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A Dot On The Map

The Tender Trap

By Stephanie J. BradberryPublished 11 months ago 1 min read
Top Story - June 2023
58
A Dot On The Map
Photo by Michael Fenton on Unsplash

Distant apparitions make a mockery of a love gone wrong.

Incessantly replaying the final moment on repeat like a favorite song.

Sinister thoughts placed upon both shoulders gently yelling in my ear.

Tracing, mapping the roads in our journey, forks turned into dead ends year after year.

Redacting mistakes and choices to craft a more desirable narrative.

Anchoring text to form a solid premise for a future not as pensive.

Catching spent dandelions to plant seeds of what I need to see.

Tactfully plucking petals of peonies to land on a “He loves me.”

Incessantly imagining a today brimming with intense love, truth, and meaning.

Open to limitless possibilities like stars in flight and swimming,

Never to be captured in a net of lies and scheming.

Written for Vocal's Dancing with Distraction Challenge. The prompt: write an acrostic using the word distraction.

Because I am influenced by so much. Here's a wink and a nod...

inspirationallove poemsheartbreak
58

About the Creator

Stephanie J. Bradberry

I have a passion for literature and anime. And I love everything involving academia, health, metaphysics and entrepreneurship. For products and services, visit stephaniebradberry.com

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

  2. Eye opening

    Niche topic & fresh perspectives

  3. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

  1. Expert insights and opinions

    Arguments were carefully researched and presented

  2. Easy to read and follow

    Well-structured & engaging content

  3. On-point and relevant

    Writing reflected the title & theme

  4. Excellent storytelling

    Original narrative & well developed characters

  5. Masterful proofreading

    Zero grammar & spelling mistakes

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Comments (41)

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  • C. R. Drinkwater11 months ago

    Beautiful and absolutely thought provoking... congratulations on the bonus, very well deserved!

  • Babs Iverson11 months ago

    Congratulations on the $5.00 bonus!!! Woohoo!!!♥️💕

  • Selective memory that allows us to continue dreaming, hoping for a beautiful day & brighter tomorrow. The video clip captures that blissful naivete of youth embodied in so many beach movies & Gidget vs. the battle-worn, wiser & deeper hopes & dreams of those who have been burnt before by love & yet continue to trust & yearn.

  • Bex Jordan11 months ago

    Oh, so incredibly well done ❤️

  • MT Poetry11 months ago

    Beautifully written reflection on the pain of a breakup, capturing the raw emotions and heartache with powerful imagery. Great Poet. Well done!!🥰💕

  • Ashley Lima11 months ago

    This was wonderful in a heartbreaking way. All too relatable. Brilliant!

  • Andrew C McDonald11 months ago

    Very well written. We all tend to rewrite our narrative to a point. Facts can be a distraction taking us away from truth.

  • Lena Folkert11 months ago

    This was definitely worthy of a TS! Congrats. I related to much of it. Beautifully written! Subscribed ;)

  • Heather Hubler11 months ago

    Woohoo!! Congratulations on Top Story!!

  • I have to say that was so expertly done I didn’t even realize it was an acrostic til you said it! That’s how natural it flowed. By the way that first line totally hooked me with its originality and that second line, oof, hit me right in the feels! Excellent stuff!

  • Kelley Stead11 months ago

    Very nicely written and deep feels. Best of luck in the challenge!

  • Lamar Wiggins11 months ago

    Great entry, Stephanie! I especially loved the line. "Tactfully plucking petals of peonies to land on a “He loves me.” It was definitely a wow moment for me. Congrats!

  • Novel Allen11 months ago

    Congrats on Top Story Stephanie. Have a cheery day.

  • Melissa Ingoldsby11 months ago

    An excellent poem I love the song too! Congratulations 🎉 on your top story

  • Congratulations on your Top Story❤️‍🔥📝❗🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉👑

  • Naomi Gold11 months ago

    I love the poem and the song you included! You are always surprising me. You can fight, and you fuck with Frank Sinatra? Coolest “Vocalite” ever. What I got from this poem is something I’ve been thinking about lately— romance is always an act of self-deception, on some level. Either we are projecting fantasies onto another, or on our best behavior to hide our shortcomings. Sometimes it’s both, and a budding romance is nothing more than a performance—but that curtain call is gonna come. I love that you went with peonies instead of daisies. Such a hearty flower to rest dreams upon. Congrats on Top Story! 🥂

  • sweet, romantic, cautious, hopeful, dreamy. Congrats on the TS

  • Paul Stewart11 months ago

    Congrats on Top Story. I thought this might be here! Meant to comment earlier, but didn't get a chance. This is phenomenal, Stephanie! Really really great!

  • Brenton F11 months ago

    Your word play is telling and phenomenal, so well written +TS good one!

  • Congratulations on your Top Story

  • Nice Job❤️Well, that was written 📝 very poetic or was I just reading it Poetically😉❗

  • Beautifully written poem. I could feel your passion and sincerity. Excellent job as always!!!

  • This was POWERFUL you expressed every sentiment so beautifully amazing job Stephanie!

  • Gina C.11 months ago

    This poem! Oh my, so beautiful and intricately expressed, with settle dark tones. Some absolutely gorgeous lines in here. Well done, Stephanie! 😍

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