This is inspiring. Like the phoenix you will rise from the ashes. More resilient experience and wise. Love that stanza

How does that quote go? “To thy own self be true”? From Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, I believe. As I was reading your poem Sappho, I thought, who else could we be, but ourselves. We may conform to social norm, but this would still be our choice to do so, still ourself, no one else. I think it is sometimes very hard to buck the system, to do the right thing. Someone or something may guide your thinking and or actions, but it is still you, yourself who decides to do this. In reading your poem, I arrived at Hamlet and thought, who else could I be but myself. And then I thought, even rising from the ashes has consequences and responsibilities. I think perhaps another question might be, are we willing to own up to those responsibilities and consequences?

I enjoyed reading your poem Sappho, it gave me a lot to consider. And it also made me appreciate who I am and want to be. Thank you for sharing.

Curt

Too few essay such thoughts, thank you for echoing truths we are forgetting 🌼

Being human is a poisoned chalice from which we all drink.It can give so much but demands a fee.
Your poem goes do a deeper problem about how mindlessly we wander through our precious days.
Well done Elke 🙏

Fun Fact: I burned my feet pretty bad in a fire when I was a kid. It sucked. LOL. It was just one of several shitty things I endured. Yet it did indeed make me a stronger person as I grew up. We choose our outlook. And that outlook finds the path.
Your write is an awesome testament to that. It could be printed and carried in one’s pocket before undertaking a particular task. This is a great example as to why we write. It builds our character, too.
Very inspiring write.

When the high waves of life try to drown you, you have only two options- to give up or to mobilize all your resources and swim! In the process of learning to swim and standing up for myself, I learned many great lessons about gratitude, forgiveness, and the importance of helping and loving one another.
Thank you so much for sharing a glimpse of your personal experience, and of course for your kind comment, dear Her!

Very motivating. The world will kick your butt if you let it. Great ink.

A truly magical and inspiring piece of poetry Elke. You have a gift when you write poetry. Nice work.

You are a fabulous writer Elke.
It’s always nice to fall into the cooling water.💚

It does take courage to go against the norm.
You don’t know what you’re made of until it turns messy.
But that feeling of getting burned is its own form of motivation.
To rise in spite of having the wind nocked out of you.
Righteous write!

Powerfully penned, Elke. Excellent write my friend very inspirational indeed. Appreciate you.

Damian

Nice set up. Can’t wait to read the rest

Powerfully penned, Benjamin. I concur with Fia, excellent write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

thunder, now passed,
praising rain on a lean-to…
this high & sky
full of mist & wist,

satisfied shine, rich
with daggered eyes in flight…
earth & alighted, poor
with cosmic delusion…

cockatrice glare
through fog & moon.

‘thunder, now passed,
praising rain on a lean-to…
this high & sky
full of mist & wist,

satisfied shine, rich
with daggered eyes in flight…
earth & alighted, poor
with cosmic delusion…

cockatrice glare
through fog & moon.’

Superbly but subtly visual, pensive yet explicit? Why not, sez I.

I love everything about this. From the feelings like shadows, to confiding to the stars.
Beautiful expression on such a sad topic.
You are amazing:)

Simply beautiful….

hello beautiful thank you graciously for showing me love on this it’s deeply felt ❤️

Yes, you have to love now and love them hard. That message is potent. You wrote this well.

Powerfully penned, Brenda. This one pulled at my heartstrings my friend. Excellent write. Appreciate you.

Damian

Some are shaped by pain to early. Others, late lose the joy. The truth is in the moment, and loving those you’re with 🌼❤

Oh. Daggers to the heart babe!
This write is terminal and has a quiet elegance about it.
The whole piece gets you in the feels.
It all tied together perfectly with the moth. I didn’t realize the significance of it until the end.
Just bravo! It needs to go in your book!

Proud fiancé right here!

I was talking to a co-worker the other day, about if we should tell our loved ones or not if we are “terminal”. Because it changes the dynamics of the relationship right away. Happiness is hard to have then. It’s always bittersweet from then on.
So, I began this write based on the dilemma. But then the whole moth aspect gave me a different approach, like a focal point away from the gloom.
I will undoubtedly hack at this some more, slightly, but for now this is what I got.
Thank you honey! It’s a bit heavy I know. Just a write I swear! 😉

This is a wonderful sad and bittersweed writing on a difficult and heavy topic, dear Styxian! The moth as a spirit guide is a well chosen and meaningful symbol. A moth knows how to die. It focuses only on the light and its overwhelming attraction towards it. I think death can show us what really matters in life. Gratitude for everything we have experienced in life, for the people we love and for all of life here on Earth. Of course, a terminal disease comes with many burdens and hardships but it also gives you the chance to say goodbye and to surrender completely to love – just like a moth does.

Jeez Mark, this is beautifully heart breaking and offers much food for thought. The moth motif is a clever touch.

Brilliant work.

Yes the big “C” through neighbors and family we are familiar with this destroyer of home, family, and bank accounts. We remember while younger a neighbor was sent back home to die with stomach cancer. Dude you would not believe the screams, the entire neighborhood felt relief with his passing. Maybe, just maybe this moth was also is spirit guide. To tight dude

Brilliantly penned, Mark. This one has layers and depth my friend, and it pulled on the heartstrings as well. Excellent write. Appreciate you.

Damian

I enjoyed this. It is full of images and captures the rolling duality of life and death, with style.
Regards James