, standing firm against powerful tycoons and the machinery of progress. As legal battles and societal pressures mount, Wang’s fight is not just for his land, but for his identity and legacy. It ...

Read and leave comments (6)

This poem challenges the myth of inherent greatness in those who rise to prominence and reminds us that success often comes from luck, influence, or fear—not brilliance or charm. It inspires readers to value their uniqueness, silence doubt, and pursue their own path with determination and pride.
 

Do you feel small, unseen, unheard?

Does the world seem tilted, its justice absurd?

Remembe...

Read and leave comments (3)

Dear Parent,
In your quest to shield your child from every scrape and stumble, remember: life’s greatest lessons often come from facing challenges head-on. Helicopter and lawnmower parenting may seem loving, but overprotection can rob children of vital experiences that foster resilience, independence, and confidence. By removing obstacles and fears, you might inadvertently create a world where yo...

Read and leave comments (0)

Into the translucent silence,
above the heartbeat of the stars
and the flight of the seagulls,
I will return with the gentle sky 

Like the breeze that ruffles the forest
or the moon that peeks through the night, 
and no matter how autumn dies there will always be a spring,
in the same way I will return

On the thought that crosses time
and lives on from its balconies,
like the pollen ...

Read and leave comments (0)

When the grip of our being obstinate clutches On the edge of a looming spiral. When escorting a change thrust A cluster of barbarous knives against us. We deal with this to accomplish A sense of pride in us, For what we usually ponder about, For what we usually act about, The Burning Dawn admires us.

 

When the solemn mind captivates one In showing what extremes it achieved, Just a look at ...

Read and leave comments (0)

Like a coin

tossed in the air,

chance will decide

whether I will land heads or tails

 

To have control is almost impossible,

when I think I'm at the top

someone incapable or enviously sick

comes from behind

and knocks me down to the ground

 

I get up smiling,

starting again;

leaving nothing half done,

that's how I face life;

even when insults rain down ...

Read and leave comments (0)

You told me once when we talked about the things we carried
That I was a little too vague
And I thought then, and still do now
That it's because I'm a little too vague
The things I carry aren't set in stone
They are abstract and unsure and hard to put to words
They are feelings and thoughts only half-formed
They are like lines of a poem never quite heard
So, I carry the snippets of long-he...

Read and leave comments (1)

There are places I’ve been so low
Places I would not want to go
But there’s one thing it taught me to know
And that’s how to climb

There are times I have felt so weak
Times I forgot how to move, how to speak
But there’s one thing it taught me to see
The power of my mind.

I don’t think I’m stronger than I might have been,
But I’m surely strong enough.
I’ve come so far through so many ...

Read and leave comments (5)

I have rebuilt myself before
Because life often pulls me down.
I get gradually unhinged
I end up scattered on the ground.

I have rebuilt myself before
Well enough to carry on
Only to find
   Never firm against everything.
   Never resilient as I'd need,
But life has taught me many things,

So rather than be afraid
That this world might leave me battered,
Or this world might leave me...

Read and leave comments (5)

Today's blog is a poem (well, two poems actually) where there are two versions of the poem and I have not yet been able to settle my feelings about which version 'wins'. I feel like there should stay two versions of it.

 

Version 1 – Personal

If Life will be what it has to be,
And Death will come when it comes,
And all the moments that I breathe
Happiness still is mine to give myself...

Read and leave comments (10)

The natural order of things isn't always in our favour.
A pre-historic and historic truth much harder to see in modern times
When all the obvious imperative threats are gone or tamed.
But imperative threats are healthy, 
Preventing our mind from twisting around a thousand minor matters
Which it never was designed to do and never should
Unless we can evolve our minds or methods.

The natura...

Read and leave comments (2)

When I had children
My life became theirs
Creating their joys
Removing their cares
Being the ground 
On which they can stand
Sharing their path
Holding their hand.

And I set out with dreams
That our lives would be good
When it broke at the seams
I did all that I could
And as I faced down our demons
And I set them to flee
I thought of protecting them
Not of damaging me.

Once you...

Read and leave comments (7)

Don't want to be waiting to live,
Don't want to be waiting for death.
Though the tide repeats outward and back,
Take a stand on the sand as it shifts.
Look around and be thankful 
For this 
May be all that there is.

Then the sun is the jewel that I own,
And it's greater than all that I don't,
And the moon is the pearl that surpasses
All others wherever they be,
And the water that sust...

Read and leave comments (4)

I've been burned
And risen again
Proud of my new coat
Of feathers
I've been burned again
And risen
Proud of my new coat of feathers
And unafraid of fire.
 

Read and leave comments (1)

Now that I am faced with this trial of the moment, let me pause.
Reflect on previous trials.  
The race forward is not about the hurdles already jumped,
It is about the confidence and skill at jumping acquired.

Now that I am faced with this impossibly high wall, let me think.
Remember previous walls.  
The difficulty of scaling any height or distance can be shrunk;
It is ever as simple as...

Read and leave comments (4)

I can feel you,
thick in my throat,
threatening to consume me,
slithering through my mind and body,
wielding your alpha power, 
making me weak. 

I curse you, drown you, 
in sunshine and sweet elixirs,
but you refuse to leave.

I am stronger than you think.

I order you and your invisible army 
of pain, heartbreak, misery,
away from my cosmic energy. 

I did not manifest you.
You...

Read and leave comments (4)

(Waring! Excessive use of expletives)

 

Hindsight illuminates the plight

Retrospect brings dark to light

Always a little too late

Try as I might

 

Do I stand up and fight

Or is this a time for flight

I can never seem to tell

Never get it right

 

Maybe genetically,  I am a mix of ostrich and possum

Freeze and play dead

Or, in the ground with my head

 

...

Read and leave comments (4)

Broken  

   by the broken.

   starting the show. 

Broken 

   by the love

   I used to know. 

Broken

    by circumstances

    beyond my control 

Broken 

   with no place to go, 

   except within,

              where I find the strength 

              to rise again.

 

https://youtu.be/lwgr_IMeEgA

Read and leave comments (2)

Profound sadness 

clouds my view 

at a quarter til two. 

I don’t understand why 

my muse avoids me like the flu, 

when a simple poem or song will do. 

Wise words to help me understand

why true love passed me by

in this lifetime.

Why wrong choices,

that felt right at the time,

left me alone in this abyss

where my better self

silently bears witness

to my shr...

Read and leave comments (7)

A magenta sky 
greets my morning sigh.

Another majestic day, 
lost in the minutia of life.

Shoulda, coulda,woulda,
paralyzing dream sabers. 

Distractions abound.

Download another book,
refresh the poet's page.

Escape, behind a waterfall
of tears.

Long nights,
paved years. 

Fandango memories
sustain me. 

Resilience 
prevails.

Dry your eyes,
face your fears.

Wr...

Read and leave comments (0)

I accept that they may feel lonely

The constant reminder from the media that they are isolated

Alone in their puddle of thoughts

Suddenly drowning in their echoes of silence

 

Against all odds I am managing just fine

A stream of thoughts flowing all day

Nothing to block my mind from floating away

Not today, anyway

 

My thoughts are not all positive

I am unbalanced ...

Read and leave comments (0)

Controversy is the tongue of snakes...

If tonight they make my hair raise the dead. I should go walking with my fragments made whole, and explain myself without trial from hypocrites harboring my old ghosts.

Unjustified torments in disregard to whom I truly became after being shoveled. He loves me for this.

 

I can see them sideways.

Within me, I rise again.

And again and again.

...

Read and leave comments (0)

Neither cold night nor seasonal change

on the turning Earth dismays or hampers them

 

Veterans of words hold fast in all weathers

Never retreating, ever writing victories

 

Impassioned by an urgent inner voice

They hold fast to their poetic purpose

 

Drawing strength from years, they fight on

Never dimmed or surrendering to silence.

Read and leave comments (6)

Please note that this poem is pure fantasy!

 

Tone Poem

 

Oh, really, I find it so unutterably tedious

to be polite when faced with one so odious

as you. And yet, I must say

that you do, at times, take my breath away,

at least when I forget all your manifold flaws,

and the gold stashed beneath your creaky floorboards;

 

but I don't mean to be too unduly unkind,

...

Read and leave comments (2)

I am a ShaakieraS, A mature, respectable and sophisticated woman, with a massive vocabulary and a passion for words, which borders on obsession. Strangely quiet and reserved , an introverted extrovert yet can be surprisingly witty, accommodating and very outgoing depending on the situation and of course the company. Highly intelligent and sharp-minded choosing to express myself largely through the...

Read and leave comments (0)

Phoenix

 

You set my sails ablaze,

How can I not feel hate?

My wings are singed, I cringe,

My throat is dry, I cry,

 

Why did you cause such pain?

Did you not my trust my ways?

My reflection is maimed,

The hope you did deflate,

The energy fades,

The Light of Heaven diverts away,

I guess I’ll have to wait,

 

The urgent message on delayed flight,

The r...

Read and leave comments (0)

Sun

 

When I feel my blood boil,

            …I close my eyes.

When I feel my heart sink,

            …I close my eyes.

When I feel my spirits drain,

            …I close my eyes.

When I feel my body buckle,

            …I close my eyes.

When I feel my muscles tear,

            …I close my eyes.

When I feel my ego shatter,

            …I close my eyes.

Whe...

Read and leave comments (0)

The sun is always there

you used to say

there behind the clouds

waiting to break through.

 

I hung on those words.

 

And now I wish you were here

so that I could show you

how outside the rain’s been falling

for longer than I remember

day after day after day

and the skies are grey and heavy

the streets run with water

the fine clothes we were so proud of

...

Read and leave comments (12)

In the wild, the bonsai is an amazing sight and a moving lesson from nature. It depicts the wonder of a resilient soul.

`


A fond gaze
rests upon hope
A testament

of pliant supplication
stunted and weathered

each scar a witness
to fate's coarseness
its scourge did not prevail

A bent torso
flowing in the breeze
over sheer drops and crags

the dour migh...

Read more …