The Afterglow

Dear Unfinished Story,

I know

the weather deep within you is

[relentless now]] and stormy...

and with

the onset of disaster coming faster, and

a plot that you can't seem to catch (but that)

you still go chasing after...

I know you wonder if there's any laughter in

{your allegory now}.

Now that all the lights have dimmed...

and the dragons in your mind will not

allow…

the celebratory joy within your soul

(to keep) igniting.

How on Earth -

in dwindled lighting -

will you keep on finding all

(the strength) to grow?

What will happen to your story now -

without all the glory of

the show?

How will you keep on fighting in the shadows and

the dissipated afterglow?

*

I know

the way we started won the hearts of many.

Our prologue and our opening line revealed

an epiphany

of brilliancy

that we -

resilient we -

had written in the stars…

a connection sealed so well it

[made us ready]

to take on countless measures of

adversity

and to play half-lucky cards.

*

And with scarred hearts and >>hands we<<

kept the pages turning.

We were characters -

[[spectacular]]

that kept their fire burning through

the night…

we were never gods but we

gained worshippers

who shared our prayers that we {{were fairytales}} -

believing we would always somehow be

*alright*.

*

But the setting came and changed the lighting.

Whoever was the author, changed

the writing…

and as your chapters flowed

we had no way

(there was no way)

to contemplate or know…

that after all our many trials

we would reach the top, then

fail to flourish despite smiles (in)

the dying afterglow.

*

And after all our chasing (of)

the swallows...

I know my aspirations became watered down and

hollow…

(I was followed by)

the demons of my idle thoughts and haunted by

their daughters in the shadows -

picked apart and distraught in the

tidal-wave brought shallows…

nothing but an afterthought, oh

how on Earth were we

to know?

That after everything and all

[that we had] fought for…

we’d get one night (where they would)

solemnize our honor,

and the moment that we’d lived for would then row…

into the sunset - soon forgotten -

only often re-emerging in

the turning of our dreams,

though here on Earth their hearts had long since tip-toed from

the theme,

how were we (to ever)

know that we’d be left after the show,

remembering and forever

treasuring all

the many spotlight beams -

our embers slowly fading (in the)

icy gleams and snow,

our voices lost and breaking in

the void that is *the waning afterglow*?

*

And through so many lows I do

remember how we battled through

the conflict…

each and every time our novel threw

another problem or a plot twist…

we would somehow always redefine

[the surface]

for our purpose

was an ever-glowing light...

(and in that light)

there was not a damn thing that

could hurt us [*we were stars*]…

but here we are now

(we are here now)

after all

the clout and magic’s gone…

what will happen

to our meaning

and now that all our limelight’s leaving,

how will we ever carry on?

*

And the song that they put on to play for us -

that night we finally held the

*celebration* of our dreams…

will forever be

the song I trust

to *in my mind*

retrieve that elevated scene...

of you and I -

*the way we danced*

and for a moment made it seem

that we were almost {{truly Queens}}…

of all the universe

(and our destiny) and all the

space that lies *inexplicably between*.

How will we ever reach that high again?

How can we

recreate the scene…

of our long-awaited climax set

amid the breeze and lilacs where

the river met the sun in sparkling, serene streams?

*

For scenes, like Seasons, Love,

are susceptible to turning…

and somewhere in the

*midst of all* our learning,

(I think)

we may have blurred the lines…

and forgotten we *are complex beings*

who need to rise and fall with time.

*

And though songs with chimes will always

represent us, (for)

our quest was well-developed and had

all the elements that make

a story grip one’s soul…

it’s lacked a resolution

and our *only hope* is evolution

(if we are ever)

to be whole….

and I know there is a silver lining

if we can just survive this

darkest dark of timing,

for the conclusion to our tale has

yet to show…

and we can still adjust the ending

even though we’ve suffered

change of setting;

we can be stepping into our

new episode with *love and light*

that brings new life

[into] the *afterglow*.

*

And I know and I’ve decided

that

our *place here* is

to once again inspire…

even if from ashes

(all these ashes)

we must somehow

[re-create our] long extinguished fire.

For though the

lights have shifted and

our hearts and hands have drifted so

we hardly reach the glow…

what will be, will be…

(and so),

and so,

and so…

this is our brand new place now -

for

somehow *from all the shadows*

~vines of ivy~ always seem

to grow.

*

And Little Aster, you

can sparkle from disaster, you

can blossom in the faded light and afterglow,

I will keep the pages turning, I

will keep that need to conquer (in you) burning, though

what will happen - I don't know -

but just because I may not be

{{your Happy Ever After...}}

living in the afterglow does not have to mean that

all your dreams are put to pasture, you

are more resilient than you know...

your story comes from deep within you (even) after this

transition -

the more you live,

the more you'll learn your truth - you will not fantasize the fiction, (and)

you'll grow...

a fitting Ever After, (and)

you once again ✨will glow✨.

Love,

Your Unwritten Chapter

*

-Gina C. 🧚‍♀️✨

***

Author's note: This poem was written for the Epistolary Challenge. :)

This poem is part of my Signature collection, which is rich in rhyme, very lyrical, quite expansive, and often full of notable, magical elements. If you are interested in reading more poems from this collection, try this one:

Thank you so much for reading! ☺️

I'd be over the moon if we could support each other! I am an active member on the Vocal Discord Server, as well as the Vocal + Assist, Great Incantations, The Vocal Social Society, The Vocal Creators Lounge, and The Medium Writers and Vocal Creators Support Facebook groups. Posting your work there is the best way for me to support you! :) ❤️