I notice  
when people treat me differently,  
the subtle shifts in their smiles,  
and a coldness beneath their words.  

I notice  
when they weave their lies,  
assuming I’m too gullible to see  
the threads of truth unravelling.  

I notice  
when I’m left out of the plan,  
a ghost in conversations,  
I become an option, not a choice.  

I notice  
the awkwardness in their glances,  
the way kindness wears a mask,  
hiding intentions behind pleasantries.  

I notice  
when I’m a pawn in their game,  
used for someone else’s gain,  
my worth measured by their needs.  

I notice
so don’t mistake my silence for naivety.  
I’m sharper than you think.  
I’m not blind; I notice everything.

©️Lizzie Bevis

A false joyous face I slip on,
when they ask how I'm faring,
carving cheer from sorrow's worn stone,
painting sunshine over the depths within.

Dragging myself from the bed each day
becomes a spell cast gone wrong,
I'm the worst of all mages,
unable to conjure the power to be strong.

This sadness, is my sole remaining vest,
my washed out laundry hangs outside in the rain,
I'd rather not burden others with my plight,
So, I try to disguise my pain.

Rather than let the cat out of my bag,
I laugh and say "I'm doing ok?”
Though the truth lies buried, out of sight.
Masking the dark road I face alone.

©️Lizzie Bevis

Gazing into the mirror,
blotchy eyed, unkempt and exhausted
as dull light casts shadows,
framing my weary face,
as I search for any strength
left in this aged reflection
by recalling fearless days.

Adrift, all conviction is lost
yet, in my mind I still tread water,
as despair’s chill takes hold
and I drown in torments deep depths,
each breath a heavyweight
as I slowly sink under.

My heart remains guarded,
I count each fragile vulnerable beat
and I deeply pray for solace as frailty continuously snuffs out my spark.
The anxiety grips steadfastly to reality
and my self-esteem dissipates
under this malady.

I cower from this fear,  
not wishing to fade into stillness here,  
while the world outside looms
like an impossible mountain to climb.  
Why must my existence feel so awry,  
reduced to nothing but a broken soul?
Because, this is not me…
This is not me at all.

©️Lizzie Bevis

I tried to stop loving you,  
So I built my walls high,  
Yet you carved yourself in me,  
A mark that won't erase,  
A pulse beneath the armour,  
A ghost I can't outpace.

In the calm of the night,  
I think of those who came,  
Their voices are like whispers,  
Yet yours always rebounds,  
Resounding in my head,  
As time slips by in vain.

Sometimes I pause and wonder,  
Do you recall my gaze?  
The way the world fell silent,  
When we were face to face,  
The way I'd run toward you,  
Through summer's warm embrace.

Have you turned another page,  
Forgotten what we were,  
While I weave through threads of longing,  
as my memories become a blur?  
My heart still beats your rhythm,  
Though distance makes it stir.

I really tried to stop loving you,  
But love, it seems, won't yield,  
For even in these lonely walls,  
Your significance is revealed,  
Like a heart etched on a tree,  
Too deep to be concealed.

©️Lizzie Bevis

I wrapped myself
in your old sweater;  
it wasn't the same.
I smelt your perfume,  
the scent of sweet jasmine  
had turned bittersweet.
I whispered your name too,  
I wanted to find comfort  
in your empty arms,  
but its softness is now  
just a ghost of you.  

©️Lizzie Bevis

These fleeting moments,  
Carry dreams yet to bloom,  
While my words dance and play,  
In the stillness of this room.

The world may rush around me,  
Yet here, I find my inner peace,  
In the wisdom shared between us,  
All of my worries seem to cease.  

As moments go unnoticed
Like tall grass glistening  
With soft morning dew.  
The steady beating  
Of my heart  
Still waiting for you.

Dear old Father Time,  
Slips between my fingers,  
With each passing second,  
His gentle guidance lingers.

So I’ll care for every moment,  
As a quiet hope fills the air,  
You'll read this poem of waiting,  
And I know that you will be there.

©️Lizzie Bevis

Hurt lingered here,
deep within my heart,
as loyalty and misery
Tore me apart.
Disappointment ate away,
Devouring my every thought,
As angry words replayed over
after the battles we fought.

My mind was forever searching
and looking for clues,
hoping to find the source
Of the anguish in you.
Time is unforgiving,
But I will forgive you,
I'll never forget the torment,
You put me through.

My scars tell their stories,
Some you may never see,
The pain is not easily forgotten
at least not by me.
But, I am fortunate and free,
I've finally moved on.
Peace is now with me,
As I emerge brave and strong.

©️Lizzie Bevis

Is life worth living
When all you do is give,
Pouring out your soul
Into an unrelenting hole?

Each sacrifice exacts its toll,
Consuming any self-control,
They take without any remorse,
Draining your spirit's inner source.

In corporate rooms of cold design,
Where profit trumps the human line,
You stand amongst the beaten downs,
With silent ones who wear their frowns.

Your body bends, your mind breaks,
Yet blame becomes the final stake.
Pointing fingers, casting shame
As struggles grow and you're to blame.

So tell me now, amid this strife:
Are you truly blessed in this life?
Or just a cog within the wheel,
Where giving is the only deal?

©️Lizzie Bevis

Watching gondolas glide
on murky mirrors
as I wander alone,
over bridges arched high,  
immersing myself in the culture
of this jewel of a lagoon.
I'm passing over canals,
watching couples hand in hand,
in love as red as the bricks.

But, why is Venice split in two
when it is the city of love?

The Grand Canal must agree,
as she too wonders through
the sun drenched afternoon;
Until dusk welcomes
masked figures in gold leaf,
dancing past in capes
like thieves stealing hearts
in the magic of the Venetian night.

©️Lizzie Bevis

A dusty path beneath my feet,
My worries fade with each step,
Leaving the past behind.
Green fields wave to hopeful songs,
As the horizon stretches open,
And a new day waits to greet me.

My worn boots carry a heavy heart,
Breaking the chains of yesterday.
As sunlight breaks through
the grey clouded by sadness sky,
And liberation calls with a soothing voice,
Promising a fresh beginning.

I feel wild grasses brush against me,
As shattered paths mend themselves.
Silence fills my distracted mind,
Distant trees rise in understanding,
And letting go becomes my strength,
As the future blooms like wildflowers.

The countryside embraces me,
As the healing winds of change blow,
Miles unwind like a silent threads,
Breaking free from what once was,
As each step forward builds courage,
Walking towards a new dawn.

©️Lizzie Bevis

Do you dare to search deep within me,
reveal my darkest secrets
and uncover the truth?

I am a master of disguise,
displays of emotion are denied
enough to outwit any sleuth.

So I must ask...
Are you sure you want to see
what is behind this mask?

©️Lizzie Bevis

I wonder if our secrets are heard by the trees,
As dancing leaves gently drift to the ground.
Do they share our whispers with the ever-flowing breeze,
Carrying rumours in their soft, rustling sound?

Do sweet-sounding birds catch our secrets on the wind,
Composing their songs as they soar through the sky?
With melodies woven, do they sing what we conceal,
Recalling our secrets and whispers as they fly?

Does the rainfall collect our soft whispers in raindrops,
Telling all as they merge with the vast, rolling sea?
Does the lunar pull send them forth with the tide,
Sharing our secrets with stars that shine eternally?

©️Lizzie Bevis

As the night comes,  
you slowly sneak in,  
stealing not only my dreams,  
but also my sleep.  
Yet in daylight,  
I can't escape;  
you capture my thoughts
beautifully bittersweet.

In fact, the daytime is worse;  
you take my appetite and thirst.  
I should have noticed  
from the very start,  
when you traded my steady pulse  
for a racing heart.  
You've kidnapped my mind,  
and possessed my soul;  
if I let you, my love,  
you'd swallow me whole.

Yet, I can't blame you  
for this ‘grief’ called love;  
you have no idea  
that you are a thief!  
You've stolen my heart  
and my reason, too;  
I'm lovesick,
I’m pining
forever thinking about you.

©️Lizzie Bevis

Poets are just artists
with so much to say,
we are quite happy
to spend hours writing
throughout our days.

Emotion is our fuel for thought,
along with love and hate,
our distant memories
and ideas are scribbled down,
as they wait to be woven into beautiful words to which we will invigorate.

To carefully plan and create
something new,
from something old
and make something meaningful
from the words that we mold.

Broken at times we may also be
and taking the time to write
gives a much needed release.
Being healed by using words
brings a feeling so new and complete.

But, sometimes,
I want to be feel broken
so I may rekindle
lost feelings that hurt me,
reminisce about lost romance,
to mend my shattered heart
and relive the pain
that once tore me apart.

This page is my canvas,
the words are my picture to paint
a view within your mind.
I can cause you to sink into my scene,
as I tell you a story about where I have been.

To tell you how joy filled my heart
when he came into my life,
and how everything was wonderful
and being by his side felt so right.
Remembering how the leaves
on the trees were green that day
and how beautiful the sky is blue
How the stars shimmer
in the clear night sky
and how the sunset kisses the land
each day anew.

But, how many times
did he break my heart
and heal it time and time again?
and then I’ll show you how
I eventually turned everything around
and then gave my life it's dues.

You see, we poets are just like artists
our passion is just with words,
I would write and use my blood
to paint the sunsets
and draw lovehearts if I could.

I would carve and create
masterpieces with the hurt
that was left behind
Just to bring life to a poem or story
being written within my lifetime.

©️Lizzie Bevis

Caffeinated and bright-eyed,
I'm running on coffee's power.
Each sip, a liquid boost of might,
Fuelling me by the hour.

The aroma, it beckons me near,
The flavour, it's oh so divine!
A cup in my hand, my mind grows clear,
This Arabica, is truly sublime.

Perked up and ready to go,
My energy is quickly revived.
With coffee as my trusted sidekick,
Helping me to feel alive.

©️Lizzie Bevis