Tag: empowerment

C. Adebayo

Published on by Susi Bocks8 Comments
Evgeni Tcherkasski – Unsplash

In the Gale 

Standing quite proudly
Withstanding nature’s pressure
Emancipated

The Healing 

Our spirit requires softness and presence ensuring calm
The journeys of others offer hope and inspiration
As the cost of survival bids us farewell, relinquished pain reveals freedom

Peace be with you

Goodness

Humanity shines
When uprightness embodied
Within mankind’s soul

I’m Sorry, Gaia 

Mother cries to us, but we hear not.
She laments as we wail in misfortune.

And she…

Instinctually responds
As humanity destroys our cocoon of existence.

~~~

C. Adebayo was born in Africa but has lived in many countries. Her parents were missionaries who traveled to many countries where they felt led to do good works. This is Adebayo’s first feature on The Short of It.

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Always Shining

Published on by Susi Bocks29 Comments
Image – Susi Bocks


illuminating over the realm
we inhabit
toil is the name of the game
exhausting ourselves
giving in, giving up, giving
of ourselves until we can’t any longer

when it’s over, we retreat
putting the day to bed
yet
if only we could learn
to be like the sun
knowing that brilliance
is effortless when you’re on
every hour, every day

The War Within

Published on by Susi Bocks11 Comments
Pawel Czerwinski – Unsplash

criticism, shame, and pressure
weighed heavy on her innocent psyche
existence
the process of accepting more pain

impeding her maturity
life’s mistakes chosen unwisely
battles wearing her down

a breaking point
finally came

she chose to unearth her decimated being
destroying the mold of generations
retrieving and reclaiming her true self
way past due

Gone Beyond

Published on by Susi Bocks13 Comments
Amelia Bartlett – Unsplash

the chaos of yesteryears
stained wet my face
impeded my advancement
physically, mentally, and emotionally
severely slowed down my progress

when the catalysts came
one after the other
they laid down a tough foundation
raised boundaries forged to protect

as knowledge and wisdom grew
so did my being
where i began, my past ended

I Say Clearly Now

Published on by Susi Bocks16 Comments
Jennifer Marquez – Unsplash

Inspired by Reena’s Exploration Challenge #236 – Rebirth & Eugenia’s Weekly Prompt – Ablaze

enunciating with clarity
i claim my rebirth
strength bolstering conviction
mind and body ablaze
with searing direction
forging this new path
a self-directed life

June 18 – Wounds I Healed Book Launch & Release Date!!

Published on by Susi Bocks9 Comments

Below is the description of the anthology as it will appear on Amazon:

Award-winning authors, Pushcart nominees, emerging poets, voices of women and men, come to the fore in this stunning, powerful, and unique anthology. Their poems testify to the challenges that women face in our society, and to their power to overcome them. A memorable collection of over 200 poems by more than 100 authors, this anthology is a must-have for anyone. We all can benefit from the poetry of survival, and of healing. We all can benefit from the experiences so beautifully evoked in this book. We can all come together to emerge triumphant from pain.

On the day of the release, the Book Launch event will be live-streamed via social media, so everyone will have a chance to hear poems from the anthology read by the poets themselves. For further updates check Gabriela’s or Ingrid’s social media accounts:

Twitter
@shortprose1 (Gabriela Marie Milton)
@Experimentsinfc (Ingrid Wilson)

Instagram
@experimentsinfiction
@gabriela_marie_milton

I’m so excited for this anthology to release soon! Can’t wait to read the incredible voices that are showcased in this powerful book.

And Shine

Published on by Susi Bocks25 Comments
Kajetan Sumila – Unsplash

Inspired by Reena’s Exploration Challenge #231 & Eugenia’s Weekly Prompt – Smattering

let only a smattering
of what others say penetrate
beneath the protective sheathing
built up over the years
of defining how to live
with yourself

don’t let their insecurities, insensitivities, and disrespect
enter your own “community of madness”
for you have enough on your plate
with you and only you
dive in despite the hurt
bring your light to being

On The Horizon

Published on by Susi Bocks20 Comments
Greg Rakozy – Unsplash

Inspired by Reena’s Exploration Challenge #229 & Eugenia’s Weekly Prompt – Starry Nights

on these starry nights
immersed in that which grounds me
reflective insights come easily
seeing immense possibilities on the horizon
i have untapped abilities waiting to be discovered

2 Pieces Accepted for Wounds I Healed Anthology!!

Published on by Susi Bocks58 Comments

Good news, first thing this morning! The upcoming anthology Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women notified me that my two pieces My Self Evolving and Loud, were selected! This highly anticipated anthology, edited by Gabriela Marie Milton (Short Prose) and published by Ingrid Wilson (Experiments in Fiction), debuts in early June 2022. I’m grateful they felt my thoughts spoke the message of this anthology—the power and boldness of strong women. Thank you so much, Gabriela and Ingrid.

Stay tuned for more information about its upcoming release!

Freya Pickard

Published on by Susi Bocks11 Comments
Simon Spieske – Unsplash

Abyss

shriek into the void
dark shadows shatter, dissolve
still empty inside

alone in abyss
my screams no longer echo
finally absorbed

a soul-touching croon
expands to vast crescendo
calls me back to life

Alive

clasped closely
– I do not wish to escape
held by darkness
– his cold embrace, a refuge
he lives
– because of my blood
I am not yet dead
– he needs me alive

Victim

docile, I submit
ecstasy, then sudden pain
give myself freely

moonlit muscles enfold me
metallic kisses drown me

you cannot live without me
I need you to sustain me

what have you woken
in the embers of my soul –
dark flame of your heart

Attitude

with an
attitude as
bad as my boots, I strut,
swagger and sneer – untouchable
bite me!
killing for sheer adrenaline
no emotion this side
of death; why should
I care?

Suicide

no one hears me
therefore I do not exist
pale ghost in shadow

I step out into sunlight
erupt in blaze of glory

~~~

Freya Pickard is the author of The Kaerling series, an epic fantasy. She writes mainly fantasy tales and creates poetry in order to rest the prose side of her brain. She finds her inspiration in the ocean, beautifully written books, and vinyl music (particularly heavy metal and rock). Freya was featured twice in The Short of It – May 2020 and October 2020. Her piece, Sailing, featured in the first anthology – was selected for the Pushcart Prize.

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Submissions are now closed but if you’d like to be featured on The Short of It in the future,
click here for the submissions guidelines.

#TheShortofIt