Submissions by brokentitanium (k.)
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
I'm just a human living my life, and this is where I spill the stuff I can't say out loud. Sometimes the words arrange themselves nicely, and that's pretty cool.
Letter to Me
You don’t have to earn it.
Not by impressing people
with your heartfelt writing or singing
your physical feats or keen observations
Not by making them laugh
with your silliness and charm
Not by helping them out
with your professional competence
or deep-diving intellect.
You have all these things
(yes, you do)
but they are not tools
to earn love and value.
They are results of the fact
that love is already there.
Your only job
is not to hinder it with your...
Not by impressing people
with your heartfelt writing or singing
your physical feats or keen observations
Not by making them laugh
with your silliness and charm
Not by helping them out
with your professional competence
or deep-diving intellect.
You have all these things
(yes, you do)
but they are not tools
to earn love and value.
They are results of the fact
that love is already there.
Your only job
is not to hinder it with your...
#love
#NaPoWriMo2024
#SelfWorth
125 reads
13 Comments
Body
Every so often I’m reminded
of the fact that I have a body.
Today, it hurts.
It’s my own damn fault –
dashing through forest
up and down hills
over roots and mud
for over two hours
will do that to a body.
And I relish the feeling.
Not because I enjoy pain,
but because it means I’m still here
and I get to inhabit this miraculous form
that can smell peace in the spruce trees
see joy in ripples on the streams
and I get to test
what else it can achieve and endure.
Last fall, I ran...
of the fact that I have a body.
Today, it hurts.
It’s my own damn fault –
dashing through forest
up and down hills
over roots and mud
for over two hours
will do that to a body.
And I relish the feeling.
Not because I enjoy pain,
but because it means I’m still here
and I get to inhabit this miraculous form
that can smell peace in the spruce trees
see joy in ripples on the streams
and I get to test
what else it can achieve and endure.
Last fall, I ran...
#determination
#gratitude
#NaPoWriMo2024
#sports
#strength
70 reads
8 Comments
Pay the damn rent
Hey! Are you still here??
I thought I had kicked you out.
I only let you in
because you came with such a
huge advance
You didn’t mind the mess
or the leaks in the roof
I said ‘take it as it is’
and you said ‘I love it’
But now the rent is way past due
and still you linger
taking up space
on my mental couch
You lounge in silence
and I can’t relax
thinking maybe if I mop the floor
you’ll finally pay up
But those muddy bootprints
you left on my soul
keep rising to the...
I thought I had kicked you out.
I only let you in
because you came with such a
huge advance
You didn’t mind the mess
or the leaks in the roof
I said ‘take it as it is’
and you said ‘I love it’
But now the rent is way past due
and still you linger
taking up space
on my mental couch
You lounge in silence
and I can’t relax
thinking maybe if I mop the floor
you’ll finally pay up
But those muddy bootprints
you left on my soul
keep rising to the...
#anger
#NaPoWriMo2024
82 reads
8 Comments
Spark
spark conversation
spark intention
sparks always lead to change
when you smother the sparks
within and among you
things just remain the same
a spark is a glimmer
a spark is a hint
a nucleus of a notion
a spark can provoke
a spark animates
a spark sets things in motion
a single spark
strategically applied
can ignite a chain reaction
a handful of sparks
spread far and wide
connects small flames in common action
I don’t need to be
the entire blaze
to bring light into the dark ...
spark intention
sparks always lead to change
when you smother the sparks
within and among you
things just remain the same
a spark is a glimmer
a spark is a hint
a nucleus of a notion
a spark can provoke
a spark animates
a spark sets things in motion
a single spark
strategically applied
can ignite a chain reaction
a handful of sparks
spread far and wide
connects small flames in common action
I don’t need to be
the entire blaze
to bring light into the dark ...
#hope
#inspirational
#NaPoWriMo2024
#spiritual
#strength
91 reads
4 Comments
Plans
Write about making plans,” she said,
and I laughed –
“oh honey, you know I suck at that!”
and she smiles, “exactly…”
This girl understands my poetry.
How it’s always all about the anguish
of making elaborate plans
that I’m not equipped to execute
and perceiving beauty
that I’ll never be able to hold.
How I can languish in the heartache
of imagined futures and friendships and feats
that I am powerless to actualize
and how,
despite the apparent misery,
I still choose this stubborn...
and I laughed –
“oh honey, you know I suck at that!”
and she smiles, “exactly…”
This girl understands my poetry.
How it’s always all about the anguish
of making elaborate plans
that I’m not equipped to execute
and perceiving beauty
that I’ll never be able to hold.
How I can languish in the heartache
of imagined futures and friendships and feats
that I am powerless to actualize
and how,
despite the apparent misery,
I still choose this stubborn...
#ADHD
#daughter
#determination
#MyInspiration
#NaPoWriMo2024
81 reads
8 Comments
Nature
I used to write about nature
in its truest sense –
the whisper of pine needles
heady scent of moss
rioting dandelions
and hooting owls
The way that dewdrops cling
to the border of kale leaves in the garden
and how the stars tell stories
of my magnificent smallness
I still perceive this poetry
all around me
But I’ve become consumed of late
with the nature of humans
untangling ill-fated attachments
to wounded avoidants
that painful natural cycle
I just can’t break
And...
in its truest sense –
the whisper of pine needles
heady scent of moss
rioting dandelions
and hooting owls
The way that dewdrops cling
to the border of kale leaves in the garden
and how the stars tell stories
of my magnificent smallness
I still perceive this poetry
all around me
But I’ve become consumed of late
with the nature of humans
untangling ill-fated attachments
to wounded avoidants
that painful natural cycle
I just can’t break
And...
#apathy
#despair
#NaPoWriMo2024
#nature
#relationships
70 reads
6 Comments
think I'll start tonight
I've been a good girl
playing angel all week long
patience wearing thin
intentions, whispered
drive you mad the whole damn flight
wait 'til we get home...
.
playing angel all week long
patience wearing thin
intentions, whispered
drive you mad the whole damn flight
wait 'til we get home...
.
#seductive
#senryu
#travel
146 reads
9 Comments
Captive heart
I just can’t do it today.
Reached into the vault
where poetry should be –
Nothing.
After six days of fitting
"nicely"
into this ultra-conservative
highly reserved
octogenarian-paced life
I’ve had to stay buried
so very deep
I am nearly
unreachable.
Tomorrow, we head home.
And then…
I shall unleash
all my unseemly emotions
move my body freely
with inappropriate exuberance
utter long strings of
filthy cuss words
and unearth the truth
of the poet ...
Reached into the vault
where poetry should be –
Nothing.
After six days of fitting
"nicely"
into this ultra-conservative
highly reserved
octogenarian-paced life
I’ve had to stay buried
so very deep
I am nearly
unreachable.
Tomorrow, we head home.
And then…
I shall unleash
all my unseemly emotions
move my body freely
with inappropriate exuberance
utter long strings of
filthy cuss words
and unearth the truth
of the poet ...
#family
#NaPoWriMo2024
#travel #WritersBlock
#travel #WritersBlock
57 reads
6 Comments
Parade of the Tulips of RoozenGaarde
On the banks of a Hyacinth river we strolled in a Purple Dream…
It was Queensday, and Flaming Parrots made ready
for arrival of the prismatic Parrot King.
Suncatcher arose in a Pink Impression
as Queen of the Night (that Blushing Beauty)
donned her pink fringed Neglige.
A Dynasty of Pretty Princesses in Orange and Red
cut short her Daydream of the Sun Lover
to escort the Scarlet Pimpernel to the Temple of Beauty.
As the Golden Artist conducted his flashy Golden Parade
of riotous colour and Secret Perfume,
Ballerinas in...
It was Queensday, and Flaming Parrots made ready
for arrival of the prismatic Parrot King.
Suncatcher arose in a Pink Impression
as Queen of the Night (that Blushing Beauty)
donned her pink fringed Neglige.
A Dynasty of Pretty Princesses in Orange and Red
cut short her Daydream of the Sun Lover
to escort the Scarlet Pimpernel to the Temple of Beauty.
As the Golden Artist conducted his flashy Golden Parade
of riotous colour and Secret Perfume,
Ballerinas in...
#beauty
#flowers
#NaPoWriMo2024 #nature
#NaPoWriMo2024 #nature
102 reads
8 Comments
Wine and stories
I recommend having a glass of wine
with your conservative, intimidating
mother in law.
Unexpected loose conversation
after a day of travelling strain
performing my best
Being reminded of my faults
through comments from outside
(and why must he join in these attacks?)
And derided by self commentary within
(Why can I not be generous,
putting aside my writing time
for her sake without resentment?)
The connection finally came through stories, of course –
A long-distance courtship on cassette tape,
long before the...
with your conservative, intimidating
mother in law.
Unexpected loose conversation
after a day of travelling strain
performing my best
Being reminded of my faults
through comments from outside
(and why must he join in these attacks?)
And derided by self commentary within
(Why can I not be generous,
putting aside my writing time
for her sake without resentment?)
The connection finally came through stories, of course –
A long-distance courtship on cassette tape,
long before the...
#family
#NaPoWriMo2024
47 reads
4 Comments
Nuisance
I’m always over-eager
to let you off the hook
dealing get out of jail free cards
before you’ve even asked
Because obviously, my requests
must have been
a nuisance
Well I don’t want this
self-inflicted itchy coat of blame
and I refuse to carry
this imaginary shame
It’s not
too much
to want a moment of attention
a few seconds of uncalculated truth
I’d like to help you step out
from behind those levers of control
But I’m done making your excuses
by convincing myself that I am
a nuisance
...
to let you off the hook
dealing get out of jail free cards
before you’ve even asked
Because obviously, my requests
must have been
a nuisance
Well I don’t want this
self-inflicted itchy coat of blame
and I refuse to carry
this imaginary shame
It’s not
too much
to want a moment of attention
a few seconds of uncalculated truth
I’d like to help you step out
from behind those levers of control
But I’m done making your excuses
by convincing myself that I am
a nuisance
...
#NaPoWriMo2024
#relationships
#SelfReflection
59 reads
6 Comments
Dreaming of Home
I woke up beside you, in a house that we own,
sobbing and broken ‘cause I couldn’t find home.
The dream was so vivid, the feeling so raw;
an aching realization I’d been here before.
No one to guide me, found my way on my own,
following my instincts, somehow I knew the road.
I set out across the water, though I couldn’t see the way;
unseen creatures threatening, but I kept the fears at bay.
When “HOME” finally appeared as if out of thin air,
I could tell everybody was already there.
They’d gone on without me, not thinking to wait, ...
sobbing and broken ‘cause I couldn’t find home.
The dream was so vivid, the feeling so raw;
an aching realization I’d been here before.
No one to guide me, found my way on my own,
following my instincts, somehow I knew the road.
I set out across the water, though I couldn’t see the way;
unseen creatures threatening, but I kept the fears at bay.
When “HOME” finally appeared as if out of thin air,
I could tell everybody was already there.
They’d gone on without me, not thinking to wait, ...
#despair
#dreams
#NaPoWriMo2024 #nightmares
#NaPoWriMo2024 #nightmares
80 reads
4 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by brokentitanium (k.)