Corruption and ignorance go hand in hand. Yes, I whole heartedly agree with you. We must see the truth and act on it. Powerful write.

As if you read my mind and what I was thinking as as articulate. 🙂
I almost got ht by one of those flagy pickups yesterday. 💚

hello beautiful Willow powerful write the darkness threatens to swallow me whole I feel you ❤️

Powerfully penned, Willow. Into the book it belongs! This is’t a write it’s a statement my friend. Excellent work. Appreciate you.

Damian

WHOA!!! Some truth telling going on here. It didn’t fall on deaf ears, cause I be listening. America has always been 2 countries within one country. Today’s fascists were yesterday’s slave owners and slave bounty hunters. Thank goodness there are still wide awake decent people who in their millions took to the streets a few days ago. And even better, there is, beginning Nov 5, the determined, nonviolent, movement to oust these MAGA maggots’ regime.

Yes, it is often true in history that people were warned but didn’t listen, sometimes people just need to have a fire lit under their arses, before they can see straight. I think we poets have a role to play in this eye opening!! Your poem Willow is a welcomed salvo (or perhaps to be consistent with the metaphor), a welcomed match for that fire.

Thanks for the much need poem Willow.
Curt

damn good write.

Raw and unflinching. You’ve caught the weight of complicity and the ache of resistance in a way that feels both urgent and true. An incredible read!

Okay, now I know. You not only know how to write beautiful, powerful words , you also know how to deliver them. I certainly want to speak to you, Willow. Please visit with me.

Who made you promise not to cuss? In the immortal words of my old coworker…”fuck that!” I hear what you’re saying. And not saying. Thank you, girl

whooee, thanks 🙂

Superb work.

No I do not see you as whiner or a complainer. I see you as being introspective and know how you feel. Good work here

I’m admitting the title pulled me in.
This was in unexpected read. How everyday should be like Christmas. The meaning of it.
To remember to be patient and find joy in the unexpected, like NASCAR. lol
I personally think if everyone would have a sprinkle of this in their
everyday life, it would have a huge impact on your daily outlook. Life has a way of making us desensitized from
all the good around us. Like someone who says thank you and holds open the door.
Uplifting write!

Adelphina referred me to this write. And also said that you look like a Santa!
Your gift to us is your emotional write here. It hollers out a plea that we all know, yet didn’t have the articulation that you did.
It’s a very entertaining write, even if full of frustration and the “is it good enough?” gift giving.
Well thought out, and written.

Dude you don’t have to write dark pieces, you’re a lover. The world needs far more light flowing through love than our darkness Halloween pieces. Tight one dude

This is full of emotion and beautiful imagery.
As writers we get it. Totally get it. Our dreams are what encourage us to write. That extraordinary feeling of connection with something beyond our grasp. So we grab the pen and off we go with our words. Trying to convey what we feel in our own sense of style and tone. You never disappoint. Your writing is exceptional because you’re exceptional. You have mastered expression my love. This is a beauty.

With much love and respect
Adelphina

If I ever find that special someone, I hope I can write something like this. Nice one, Styx.

Beautifully penned, Mark. Love the title, this is an excellent write my friend. I can identify with that process, not always knowing where a write will lead sometimes not till the very end. I knew I wasn’t the only one. Appreciate you.

Damian

Truly beautiful work, my friend.

Totally absorbing, the more I scrolled down. I found it intriguing to learn of how real you wrote her – how immersing that discovery felt from a reader’s point of view. We don’t always know where our muse will lead us, do we? But oh, how lovely the discovery we find!

Yes, that perfect lover, the soulmate. In my life she was dreamt of but never found. Like you, I have written about her and dreamt about her. I’ve tried to paint her image, even though I didn’t know what she looked like. Your poem perfectly describes how we feel about that special someone.

A very brief incorporation… a warm poem… that’s all I needed.

Wonderful write. It has a calming effect, even.
Not enough honest, heart felt writes are done by men. It’s good to see you’re brave enough to pick up that torch. You did so well.

This is calming. Nicely done

Thanks for reading and listening.
I wrote this ten years ago. I tried to make it into a song. I am very glad enjoyed it.
Regards James

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