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She Held Herself

A poem about generational healing

By Morgana MillerPublished 9 months ago Updated 9 months ago 1 min read
Top Story - September 2023
28
She Held Herself
Photo by Joel & Jasmin Førestbird on Unsplash

As if she'd known

A father's love

Hewn from maple felled

From boughs scraped high

Once against the moon

Whittled by

His hilt-held knife

Skin never nicked

By half-abandoned strokes

But wood, bespoke

Shapen to a daughter

Sturdy, none too pliable

As if she knew one man

Liable to follow-through

As if she had a

Carpentered heart:

Locked door

Not a feast for anyone

Poor and hungry

But a kingdom with a key.

social commentary
28

About the Creator

Morgana Miller

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

  2. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

  3. Easy to read and follow

    Well-structured & engaging content

  1. Excellent storytelling

    Original narrative & well developed characters

  2. Masterful proofreading

    Zero grammar & spelling mistakes

  3. On-point and relevant

    Writing reflected the title & theme

Add your insights

Comments (10)

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  • Test9 months ago

    Beautifully done, resonant in word and cadence and rich with meaning. It is like a carefully carved, but simple box, with the riches of the world inside 💙Anneliese

  • Veronica Coldiron9 months ago

    I love the way your words speak of two things covertly. That part about a carpentered heart and a kingdom with a key is downright prolific! GREAT poem! Congrats on a well deserved top story! 😉

  • Joelle E🌙9 months ago

    Love this one Morgana 🙌🏼

  • Gerald Holmes9 months ago

    This is just beautiful and I love that it can be read two ways. Your words always reach deep inside the reader and make us think, I mean really think! Congrats on Top Story.

  • Dana Crandell9 months ago

    Both tragic and triumphant. Congratulations!

  • Paul Stewart9 months ago

    Back to say, congrats Morgana! three for three! Top Story is deserved for this piece!

  • Paul Stewart9 months ago

    Dammit, Morgana, you make me so mad and so stunned at the same time lol! You have this wonderful skill, gift, talent...whatever you want to call it for saying so much, diving so deeply with so few words. Tremendous!

  • Dean F. Hardy9 months ago

    Would love to pick your brain on this. We've discussed layers and interpretation before on other pieces. I feel this is no different. Lovely use of imagery. Particularly loved these lines: As if she had a Carpentered heart: Locked door Not a feast for anyone Poor and hungry But a kingdom with a key.

  • But do we know who holds the key? Or will she at least know who it is when she sees them?

  • Babs Iverson9 months ago

    Splendid social commentary poem!!!♥️♥️💕

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