r e l e a s e
stream of consciousness
h e a v i n e s s
embedded
d e e p
into my
b o n e s
i t s
presence
went
u n n o t i c e d
until
I
s t a r e d
into my
s o u l
I
tried to
p u r g e
i t
from
my
c o r e
to
u n t a n g l e
from
i t s
c l a s p
but the
s h a d o w
was a
part of
M e
wound
t i g h t l y
in
M y
g r a s p
I
wanted to
d e f e a t
it
but
I
was
a d d i c t e d
to
i t s
h o l d
what
w o u l d
I
do
w i t h o u t
i t
w i t h o u t
the
s t o r y
that
i t
t o l d
it
became
c l e a r
I
needed to
d e m o l i s h
the
c o n c e p t s
that
I
built
c o n s t r u c t e d
illusory
i d e o l o g y
started
t o p p l i n g
prefab
{I} d e n t i t i e s
began to
w i l t
I
s t r u g g l e d
in
r e l e a s e
but
i
k n e w
i
had to
e x p e l
it
to be
f r e e
i
loosened
my
g r i p
and
{s...l...o...w...l...y}
l e t
g o
as
h e a v i n e s s
~~~e v a p o r a t e d ~~~
out of
me
t o x i c
weight
that
I’d
been
c a r r y i n g
d i s s o l v e d
revealing
the
p o i s o n
it
had been
an
e x p a n s e
opened
in my
h e a r t
and
l o v e
began to
f i l t e r
in
that
p a r t
of
me
i' d
h e l d
so
t i g h t l y
took up
s p a c e
where
p e a c e
could
t h r i v e
l i g h t n e s s
flooded
every
f i b e r
and
i
finally
k n e w
the
p o w e r
of
R E L E A S I N G
to
t r u l y
b e
*a l i v e*
About the Creator
Kristen Balyeat
Words fly to me on the wind, bump into me as I'm strolling the city, splash me in the face while I rest by the river, and shake me awake in the middle of the night– I’m humbly one of the many vessels they use to come to life.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
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Symphony of Madness
Written for the Randy Barker, Unofficial, 'Prompted #4' Challenge. Details below. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
By Lamar Wiggins7 days ago in Fiction
Comments (35)
Directed to this because of the Spilt Milk Challenge and already said stuff further down. So will just keep it simple - flaily face.
Oh my. This is fabulous. Well done, Kristen.
Lovely piece, Kristen. I really enjoy your style because it's very much your own.
That was a wonderful piece of writing.
Dear Ms. Kristen - I'm so glad that I've just discovered your stories/with such gorgeous headings from your VM Tribute. *I've subscribed to you - I've always followed your thought-out lovely comments to other 'Creators' - btw: You Deep-Grasp Me - With Pleasure - Jay Jay Kantor, Chatsworth, California 'Senior' Vocal Author -Vocal Author Community~Village -
Excellent! there is nothing in the world is meaningless! please keep it up! thanks!
Breathtakingly brilliant. Sending love, Kristen. x
The format and layout are no indication of the power of the words they mask! Simply brilliant!
Remarkable work! Beautifully captures the transformative power of letting go. Congrats!
🌑💔🔒 This poem reveals the weight of heaviness and the struggle to let go, but through release, it uncovers the power of embracing vulnerability and finding true liberation. 🕊️🌟💖✨🌈🌸
To free ourselves from those core memories, beliefs & values that bind us to dis-ease with ourselves is a remarkable thing if we can accomplish it. For most, it takes a lifetime.
Just quietly back for second read of this superb piece. I think it’s a continual process of release for many. At least with me, I feel like I’ve worked things out and then fall back to ‘square one’ some days.. it’s as if it has to be practised mindfully on a regular basis.. Anyhow, congratulations on your top story. ☺️🙌
I appreciate your poetry, it resonates with me
This really spoke to me, very well done
This was so powerful and liberating! It also resonated very deeply with me. If only I had the strength to let the heaviness go. Loved your poem!
Enjoyed reading this!
The flow is spectacular! Congrats 🎊
I'm very late on commenting today and most everything about this one has already bee nsaid. Outstanding job on this one, Kristen! Congratulations!
Oh, This was just outstanding ❤️😉💯❗ Congratulations on your Top Story🎉🎉
Excellent!
Crazy
It's been a while Kristen! Quite a thought provoking piece.. that heaviness is within us all, and can take so many forms.. great introspection happening here 👍🏽
PS i would totally buy a poetry collection of yours. Just an idea 😉✨
Pretty much all of what everyone else said and what I said, but really I just came back to say congratulations on another fine entry into your catalogue and Top Story! Said it before, Say it again. Always feel a certain degree of comfort reading your work, like..I know...I'm in safe hands...even if you cover difficult subjects or whatever...always reads beautifully! Mumble over.
OMG I clicked on this so fast! I came back to comment once I got Audrey down for her nap, and it was Top Story. Congrats! 🥂 I love the language, flow, and message of this. I love the title and image you chose too. This perfectly sums up how shadow work felt for me. It was so hard to let go of lies I was told about myself, because they’d become my truth and identity… so even when I had the revelation that it was not who I was, and it was holding me back from becoming me, I couldn’t let go because I didn’t know who I would be if not those things. I was afraid I’d be nothing at all. Then, when I finally loosened my grip, what a release it was. I always feel your words in my heart, as if they could be about me—but you have such a distinctive way of expressing yourself that your poetry could only come from you. That is what makes it enjoyable to read.