You were the flames
That lapped at my skin
Melting flesh and bone
❀
But now I am the ash
Catching on every breeze
Clogging your lungs
❀
I will be the smudge
Of graphite on paper
After you have taken
An eraser to our story
❀
I will be the ghost
Sitting in the corner booth
Of the cafe we’d always visit
❀
The silhouette
Always in the corner
Of your eye
❀
I will be the shadow
Of the past that
Ruthlessly haunts you
❀
The memories that
Stick in your head
Like napalm
❀
I will be the blood
On your hands that
You scrub and scrub at
Never able to get clean of me
❀❀❀❀❀
Reminder: My challenge closes on the 20th!
For more poems like this one, check out the one below:
Find my poetry book “Wasted Love” here.
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Don’t Be a Pushover, But Don’t Be Naive Either
The world can be tough. Sometimes being honest can make people take advantage of you while being too tricky can hurt you. The key is finding a balance. Sometimes it’s okay to play dumb to avoid trouble, but don’t be a pushover. Let people know you have limits and will stand up for yourself.
By Emily Chan - Life and love sharing4 days ago in Poets
Comments (12)
"The silhouette Always in the corner Of your eye" Nice poem Poppy!
This was so good. The visceral rawness of the emotion I will be the blood on your hands that you scrub and scrub at never be able to get clean of me This image really stuck with me.
So vividly portrayed. "The silhouette Always in the corner Of your eye". Hope you both have clear vision soon... a fresh start with other wonderful people!
Absolutely fantastic piece, Poppy! The imagery here is almost visceral, I loved it
This is such a powerful piece. Excellent work.
Absolutely gorgeous. Each description is more visceral and raw than the last. The transition between "melting flesh and bone" to ash, "Catching on every breeze/Clogging your lungs," is powerful. Awesome poem!
What a great piece. I especially loved "But now I am the ash Catching on every breeze Clogging your lungs" Cough cough - so powerful.
I will be the smudge Of graphite on paper After you have taken An eraser to our story This stanza was my favourite! I was like "Whoaaaaaa!!!" I will be the ghost Sitting in the corner booth Of the cafe we’d always visit This stanza reminded me of Taylor Swift's Right Where You Left Me! "Help, I'm still at the restaurant Still sitting in a corner I haunt" I damn freaking loved your poem so much!
The heart is sometimes a chamber that echoes mournful cries. Well-wrought!
Words I find to be powerfully true when anyone attempts to eviscerate the story two have shared. Powerfully evocative. More weighty than a gypsy's curse.
Vivid words with a real punch behind them here, Poppy! Beautiful work.
Living in his head rent free - THIS IS THE WAY