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Do the children imagine it’s a door?  If so ,  to where?  
I can  see the  Old men lamenting it as some sort of  warning , but
failing to recollect entirely.
   Lovers, sometimes, mistaking it as something they feel
a need to fill ,
or trying to force it to become a  shelter.
  But no one carries away the same story after standing before it.
Those with  the fleeting courage to face it
These shapes in the world
stepped aside.

An absence, that draws
air leans differently there,
             palpable,
   as if even silence forgets
why it started
or how to stand.
To approach and look in.
  speak, to it with an unsteady  voice
returning
  broken,
smaller, as if ashamed its self .
Others refuse to stand near it at all, afraid of the way the edges keep their secrets sharp.
          Is it not empty , or emptiness ?   Was nothing ever something ?
That much is certainly   uncertain.

In the mystery,
does it wait ?
As if wanting and waiting   were its only language.

And can those  who manage to leave it behind
find themselves walking differently ,
lighter, or heavier, depending on what they thought they learned ?

Neither teaching or the teacher.
A space
wherein sits what we think of as nothing.
In reality we can’t perceive what is there but, it’s not empty
only our desire for it
to be .
...  This piece  doesn’t show the hole In fact, it never even uses the word; it is the hole, in all its seductive, unnerving incompleteness. The subtle wordplay makes it recursive    its absence IS the  piece   ,  the idea of wholeness, as if nothingness itself has a structure inexorable influence  ,  weight, and even intention.  ..  ( This is   limited time  note, I will remove  it )
Savva Emanon Sep 29
Even though the road was rough with thorn and cry,
And nights fell heavy on your weathered brow.
Still, morning leaned its gold against the sky,
And dared you to begin again somehow.

The storms have carved their truth upon your skin,
With winds that sang of loss, and rains that stung.
Yet in their rage, they taught the strength within,
The song you’d never known your soul had sung.

But oh, remember, not just dark and gale,
Not just the hollow ache of trials passed.
There were sunrises soft and sunsets pale,
That held you close when nothing else could last.

A hush of fire upon the waking hill,
A lavender goodbye across the sea.
These moments, small and luminous and still,
Were love’s own way of setting your heart free.

So walk, dear soul, through shadow and through light,
And let each dawn restore what storms have worn.
For even sorrow, tempered by the night,
Must kneel in grace when golden day is born.
J Bjork Sep 3
Words cannot truly explain the heart,
just be.
08/21/25
Francie Lynch Aug 28
Parents are your first teachers;
But if they were permissive,
Teachers have rules they follow through on.
If parents were too strict,
Teachers cut you slack.
If you fall, they may or may not pick you up.
If you were abused, they will report it,
Despite all your objections.
If you've been excluded, you're now in a class.
If you're really smart, they'll show you how much there is to learn.
If you're struggling, they'll show you how to learn.
If you're afraid, stand beside a teacher.
If you're a bully, you will confront your victims.
If you're in doubt, they'll search you out.
If you're cocky, they'll trim your spurs.
If you're lonely, they have room.
If you need solitude, they have a room.
If you're in love, they know the season;
If you know hate, they know the feeling.
When you compete, they're in the seats.
When you're sad, or conflicted,
Teachers listen.
They taught Moses, Jesus and Mohamed,
Yes. Teachers beget teachers.
They instructed Socrates, Aristotle and Plato.
They put us in North America and on the moon.
They worked with Salk and Banting, Gates and Jobs.
Anyone can learn something.
They even taught our parents,
But not everyone learns.
Hey, Teachers, don't leave those kids alone!
Nicole Potter Aug 20
It's the unbridled excitement
Joy washing over a little mind, a tiny soul
Fast heart, catching words, losing breath

It's the enthusiasm of listening
Attention held for the sake of being enraptured
Wide eyes, fidgeting hands, innocent eyes

It's the space to try and fail and learning to try again
Steadfast calm; room for mistakes into lessons
Furrowed brow, gentle touch, try again

It's the unregulated volume, big laughs and frivolity
Comfort, ease, natural to take up space together
Clenched stomachs, teary eyes, Relaxed

It was "sit down, be quiet, not right now"
Dismissal of a moment but shattering worth and desire
Tight throat, quivering lip, silent steps

It was "no back talk, always sarcastic, never disrespect"
Enraged pores incite fear into obedience
Neutral stare, shutting down, have no thoughts

It was constant fear, coded footsteps and hypervigilance
Always listening in an attempt to be prepared
Tense muscles, quick movements, don't make a sound
Ellen Joyce Jul 14
You reached out your hand
I gave you an onion set -
Grubby and crisp,
torn from the land.
You cradled it in your arms and
though it’s layers stung, sang a quiet lament.
Gnarled and wild, its roots tangled,
mining salt, a sweeter scent.

Dirt smeared your palms
but you held tight, singing psalms
planting it in God’s rich earth,
patiently guiding it skyward when it slid back-
And it slid so often its sprouts screamed
as the maggots came forth, split at the seams.

Some days you came with parsley
Others with meaningful song -
Teaching green shoots to dance in the wind,
bask in the Son, trust in the Father, stay strong.
Praying the roots to anchor in tight
Chasing out darkness with glorious light.

I reached out my hand
She gave me an onion set -
grubby and crisp,
torn from the land.
I cradled it in my arms and
knew just what to do -
heart fixed on the Lord,
I whispered “Jesus loves you”.
For my spiritual mother who led me to the Lord, built safe foundations and loved me when I gave her every reason not to and prayed for me relentlessly and faithfully though I have given her too many reasons to pray. I can do what I do for others, in large part because of you.
Ellen Joyce Aug 16
I call to you from bruised knees,
amidst a haze of my own humanness
in a blood-smeared tunic
with dirt in my nail beds
tear stains on my face
and you are waiting.
Arms spread wide and love in your eyes.
“You are mine”,
And my heart slows -
because I am yours.

You know my heart –
every muscle and sinew,
you built to the frame of my bones
breathed your design into every cell
and numbered the hairs on my head.

And so, whilst I battle confused against my fingers
Gripping like iron clamps to burdens,
refusing to give them up though I so want to let go -
You are not surprised.
I don’t understand.
You didn’t ask me to.
And from the depths of my soul song rises
whispered, ragged almost at first
to praise the One who never changes
who is always trustworthy
whose arms are spread wide and waiting
a heart felt Hallelujah.
Sela Aug 11
Conflict and rage is all that is left.
My mind is shattered, my body restless,
The feelings of mine have turned to ice,
As if the life lost all its spice,
And became the victim of sacrifice.
If I could cry, that would have been nice,
But the broken and torn person would not suffice,
To exist in this world,
You must understand
The game of dice
The game of treachery taking its stand,
I feel numb, not ready to move,
I smell of ashes and residue,
And it seems to refuse,
It seems to refuse ,the darkness within me,
It seems to refuse, the emptiness within me,
I guess that is how you live and learn,
I guess that is how your weaknesses burn....
For those who are broken to the core,
Remember even if you are sad ,
You still have something you like..
Ashwin Kumar Jul 29
Many a mistake, I've made
But that need not necessarily be bad
Because, a lot I've learned
Whenever I've failed
I feel I can handle anything
And need to fear nothing
Because, I've seen the worst
Though I'm yet to see the best!

Many a mistake, I've made
To my struggles, you'll see no end
Often, do I trip and fall
In my court, never is the ball
But I'm slowly improving
My personality is developing
Yes, I haven't tasted success
But I'm certainly a work in progress!!

Many a mistake, I've made
But I know I'll come good
Only a matter of time
Please, give not a ****
About my past failures
See my improvements
Big and small
I rise after every fall!!

Many a mistake, I've made
But the world won't end
After all, life is up and down
And I'm definitely not alone
We all make mistakes
In fact, that's the best path to success
More important than learning what to do
Is learning what not to do!!

Many a mistake, I've made
But immensely, they've helped
I am battle-hardened
And will go to bed
Knowing I've done enough
To handle the rough
Soon, will the smooth come
Again, only a matter of time
I repeat, many a mistake, I've made
But ultimately, I've learned
That's all that matters
Thank you for your patience!!
Poem on my mistakes and how I've progressed since.
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