Free Verse
Managed: me
Show me a map Show me the star that says “You’re right here”. Which map did you pick to put in front of my face? Is it from a mall, a village, a theme park, something else? The map doesn’t matter because I can point to the star See, “I’m right here” Ask where I’m going Give a little time to explain
By Roger Jolly2 months ago in Poets
Room Only. Grand Prize Winner in Negative Space Challenge. Top Story - September 2026.
“Fully booked tonight. Room four.” “Is the heating fixed?” “Clean towels on the bed.” ~ “First time paying?” “Is it obvious?” “Your coat can go there.” “And the money?” “By the lamp.” “What do I call you?” “Iris.”
By Iris Obscura2 months ago in Poets
Unanswered
you awake? I texted at eight, coffee in hand. Nothing felt wrong. Nothing unplanned. No fear in my chest. No hint you were gone. Just one normal morning before it went wrong. call me when you see this By ten, phone in hand, I paced every room. Left it face-up, waiting for you. Table. Bench. Bed. Never far away. Certain you’d answer the second I strayed. where are you? Nothing. So I tried smaller words. hey hello? answer me please You always answered before too long. A joke or a heart. or some stupid song. But now there was nothing. No light or cue. Just my hand on my phone, waiting for you. are you mad at me? I typed the question, watched it stay. Waiting for words you might never say. My thumb hovered then swept it away. did i do something? Erased that too. are you hurt? I hovered over send. Some words become frightening when no one answers them. By afternoon, your name filled the room. On my Mum’s phone and your Dad's too. Then spoken aloud by a stranger in the kitchen wearing blue, and asking about you. everyone’s looking for you I waited. you’re scaring me I waited. That night I lay with the screen glowing blue, lighting my face as I waited for you. i’m sorry about yesterday i didn’t mean it just come home The screen went dark before I did. Days later, I still wrote to you like you’d only stepped out and would be home soon. they found your jumper your plant needs water your mum keeps crying every time I call Between each text, I’d hold my breath begging your name to light the screen next. Weeks passed. My messages changed. i’m angry at you Nothing. I miss you Nothing. I keep thinking I see you Nothing. I scrolled back through the life that we knew birthdays and bad jokes, dinners for two. Arguments once too big to ignore. Now I’d give anything to fight once more. And there you were, in each message I’d see laughing and talking, and answering me. shut up five mins love you too Until the answers came no more. Silence where your words were before. All I had was one last line: see you later x I read it until the meaning wore thin. See you later — but when does that begin? How long is later? How long do I wait? Months pass in silence. I still check too late. They've stopped asking. I still scroll through— back through our messages, still looking for you. I type are you there? Delete. do you know we’re still waiting? Delete. I don’t know how to stop looking for you. Delete. Then I write your name. Just your name. And still I wait, long after I should for those three little dots A sign coming through.
By Emilie Turner2 months ago in Poets
Ace in the Hole. Top Story - September 2026.
So, I am a lack, a space without meaning, where SEX, this imperative part of our species, forgot to manifest. So, I am broken, the magazines and toy ads say, SEX, is always fun Sex, is always wanted. You are supposed to love this. What's wrong with you?
By Kera Hollow2 months ago in Poets
