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 27429° 
Kai
I've been lately writing poetry!
Oh? What do I see?
A perfect poetry site waiting for me!
First poem, proud of it!
Oh? Someone in my messages?
This guy seems sweet
And he's hoping I don't get beat!
Pretty songs for me to listen to!
And a drunk man messaging me...?
“You're only making yourself a victim because you're cutting yourself"
Oh? Okay- thanks for the paragraph/drunk rant?

Shining lights on all of my latest poems?
Thank you! You're so sweet!
….oh…talking to me about pedophiles…got it…
Why are there so many sad songs?
WHY DOES THIS MAN HAVE SO ****** MUSIC TASTE AGGGHGDGFGCC

Oh? You wrote a poem about the 764 and absolutely humiliating them?
Great! Good job!
…But uhh… why and how did they make a virus only going after your followers that are minors? Not funny!
Why is this man warning me if they threaten me? Is he trying to make me scared on purpose?
Blaming the Japanese for this virus now, huh?
Oh? Now blaming someone else named Pax to be part of the 764? Crazy

…. going to another website? But you're so fun!
May as well click on the link you sent me so I can join you

Drunk rants with me? That's okay!
Giving me gold so I can freely make poems?
THANK YOU SM
Daily texting
2-10 hour sessions
Why are you drinking everyday?
You're making me concerned for your health
I told you to stop drinking, papa
You promised me you'd stop
All you did was keep on drinking

Commenting on every poem I made
Oh? So suddenly I'm a “nasty *****" when I have done nothing to you? ありがとう!
We have a suicide pact now?
I'm going off the bridge first?
Don't mind if I do

Oh? Another poetry site? Okay…
I really don't like the way this site works, can't we just message each other with email?
Yes? Yay!

People bullying you on the internet? That's not okay!
Why would they accuse you of being a *******?
Letting me join an uncensored group to back you up? Great!
Sending me to a Reddit page to back you up?
Alright!
….oh … they warned me and I didn't do anything….
******* this man is an actual *******…..
gotta go fast like Sonic
pack my bags and leave

Oh? I betrayed you? Crazy
We were just friends
Can you stop spitting my name everywhere?
It's like you're so obsessed with me
Stop trying to be the Eminem to my Mariah Carey
Made a poem about you and you HAD to take it down?
Never thought you'd want to hide your identity THAT hard
Oh? Betting on my suicide now, are we?
Sending me multiple emails, desperate for me to come back to him?
I'm not that ******* naive or gullible
It's crazy if you think that about me
…I did tell you to send those photos of your cut open arms but I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND DO IT

Being racist?
“Japshit”?
Why are you so obsessed with my Chinese genes?
“I thought I can use Kai because of her Chinise genes because the Chinise was known to be very good spies. ☝️🤓" へー! Didn't know that!
Also, that's not how you spell Chinese, my fellow kind sir
Threatening people to come to America with a Katana and slice us to pieces
So envious, I see
You're just mad because we have a little bit more freedom than your drunk *** does

Oh…. Talking to me about ****
Got it
Thanks
I didn't need to be taught about METART or some **** like that
I'm only 12 years old
You ***** *****

Well…this is the aftermath
There it goes out to all of you:
Ghost
RGH
Ryan Geoffrey Hayward
Nephilim Angel
Nephalem
Rose White
Rose Red
Jacob Lives
Hybrid Angel
Tormenter
Bread Crumbs
The Machine
Dirt-In-My-Shirt
Soul Unknown
And etc. ENJOYERS

(Btw, all of these names are RGH's names so if you have these names, please don't feel targeted! The person knows who they are.)

EDIT: ILY ALL SM!!! I DIDN'T THINK THIS POEM WOULD GAIN THIS MUCH ATTENTION BUT I'M HAPPY THAT IT DID!! (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) I'M GOING TO VIRTUALLY KISS EVERYONE ON THE CHEEK ONCE THEY READ THIS... or just virtually hug you, yk, whatever you're comfortable with
 1079° 
Marshal Gebbie
They touch
With a featherlight, brush of the fingertips.
Their prompt is a mere insinuation....
And their influence offered
As the slightest whisp of a wafting breeze.
But the impact made
Can be utterly monumental
And a driving impetus
To the receptive, creative soul
On a mission!

M@Foxglove.Taranaki.NZ
Inspired by the melodic artwork encased
in Agnes de Lod's short verse "Muses"
~
May 2025
HP Poet: Todd Sommerville
Age: 60
Country: USA


Question 1: A warm welcome to the HP Spotlight, Todd. Please tell us about your background?

Todd Sommerville: "I was born and lived in Fenton, Mi until I was 8 years old then moved to Florida and on to N. Carolina at age 15. I've called N. Carolina home ever since. Worked most of my life in the furniture Industry. Literally from sweeping floors at 16 to programming CNC Machines and designing furniture by the end of my career, and every job in between. I have one son named George, 27, who is the pride of my life and a talented musician and song writer."


Question 2: How long have you been writing poetry, and for how long have you been a member of Hello Poetry?

Todd Sommerville: "I have dabbled at writing both short stories and poetry since I was in grade school, but didn't start writing seriously until I was about 50 years old after the breakup of my marriage. Sadness, depression, and copious amounts of alcohol just seemed to bring out the poet in me. (Does it get anymore cliche?) LOL.

Anyway I was writing constantly during that time, even self-published a short poetry book (A Relationship in Verse) available on Amazon. (Shameless Plug), not really it was mostly drunken crap even though I was proud of it at the time.

Anyway to make a long story a little less long, I spent about a year getting myself together, quit drinking, and repaired the relationship with the girlfriend I have today. I started writing seriously again about a year ago. I think I started posting on HP about September of last year. And started my You Tube Channel in November, which I absolutely love doing."



Question 3: What inspires you? (In other words, how does poetry happen for you).

Todd Sommerville: "What inspires me? Well, originally I would say Heartache and Romance, once again (Very Cliche) but I think looking at the world differently, and finding some inner peace has allowed me to be more creative in my poetry. I look more towards nature and solitude for inspiration as well as trying to interject some humor into my poetry as well."


Question 4: What does poetry mean to you?

Todd Sommerville: "Poetry is my outlet, it is my voice. As a shy quiet guy I always found it hard to express myself verbally. A problem I don't have when writing."


Question 5: Who are your favorite poets?

Todd Sommerville: "Honestly I'm not well versed in the classics.
I've been more or less self-educated, I dropped out of school at 16. But I do remember reading Robert Frost when I was a kid and I loved Poe's stories, Annabel Lee being my favorite. But to be real some of the poets right here on HP are some of the best I've ever read. Shout out to Rob Rutledge, Anais Vionet, Thomas W Case, Emma, Immortality, Abbott J Hardison, You, Traveler, and a couple dozen others. I hate leaving anybody out."



Question 6: What other interests do you have?

Todd Sommerville: "My other interests? Traveling, riding motorcycles, neither of which I do nearly enough. And of course my you tube channel which I'm determined to make successful.

(Last Shameless Plug) https://www.youtube.com/@tsummerspoetry."



Carlo C. Gomez: “We would like to thank you Todd, we really appreciate you giving us the opportunity to get to know the person behind the poet! It is our pleasure to include you in this Spotlight series!”

Todd Sommerville: "Thanks for Honoring me with this spotlight. I hope I wasn't to boring or long winded HP is my go to place to get feedback on my poetry and inspiration for future writes.
Thanks So Much.
Todd"





Thank you everyone here at HP for taking the time to read this. We hope you enjoyed coming to know Todd a little bit better. We certainly did. It is our wish that these spotlights are helping everyone to further discover and appreciate their fellow poets. – Carlo C. Gomez

We will post Spotlight #28 in June!

~
 725° 
preston
Preface:

This is not a lullaby. This is not a soft whisper meant to soothe. It is the fire of wholeness, burning away the fragments, the lies, and the false comforts that keep you small. There are voices that call shadow safe, that wear the mask of care, but scatter you with every syllable. There are whispers that paint the Light as harm--
when all along,
it was only asking you to remember what you were before you broke.



---

There is a place within the soul
where silence sharpens—
a thin line
between what heals
and what holds.

Dark does not storm the gates—
it whispers.
It flatters.
It fragments.

It wraps comfort around confusion
until the soul forgets
what it was made for.

It comes dressed in care—
as though it exists for her well-being.
And once she believes this,
its voice becomes the plumb line—

and the Light begins to look like harm.

Light does not chase.
It stands—
unyielding,
bright,

asking only that you come whole.

But she could not rise
without tearing
from the softness
that held her shattered..

It came not with fury,
but with hush—
a hush that mimicked care,
whispered warmth
into her wound,
and called itself safe.

Its words made her flinch from clarity,
taught her to turn
from the ache
that never lied.

So she sat
at the edge of her wound,
fed on honeyed lies,
unable to stand
before the fire
that would have made her whole.

The venom stayed warm.
The light remained still.

And the silence in between
was not yet a verdict—


   only the shape

   of a war still being named.



For those who can hear it, the song “Love is a Battlefield” belongs in the background—an echo from the soul’s frontlines.

https://youtu.be/6ZndmlEmbNE?si=pUJ9UCJs-SxZ6hqj

#Love
#Light..  and Dark
 603° 
Maria
It's raining outside right now. It's raining.
It's beating down the dust on silent pavements.
I waited you to come the day before.
Today I've realized it was bedevilment.

I've realized it when I saw your smile
In raindrops, flowing down the window,
Your pretty eye wrinkles, so tremulous and soft,
And you in whole, so false and so ridiculous.

Waiting for you, alas, is not my lot.
No yesterday or next day, and no later.
I hate the rain today! I really hate the rain!
There's so much pain in it. I stop to be a waiter.
Sorry for being sad again.
Thank you for reading this poem! 💖
 589° 
Thomas W Case
We all have something
urgent to do.
Tell the man that
works at the butcher's
shop.
Tell the boy who delivers
your newspaper.
Tell the groundhog before
he sees his shadow.
Dig up Poe and Ginsberg,
and tell them.

Tell the street
musician playing
for tips.
Tell the ****** and the
virgins.
Tell the next fish that
you catch.
Tell the banker and the
candlestick maker.
Tell the cats, and dogs, and
wombats.
Tell the starving
artists and poets.
Tell your wife, mistress, and
the old lady next door.

Tell the cloned sheep and
the deep part of the ocean.
Tell the magician and
carnival worker.
Tell the drunk, though he may
forget.
Tell the farmer and his cattle.
Tell the spider, and if it refuses
to listen, tell all the flies caught in
the web.
Tell the psychic, though, they
should know.
Tell everyone and everything
that Artificial
Intelligence wants to be the
21st-century god.

But, whatever you do, don't tell
that smiling machine that does it
all for you.  It will blink its cold
eye holes and wish you well,
then slice your throat while
you sleep.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEeNcBC_mnM
Here is a link to my YouTube channel, where I read poetry from my recently published books, Seedy Town Blue Collected Poems and It's Just a Hop, Skip, and Jump to the Madhouse, which are available on Amazon.

www.thomaswcase.com
 519° 
Taru Marcellus
The last time I wrote you a love letter
you disappeared
and left me in utter darkness.
Now here you are lighting up my sky again.
Sometimes you feel so sure
and full of yourself.
At others you seem empty and new.
I am trying to better appreciate you
in your becoming
to wax poetic even when we are apart.
Even in your absence I am learning
to be present
to take my time
to still shine.
But I wonder
I wonder how many lovers you have.
I know I am not your only.
The world is a wetter place because of you.
Oceans lap at your face.
When you blink my tides change.
Your control is out-of-this-world.
And I just wanna be near you
somewhere in your orbit.
Close enough to see you
flaws and all.
You wear your depressions so well.
It’s like they never stop you from being whole.
I mean here you go rising to the occasion yet again.
And I can’t help but be struck in awe
of your aura.
So here is another love letter
for your collection.
And before you disappear
  because I can already sense your waning
know that you are the balance to my days.


Luna, I love you
another love letter to the moon
 447° 
Sofia
the sun is falling on my face,
but I still feel the cold.
I tried to fool everyone,
oh i tired,
but I know,
that my soul was carried away by the wind,
and I was filled with illusion,
that I will still feel warmth someday.
 354° 
Rin
I've ran out of ideas,
my brain has froze,
and my hands cant flow.
This poem i cant finish,
I bit off more than i could chew.
help i've ran out of poem ideas- :(
 331° 
Jayami
Are they invisible,
the bruises on my face,
the ****** scars across my chest,
and the fury in my gaze?
All my blood wasted,
seem infinite, these heavy tears.
Will I ever breathe in,
a breath that wouldn't burn?
 287° 
Mark Bell
Your such a cryptic lyric
A virus in my brain
You use me as shield
To deflect all of your pain.
Why can’t you accept
And sometimes take the blame
Why am I being manipulated
And left outside in the rain.
I cannot work you out
You love me then you hate
Im of to the kings arms
To have a drink
With my friendly mate.
 188° 
Mateuš Conrad
?                              gp





__/                         d!
 181° 
Liana
I texted you
When I felt so alone
And so scared
And so ready to disappear
You pulled me in to reality
Or out of my terrible one
And gave a good reason to live

I now knew that one person loved me

You hug me so much
And tell me you love me
And you kiss my cheek
And you run and smile when you see me
And I don't think you know
How wonderful that makes me feel

I knew that someone's experience is better when I'm there

You saw my monsters
And you noticed my face
And you noticed my hand picking at the thing touching my face
You heard my silent scream
And you told me everything was okay

I now knew that my screams could be heard if the right person listened

I cry as I write this,
I love you
I'm grateful
Thank you
I want to make a series of poems for my loved ones who may never see them. This one is for a newer friend who's also named Liana. I love you ❤️❤️❤️❤️
 165° 
Alex Teng
Don’t stay because you feel you must,
Love can’t be built on guilt or dust.
Stay only if your heart beats true,
If every breath still aches for “you.”

I want your smile, not just your face,
Your laughter warm, your soft embrace.
But if your joy begins to fade,
Don’t let our love become a cage.

I’d rather kiss you one last time,
Than hold you bound by silent crime.
So stay, my love, if love is why
Not just to soothe a saddened sigh.
 164° 
AWURAA
If madness had a son,
he'd name it insanity.
Pain and anger would be his siblings.
His sister would be named maladaptive, day dreaming she would cause.
Hallucinations would be her twin.
Bitterness and pride would be their brethren.
 133° 
Gant Haverstick
the mirror reveals
an uncomfortable truth:
my biggest villain
Gant Haverstick 2025
 101° 
Rizma Aulia
The midnight breeze escorts your pace,
Grace in motion, my soul’s quiet praise.
Might I dare to ask, if true,
Who is the maiden with mohawk hue?
I cannot bear to meet her gaze,
The fairest face that steals the haze.
 99° 
Franky Case
I am beautiful
I am unique
I am everything everyone compliments me on
I am talented
I am gifted
I am amazing at what I do
I am kind
I am generous
I am too nice at times
I am not what people have called me
I am not the lies I tell myself
I am not the thoughts that keep me awake at night
I am not my mother
I am not what I call myself
I am not me
I am not what I look like on the outside
I am what people hear when they speak to me
I am the sweet words of encouragement that I talk to you
I am sorry
I am sorry for myself
I am not my mother
I am not my mom
I am me
I am here
I am present
I am alive
I am not what I look like
I am not a failure
I am good
I am me
I am a promise kept forever
I am lied to forever
I am forever
I am living a life my mother would be jealous of
I am me and
 95° 
Mike Hauser
You've heard tell the road to hell
Is paved with good intentions
I've been on that crew and so have you
Do I even need to mention

I've held the measuring tape as you paved the way
The blacktop hot with sorrow
As we looked away in our Ray-Ban shades
Saying we'll worry about that tomorrow

Mile after mile pouring doubt
Onto the hardened surface
With our best guess, thinking we've got this
Life down pat with purpose

Not realizing that what our pavement lacks
Is a heart that truly listens
One reason we can't help that the road to hell
Is paved with good intentions
 92° 
Thirty Nine
I am a flower
And you are my sunshine
And I know you didn’t mean too
I know you only wanted the best
But still
You burnt me
 91° 
Kay Lyn
The brain
The brain is amazing...
"Knowledge "
Be careful what you feed it.

- Kay Lyn
The brain 🧠
 89° 
Moholo Kawahi
Meekness breeds oppression
There's a hold on my progression
The breakable binding will have me stay
So a poem a day keeps the squalor away
 81° 
yndn
I'm done being polite, yet you treated me rudely
I'm done being nice, because you abused my kindness
 76° 
Mitch Prax
There are some nights
where I would rather
fight anything other
than my own
thoughts.
 68° 
jeffrey conyers
Make her your focus.
Make her feel blessed
Make her your happiness.
It's way better than any sadness.

Let her talk about you with pride.
Make her talk about you with joy.
Not to make folks envious because that's not your intention.

Make her glad to wake up by your side.
Yes, so joyful for your love being her sunshine.
Make her your happiness all the time.

And sit back and enjoy, yes enjoy being so much in love.
As you make her your sole happiness.
 64° 
deanena tierney
So silly.
This thing called pride.
Silly and simple.
It is almost always the sole reason
A man doesn't go after what he wants.
And, therefore, also the sole reason
A man never gets what he wants.
 62° 
Ojas Kulkarni
A city in the heart of nature lies,
Surrounded by a bliss it never knows.
Within a close yet distant compromise,
How swiftly its icy detachment grows.
This is my first poem in good meter and rhyme!
 61° 
Sovereign words
Old patterns aren’t irrevocably etched,
I am the artist, I can still sketch
Just like that, outta the blue
I realize that no matter what I do
There'll never ever be another you
And it hurts like hell...
Btw, how great is Chet Baker??
 57° 
Caits
forget me nots
lay littered across my room
just as punctuation
to all I’ve done
and yet to do
cause forget me nots
won’t let me forget you
 56° 
badwords
No one told me
the silence would be so loud.

That after the storm
there would be no sun,
only fog thick as milk
curling through my ribs.

I did not beg for light.
I did not curse the dark.
I simply sat—
hands open,
palms salted with memory.

There was a moth once
that lived in my chest.
Fed on echo,
slept in shame.
I haven’t felt it in days.

I think I may be alone now.

And for the first time—
that does not terrify me.
 55° 
Akriti
Loneliness - a lonely word.
Waiting - a dreaded word.
Death - an unavoidable word.
Hatred - a hateful word.
Love - a sacred word.
Friendship - a trusted word.

Smile - now, that is a beautiful word .



Don't you think?
 53° 
Millee
"You're stronger than you know."
Well, duh
I hide things I'll never show
 51° 
Jill
Place complacent
Goal adjacent
Stationary travel

Looking forward
Tracking outward
Soothing inward
Riding grounded

Freshing breathing
Pace increasing
Mind obeying
Ease emerging

Every sneaker orbit
an antidote

Every heavy leg revolution
spreading lulling
warm calm

Every pushing movement
a granted request
for stillness
©2025
 49° 
B C Stan
To be loved is not a virtue
To be hated is not a sin
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