Submit your work, meet writers and drop the ads. Become a member
 
729 · Oct 2018
Skydive
JL Smith Oct 2018
Your feet drift from foundation
Your eyes instinctively close
Your stomach somersaults
Your heart, momentarily froze

Your eyes begin to open
Engrossed by the beauty of our globe
You've overcome your fear

Spread your wings,
Enjoy the show

© JL Smith
I faced one of my fears and did it... I jumped out of a plane! Don't ever allow fear to control you. You are capable of achieving whatever you desire. Just DO IT!
728 · Aug 2018
The One for This Mess
JL Smith Aug 2018
Where are you?

I read about you in books
And watched you on the silver screen
Society places considerable emphasis
On you sweeping me off my feet

Who are you?

Someone labeled, "Super"
Dressed in boots and a cape?
Or a dubious author
Shredding manuscripts you create?

No matter--

The fairy tale's a myth
No perfect prince charming or princess
Just a worn heart-on-her-sleeve lover
Searching for The One who will accept her mess

© JL Smith
718 · Oct 2018
Reflection
JL Smith Oct 2018
Yesterday,
My mirror reflected fear
Today,
Tenacity appeared
Acceptance of self
Riddance of doubt
An unstoppable force
Enough to shout

I am strong
I am wise
I'm a daughter and sister
At times,
A hurricane and a twister
I'm forgiving
And a patient listener

I am comedic
I am empathetic
I'm a lover and fighter
But mostly,
A heart-on-the-sleeve writer
Sometimes complex
Not easily deciphered

But I'm human
And I'm honest
Pledging loyalty to my friends
I try my best to encourage and inspire
An adventurous spirit, old soul
Steadfast faith until the end

© JL Smith
701 · May 2018
Lust
JL Smith May 2018
I fell in love
You fell in lust
I broke your plans
You broke my trust

© JL Smith
699 · Jan 2019
My Roots, My Truth
JL Smith Jan 2019
Dig deeper--
For the answers you seek
Require travel farther beneath
An ambiguous surface
Along a foundation of strength
Tracing the tips of my roots
Is where you'll discover
My soul, my truth

© JL Smith
695 · Jun 2018
Drifted
JL Smith Jun 2018
I don't know
Which is uglier
Your jealousy or pride
I grew too closely
Then you changed
Like the seasons
And I drifted
With the tide

© JL Smith
691 · Jun 2018
Silent Prayer
JL Smith Jun 2018
When tears caress my cheekbones
It's rarely for my sake
This heart of mine empathizes immeasurably
For when another endures pain

My voice may not soothe
My written words unlikely to mend,
But my silent presence offers
Peace and prayer
Until your healing begins

© JL Smith
690 · Jun 2018
Passion
JL Smith Jun 2018
A fire burns within
Each flame igniting desires
For a passion I must pursue
Broiling my blood, searing every fiber

I once questioned why it chose me
Tried to fend it off for good,
But birth dealt me as a dreamer
Persistent imagination into adulthood

These words consist of power
Its control bestowed upon the unique
The responsibility of my talent
To share what others sincerely seek

Commitment and dedication
Discipline and sleepless nights
Believing in something bigger
Triumphant against all plights

As strength endures heartache
And my will to succeed prevails
My words shield me from naysayers
Because not everyone understand what my path entails

© JL Smith
687 · Oct 2018
Longing
JL Smith Oct 2018
Maybe in those moments
When you're reminded of me
Your heart strongly feels mine
Longing for the love I need

© JL Smith
681 · Jan 2019
Appetite
JL Smith Jan 2019
No fruits from the trees
Nor honey from bees
No meat from the livestock
Nor dairy's finest cheese
Could satisfy my appetite
For I crave a love too sweet
Fulfilling this hunger
Savoring each heartbeat

© JL Smith
679 · Apr 2017
Fairy Tale
JL Smith Apr 2017
The happiest ever after
I've found
Is falling in love with yourself

© JL Smith
678 · Jul 2017
With These Hands
JL Smith Jul 2017
With these hands
I've written stories
I've penned my secrets
And shared my glory

With these hands
I've assisted my friend
I've patted his back
And made amends

With these hands
I've lifted a child
I've caressed her face
And witnessed a smile

With these hands
I've earned my keep
I've labored long hours
And rested my feet

With these hands
I've held you tightly
I've loved you gently
And given politely

With these hands
I've dried my tears
I've bandaged my wounds
And conquered my fears

With these hands
I've prayed to our Creator
I've thanked Him for this gift
And a Love that's greater

© JL Smith
666 · May 2017
Force of Nature
JL Smith May 2017
You're like a
Bad habit,
A fever I can't break

Like a
Natural disaster,
Devastating earthquake

You're
Yesterday's promise
Today's heartache

And I expect you
To give,
But all you do is take

© JL Smith
662 · Sep 2018
Beyond Doubt
JL Smith Sep 2018
I love you in ways
You could never fathom
Beyond doubt,
Past what any creator can imagine

I love you as passionately
As the pianist plays his keys
And as devoted as the sinner
Prays upon his knees

I loved you before I knew
The depth of your heart
As the sailor sets to sea
Placing faith in his chart

I'll love you as long as the sun
Rises in the East
And remain as loyal as the moon
Commits waves along the beach

© JL Smith
657 · Aug 2018
Blood and Ink
JL Smith Aug 2018
My half of the world's fast asleep
Both hands stretch to twelve in a reach
And as their minds fill with dreams,
I fill paper
With the spilling of my blood and ink

© JL Smith
649 · Dec 2018
Mend
JL Smith Dec 2018
As the glue grasps the shards
And the splint heals the bone
Your love mends my heart's pieces
Repairing what's broken by thrown stones

© JL Smith
642 · Aug 2018
Humanity Bleeds Red
JL Smith Aug 2018
Seven billion people
Seven billion faces
Scattered across our globe
Composed of beautiful races
Some rough around the edges
Others smooth as velvet,
But when pieced together
Form a puzzle if we solve it
From first glance, you look different
And what's unknown instills fear,
But my heart knows better
For all of humanity bleeds a red so sincere

© JL Smith
639 · Jun 2018
A Stranger
JL Smith Jun 2018
By definition, you're a stranger
But from my gut, I'd risk the chance
To sit beside you
Get to know you
Hear your story
Fall under trance
You say my words are magnets,
But your own attracted me
To ask for answers
Seek your truth
Reveal my secrets
So effortlessly

© JL Smith
638 · Mar 2018
One Last Time
JL Smith Mar 2018
What you ask for
I promise I'd try to give
But all I've known
Are patterns of brokenness
I'm not willing to relive

I've heard it before,
"I'll never turn my back"
But all I've known
Are watching the ones I've loved
Leave before they fully unpack

I cling to your words
I'm fascinated, I'll admit
But all I've known
Are promises spun from lies
Absent of action, no one who commits

And yet, I promised I'd try
Here I go, up I climb
Even though all I've known
Are heartaches and blows
I'll attempt to trust, one last time

© JL Smith
632 · May 2017
Compassion
JL Smith May 2017
My head lowers
And you lift my chin
Doubt festers
As you take me in

Concealed struggle
Catastrophic tailspin
But your belief in me
May help this end

© JL Smith
632 · Dec 2018
Doubt Departs
JL Smith Dec 2018
Crashing waves
Compose uncertainty
Within the walls of my heart
Until your Love
Walks the waters
Calming tsunamis
As doubt departs

© JL Smith
632 · Jun 2017
Impassioned
JL Smith Jun 2017
And when she tells you,
Tells you she's wild
You laugh and then contemplate
How she's compiled

Reserved in appearance
Occasional demeanor, too
As you seek a sign
To reveal a divergent view

But most won't notice
What's sacred to discover
She's disciplined beyond measure
Yet, an untamed lover

© JL Smith
629 · Jun 2018
Myself
JL Smith Jun 2018
They'll think I'm crazy for this,
But I'm certain they already do
You're not here yet,
But I'm confident someday in the future
The world sure is gonna welcome you

You'll be bright
A shining star
With a head full of curls
Always setting the bar

You'll be kind
Looking out for others
With a smile
Patient, like a Southerner

You'll be humble
A skilled listener
With arms open
For any visitor

You'll be witty
Eliciting laughter from many
With joy as your purpose
And remarkably friendly

You'll be loving
Deeply, so deeply
With a heart
Crafted ever uniquely

You're not here yet,
But someday we'll meet
For now, you'll remain in my heart
As I count its beats

Until I witness these words
Of all that you'll be
I know of their truth
Because you'll inherit them from me

© JL Smith
628 · Oct 2018
A Heart Like Mine
JL Smith Oct 2018
Who could ever understand a heart like mine?
What a mess, what a maze, what a caged bird awaiting flight

And yet a few relate, those who take the time
Comprised of patience, generosity, compassion and sunshine

Most may call them strangers, but I know them as friends
Each expressing emotions and moving mountains through pen

Your humble hearts hurt more than most,
And your vulnerability often leaves you exposed

But promise me you'll never stray from your truth
Because I'm more confident today
Knowing pieces of my heart reside also within you

© JL Smith
A dedication to a few of my dearest writers who have taken the time to get to know my heart--who understand it because their hearts beat to a similar song. I'm blessed to call you my friend.
627 · Mar 2018
Do You Think of Me, too?
JL Smith Mar 2018
It's 1:43 a.m. as I sit here and wonder
If you're awake, asleep
Or in between where we dream
It's times like this when I think of you
Question if you think of me, too

Has your heart been broken?
Are your dreams coming true?
Is life everything you wished for?
If not, do you continue following through?

I know, it's crazy
I wouldn't recognize your face
And yet, I feel we're connected
Just need the right time and place

We're guided by Above
You face your trials, while I face mine
I pray you're somewhere out there
And when we're ready
We'll find each other
In due time

© JL Smith
625 · Jun 2018
Into the Uncharted
JL Smith Jun 2018
I diverged
From the foreseen path most follow--
The route adhered to avert one's fears
Instead, I boldly strayed into the uncharted
Inquiring answers to what ifs and the unclear

© JL Smith
622 · Sep 2018
Live Loudly
JL Smith Sep 2018
Your voice shakes,
But speak loudly
Your hands hesitate,
Though write proudly
Your thoughts linger,
So, ask profoundly
Your feet wander,
Seek devoutly
Your spirit differs,
Embrace oddity
Your heart aches
Yet, love constantly

© JL Smith
621 · Jun 2018
It Cuts Me Deeper
JL Smith Jun 2018
You said it hurts,
But it cuts me deeper
I yearned for you to say it
Yet here I am, still playing mind reader

My brain's shut down
While my heart continues bleeding
Echoes of our love
Linger on while I'm grieving

© JL Smith
619 · Jan 2019
Concealed
JL Smith Jan 2019
Loves casts a shadow
Through your glance
While concealing its confession
Behind lips
Fleetingly blinding my world
As the moon masks the sun
By eclipse

© JL Smith
617 · Jun 2017
Homesick
JL Smith Jun 2017
I woke before the sun,
But if I'm honest, I never slept
I knew I'd dream those nightmares
Of the secrets that I've kept

So, I confess

I sense when you're behind me
As I turn and lock your stare
Or how my insides go crazy
When your laughter fills the air

I act as if it chills my bones,
But you possess the warmest touch
Others grow weary of discussion
Yet, I crave your words so much

Distance draws an ache
I try to feel you near
The clock becomes my nemesis
Time is closing, I fear

I'd get homesick as a child
Inside different walls I felt alone,
But now it's not a house I miss
It's your heart I've called my home

© JL Smith
JL Smith Sep 2018
When the love you seek
Cannot be found
And the Heavens above
Draw your knees to the ground

You will find what you sought
Within your own arms
Place your hand over your heart--
This gift is His art

An abundance of love lies within
To witness its marvel, you first must give
In time, you'll discover it's enough
And that's when a heart seeking yours shows up

© JL Smith
614 · Jan 2019
My Words
JL Smith Jan 2019
As my type whispers
Yes, as it softly speaks
Through emphasis of pressed ink
It reveals my secrets,
Desires and fears
Listen with your heart
Rather than your ears

© JL Smith
613 · May 2017
Concealed
JL Smith May 2017
Knock on my door
After the sun sets
When the world goes dark
Before I regret

Grab my hand
Lead me into the unknown
Caress my cheek
Your lips on my collarbone

Force my memories to fade
The ones you know well
Speak truths to me
Our secret, I won't tell

© JL Smith
604 · Jun 2018
Goodnight
JL Smith Jun 2018
I sincerely miss
Giving the top of your head
A kiss
When you appear in my dreams
On nights like this

© JL Smith
600 · Mar 2018
A Heart I Once Could Feel
JL Smith Mar 2018
Today was your birthday
I didn't forget
Your first in four years without me
How was it spent?

Maybe that's why
You've crept back into my mind
Our birthdays, so close
The only part of us intertwined

I don't think of you as often
I guess that's how I know
I'm moving on
And I'm letting go

As much as I hurt
And as much as I learned
As much as I hated
My heart remains concerned

In time, I'll forgive
But for now, I'll heal
Happy birthday to you
A heart I once could feel

© JL Smith
598 · Jul 2018
All That I've Got
JL Smith Jul 2018
Please, don't leave me
You're all that I've got
I'm not ready to trust again
So, I'm alone
Here with you
Making sense of these thoughts

Only few understand
The power behind your art
I was gifted this talent
As it consumes me--every part

Others broke me down,
But you've strengthened my belief
As you flow freely
From my mind and veins with each heartbeat

Don't fail me, Words
You're all that I've got
You've lifted my spirit
To write is to share what life has taught

© JL Smith
587 · Dec 2018
Kindness
JL Smith Dec 2018
After traveling the winding roads
Lit by a crescent moon
Kissed by the crisp breeze
Your kindness welcomed me
Like warm rays from the sun
And sweet honey from the comb of bees

© JL Smith
582 · Jun 2018
In Good Company
JL Smith Jun 2018
May I ask you a favor?
Join me for a walk
I won't steal too much time
Or demand you to talk

I'll lead if you follow
Just don't question my aim
Mysteries concealed within
Consist of heartache and pain

These streets buzz loudly,
But your presence bears peace
We're almost there, I promise
Around this corner, a few more feet

Enter this doorway
We're taking the stairs
I forgot to mention, you needed sneakers
A comfortable pair

Too late, up we go
Breath is heavy at the top
Your heart pulsing, a little frustrated
A dead end as we stop

I unlatch the bolt
And we walk through the door
Onto a roof under the night sky
Stars lighting our dance floor

You sing and I twirl
As we draw closer to the ledge
Peeking over onto the city
Down below, a world outstretched

And out of nowhere, it happens
I scream into the air
You stare at me baffled,
But I've released all worry and care

I glance at you and smile
You laugh and shake your head
Then climb onto the rim
And yell until your face turns red

That's all I wanted
It's what we need
To take a stroll, scream a little
Spend life in good company

© JL Smith
579 · Aug 2018
You're Missed
JL Smith Aug 2018
It's 12:27 a.m.
And my postman's fast asleep
As I should be,
But I lie awake while you're also
Counting sheep

This distance between us
Cements my eyes to a map
Questioning the miles
Upon miles
Worth a hitchhike
And knapsack

For now, I'll write you poetry
Stamp and seal it
With a kiss
Until my mail carrier arrives
To deliver these words
Of how much you're missed

© JL Smith
574 · Jun 2018
My Greatest Fear
JL Smith Jun 2018
It's a writer's forbidden question
Because as poets we must speak truth,
But tonight you asked it purposely
And suddenly my voice went mute

What am I afraid of?
My answer's loaded, but I won't lie
Others may tell you heights and darkness
While some exclaim they're scared to die

As for myself
I've looked death in the eye
I'm not as afraid of it
As I am telling those I love goodbye

My body trembles in fear
When losing a parent comes to mind
It becomes difficult to swallow
Realizing life grants us such little time

And as I age
It's not poverty or debt
Or rejection I dread,
But a life others might soon forget

For my purpose is grand
I believe in myself and stand confidently by this
While I'm meant to inspire others
My greatest fear is regret of an opportunity missed

© JL Smith
570 · May 2017
Heart Conspiracy
JL Smith May 2017
You caught your reflection
And told yourself a lie
"I love myself," you said
But you disbelieved inside

You made others laugh
Depicted a world full of joy
"I'm happy," you exclaimed
All part of your ploy

You didn't want to face it
Denial of your past
"I've moved on," you swore
Oh, how your demons had massed

You rebuked my offer for help
Instead you chose me as your pawn
"I'm all you need," you promised
As the naive trusts the conn

You allured me from the start
I fell hard, you stopped short
Those three words to you mean nothing
Pray my heart is the last you distort

© JL Smith
565 · Jun 2018
Someone
JL Smith Jun 2018
I must have erased this
A hundred times
The truth is
I feared loneliness
As it peaked at bedtime

Someone once spent a fortune
Of time on me
Implanting ideas
I'd amount to nothing
"Just wait and see"
I wasn't worthy of love
Something out of my reach
I worked myself to the bone
To earn nothing
Of what was promised or preached
And one day Someone left,
But I've managed to survive
While those poisonous thoughts
Continued to eat me alive

Time does pass
As wounds heal slowly
My loved ones remind me to laugh
And look after me closely
I'm grateful for them
And for guidance from Above
I can fall asleep peacefully
Knowing I am loved

I'm confident
Someone wouldn't recognize me now
I'm stronger, wiser, less lonely
But I don't question how

For you see, the answer's obvious
Granting me tenacity of a fighter
All along, my strength's been within
Loving myself through words on a typewriter

© JL Smith
I type all of my poetry on my typewriter. Please visit my Instagram account @jlsmith_odist to view my typewritten poetry.
563 · Jun 2018
Dedication
JL Smith Jun 2018
Tonight, I dedicate this to you
My one-hundredth poem
To the reader who loyally returns
Day after day, view after view

For your support--warm words
Your encouragement and critique
And for the wisdom you've offered
I pray my poetry continually intrigues

You have a friend in me
If you've connected with my verse
I attempt to inspire love, kindness and growth
While revealing that your passion is a force

Do yourself a favor
Seize your greatness
Banish all cynics
Believe in your abilities
And live mightily courageous

Heed these steps
And watch the world around you change
The lives you will touch
Spread miracles through our gifts exchanged

© JL Smith
562 · Oct 2018
To Hell With You, Fear
JL Smith Oct 2018
You're holding me back,
You're holding me back!
To see the world, I desire
Yet, you control and conspire

Foreshadowing a future full of regret
If I comply with your reasoning;
Instilling doubt and anxiety
Comparing me to society

I'm breaking your grasp,
I'm breaking your grasp!
To hell with you, Fear
I'm moving forward
Abandoning you to my past

© JL Smith
561 · Sep 2018
Charged
JL Smith Sep 2018
Every cloud
Has a silver lining,
But Love,
You struck my heart
Just like lightning

© JL Smith
558 · Oct 2018
The Promise
JL Smith Oct 2018
Droplets
Wept
Through
Grayscale
Skies
Promise
Rainbows
Drying
Eye­s

© JL Smith
9-Word Story using #Rainbows
557 · May 2017
Society's Puppet
JL Smith May 2017
Don't lie to yourself
To appease the impostor
Break formation
Rearrange your posture

You're handed a rule book
Embedded tradition
Expected performance
But not your audition

Reject their measure
Conclude your own
Never accept majority
If you can't condone

© JL Smith
544 · May 2017
Drowsy Decay
JL Smith May 2017
Like anchors drowning in the sea
Eyelids are heavy
Dreams beckon me
I resist, I contest
As I lay by your side
Mutual surrender
As we drift with the tide

© JL Smith
540 · Aug 2018
Acceptance
JL Smith Aug 2018
At times my memory fails
Yet, your words remain clear
It's ironic how you doubted my writing
Never gave it much thought or adhered

You attempted to break my spirit,
But instead, fueled this fire
You planned to bury me in your dust,
And here I am, sprouting higher

All it took--a little confidence
Commitment to my words
A belief in these syllables
Faith in a few strong verbs

I conjure feelings
I share stories
I bleed truth
I give glory

My poetry reveals this heart
You disrespected both,
But some day you will see
How I now touch the lives of strangers I call friends
And through these words,
They believe more than you did--
They've accepted me

© JL Smith
539 · Apr 2017
Articulative Trance
JL Smith Apr 2017
You say my name
Like it's your favorite

© JL Smith
Next page