Tidal Waves of Emotion
Poem. Content Warning. There's always hope.
tidal waves of emotion
roll towards and through me
I give into them
those powerful waves
as they
Drench me, throw me backwards
I let them take over
become me
become
the sadness
that hides inside, coming out to rear its ugly head when I'm weak
a hushed silence follows
and then nothing
the anger
that hides inside, coming out to rear its ugly head when I'm weak
a shout to the void follows
and then nothing
still breathing, still got hope
a chance to dream of something better
(But never give in to them, never give them too much)
calm always follows the storm, eventually
Then there's a brief reprieve
*
waves of emotion
like the waves of ocean rage
reaching dizzy heights
before crashing
Down over land
drenching all and assimilating everything
including me, until I'm soaked through
when fabric and skin are almost symbiotic
everything is stormy and treacherous
with a gentle lull, gentle defeat
I remain motionless
just like my heeart, soul and mind
everything is regret and guilt
with a gentle lull, gentle retreat
Inwards
still breathing, still got a chance
a chance to imagine something better
(But never give up on redemption and freedom)
calm always follows the storm eventually
With the hope of relief
*
All-consuming emotions
Drown me
when I let them
open the storm doors
hard to differentiate
between
the internal and external
coating me like the black tar stain of guilt, shadowing me like the black cloak of regret
the coldness and wetness
sticks to everything like the errs of yesterday
but tomorrow awaits, and it's refresh
as I try to see clearly
try to see the warm light
as the waves
the waves still flow
still breathing, still got hope
(But never give up the fight to stay on the surface)
calm always follows the storm eventually
and...hope?
*
Powerful waves of emotion
each carrying
different meaning and effect
destructive emotions
Drench and enrobe me
some - maddening joy
that soars too high, lifting me
to dizzy, bright heights of ecstasy
that make me believe in me
others - sadness magnified
that dives too low, holding me
in deep, depressive states of anxiety
that make me distrust even me
all-consuming emotions
leave me numb
silently numb
if only until they pass
(But never give up)
calm always follows the storm eventually
and then peace?
if only for a moment, only for a beat
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: I realise this is very similar in tone to others recently. Needing to purge. I am in an okayish place right now, though, just to be clear.
Here are some others:
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Scottish-Italian poet/writer from Glasgow.
Overflowing in English language torture and word abuse.
"Every man has a sane spot somewhere" R.L Stevenson
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection is now available!
https://paulspoeticprints.etsy.com
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Comments (8)
Such an awesome depiction of riding the waves of this *experience*, and the format was beautiful! Amazing work, Pal!
This felt like the tug and swell of the ocean on reading it.
May I say simply brilliant!
Storms do, always, pass, and we can learn to float on very large swells once we stop trying to swim against them.
Whoaaaa, this was soooo intense! I hope writing this made you feel better. Write as much as you need to, to let it all out. Sending you lots of love and hugs 🥺❤️
Firstly, I feel that this is a raw and powerful exploration of how emotion can rock and overwhelm. Secondly, it is profoundly moving and personal. Since my initial reaction to it was primarily visceral I read it a second time more slowly than than the first to concentrate on the musicality, cadence and the subtle changes in language and specificity. Lastly, I read the poem to better appreciate the imagery of storm and flood and the danger in the depths. But also to confirm that you never once used the word water in the poem even though it appears to be the connecting metaphor of the poem. I’m curious if that was a conscious decision or mostly the work of the muse? Or am I completely in left field?
Fantastic!!! Left a heart!!!
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