Off

lost in this mental quagmire
feeling it in my bones
thoughts run to escape the myths
created in my head
questions thick with sinew
yet the answers are willowy 
should i pray
and light three candles
as the glum begins trickling in

my spirits growl 
hearing the hum of birds
wishing for peace
in a world unbalanced

Joni Caggiano

Sadness Moans

shooting pain lurches like a stranger in the blackest night
where monsters live releasing their copies, swarming past, out of sight

jealousy walks on rugged stones stealing from the gifted
holding hands of small cactus plants until the desert sands are shifted

behind their peering eyes a Judas runs to throw a stone
whiffs of his betrayal, climbing to the top of the field, I hear his moan

trust a blanket, with a thousand promises, tickling me
deceit, painful rubbing of an alligator’s bony plates, I run to a forest tree

a stranger in this house of horrors, yet I have to live
stealing glances, taking chances, as I taste the bitter love I cannot give

Luna Moth and Her Lover

intense eyes open imaginary shutters
her green wings, the luna moth flutters
she mates once has no mouth, dies, lays eggs in wooded covers

would I give my life for one more night
knowing death would be my one last flight
with you, my darling, keeper, and lover of my heart, I just might

Rumor Damage

rumor is a spineless seed dipped in fertile shadow dirt
that multiplies and causes pain and unexpected hurt

silence, a bed partner that takes but never gives back
as a man tells a buddy how easy he got her in the sack

black spots jump off potatoes and out of a perfect dish
surviving boiling water and a blemish on an ideal wish

misfortune of a hammer that averted a four-inch nail
a hungry man begs for food and becomes a vulgar tail

her legs jump from flower to flower, hoping for a treat
for sleeping alone with her legs and scheming little feet

jealousy and deceit was the cause of their blue demise
scissors cut paper, and true words, well – their end is no surprise

Uncle’s House

memories grow roots that spring up like dandelions on a freshly mowed lawn
hiding among floating clouds, unwanted hands, or those thin leafless limbs
the taste of cigars on lips or the slimy feel of uncles’ probing thick tongue
he took me to church, like to watch me dance and listen when I sang hymns

lots of summer afternoons, I sat for hours while the birds sang songs to God
his lap was big, and it felt good to have someone to care what I liked to do
summer days remind me of candy, fishing, and rum bottles hiding everywhere
the smell of marigolds or that living room and wiggling to get away from you

Mermaid’s Lost Love

seaweed, green, like my eyes, harbor me in this woeful abyss
waning as my golden blueish scales morph into blackness
shadow life, and inquisitiveness died and bled the colors of the
Bolivian orange-red sunset, which calls to your land’s hummingbirds
as their darting ceased, when my only child died not far from your brown banks

caught in a mile-long fishnet with a dolphin, and sea turtle friends
a triangle of death as I watched her die slowly as I tore my fingers
trying to save my little mermaid child as my blue tears floated skyward
a mere full moon later my merman swam into a black pool of thickness
unable to swim, black death covering his scales, cocooned as he died a painful death

I visit a river that has ancient trees with long gray hair, our family knew
my sorrow theirs, for they would clap as we would sing our odes
large white stones for basking, close to flowers that smell of love, and hope
braiding the morning glories, red swamp hibiscus, and white gardenias
into black hair as reminders of the lifeless and those that will follow

our world under and above the sea is dying from white man’s greed
regret and sorrowfulness breaks my heart into pieces
soon cut into ribbons like the seaweed I will die from sorrow
for no longer do I wish to see the sunrise, no, not one more tomorrow

Old News Is Not Old News

whites of fearsome eyes looking up from blood-soaked boards
black bodies stretched naked, branded, and shackled to floors
fifty women drowning overboard that enslaver’s work quickly done
another coast, heavily greased black muscles, glimmer in the sun
2021 computers on –  I listen while today’s news on a video rolls
spinning lies another bright young man died as this story unfolds
choked, gaged, sprayed, or flayed, old news nothing fresh today
sadness is killing me daily, as I think, what will their mothers say
another way of killing folks instead of hanging on a hoary oak tree
black people want to live their lives, be respected, and to be free
I am sick and tired, of being sick and tired, of the filthy shocking pace
of how white men keep eradicating people, not included in their race

~~~

Joni’s blog is Rum and Robots. Her national and international publications can be found here: https://the-inner-child.com/publications/. She is a surviving Adult Child of Alcoholics. Joni is a retired nurse and paralegal. Since the age of six, she has been writing songs and poetry. Joni is an avid environmental advocate. She was first featured on The Short of It in December 2020, and her work was published in the first anthology – The Sound of Brilliance.

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Reblog – Melancholia by Rahul Gaur

Such a brilliant capture of the feelings of loss and uncertainty. The accompanying image complements the emotions well.

Melancholia

The act of wanting consumes⁣
my mind so much that ⁣
I never realise what I really wanted⁣ after all
Losing myself at the ends ⁣
of her fading footsteps⁣
and the silence left by her echoes⁣
and the echoes left by her silence⁣
I only end up imitating my wants than ⁣
really know what I wanted at all⁣
The melancholy monster consumes me for not
knowing but that is when I know
this monster is really not a monster
as I ponder…

…where do I go from here ⁣
if not inwards ⁣
To save me from the beginning ⁣
of the building blocks of my utter doom⁣
Melancholy opens up wounds
that can only be closed by facing the fears
that created them as I realise
All I receive is connected to all I give
amidst the karmic cycle of my intents⁣
The ignorance of the immediate fate⁣
I put too much emphasis on
The laughter of my perpetual bloom ⁣is
connected to the whispers of my eventual tomb

My Disappearance

woman lying on dried grass nature photography
Sam Burriss – Unsplash

Inspired by Eugi’s Weekly Prompt – Nature & Reena’s Exploration Challenge #185


it’s my nature
to withdraw
when unbalanced
for no reason at all

i retreat to a safe space
like bear cubs denning
i’m not languishing
i’m dormant with melancholy

seeking shelter protects my soul
giving respite and comfort
surrounded by nothing but time
it revives me

Ripe

aching with sorrow and sadness
silently keeping in it
when, eventually the dam breaks
as chance moments
beckon forth deeply held emotions

tears spill quickly
because the lies
behind false smiles
of “i’m all right”
can’t help but break through the barrier
foolishly yet protectively erected

this water shed pinnacle of epic proportions
a facially distorting cataclysm
and puffy, snot producing event
this full-body aching outloud
it was inevitable
so predictable
it was necessary, to move on to healing



Reblog – I like it ‘ sadness ‘ by Adithya Sasikala

There is so much truth in this piece! I also loved the flow of the words, simple and moving elegantly. Enjoy! 🙂

The Rendezvous Club

I like it ‘sadness’

It’s real

Never leaves you.

Happiness lasts a second

Meets you at multiple times

But when it leaves

It leaves you broken.

Sadness lasts forever

Even if happiness is there

Sadness will be there,

Somewhere inside waiting.

Sadness lasts forever

And it makes you thankful

For all the good you have,

All the great moments you had,

It teaches you the value of life,

Let you know that

Love was here somewhere

Let’s you know that

Sadness isn’t bad

If you understand it.

Sadness gives you hope

For better, for a smile.


Hi guys, I hope that you are all fine. I know that I have a been a little inconsistent with my blog and I haven’t been around here and reading all your posts lately. I promise I sure will try and catch up with all your posts. I have not been feeling well lately…

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Wordle #466

my life’s flow is interrupted
as depression, the heavy chain
drapes me to slow and weigh me down
the black raven caws
will i ever mend
as i circle the drain
calling your name
in this shallow grave
i hear the chime to rebound
but awakening is like wispy lace
no strength and no trace of me here
as i vote silently to remain hidden in tears

Reblog – TASTE OF SADNESS by Onah

Although written quite some time ago, Onah really captures the current atmosphere well in this piece.

HUMEPOETS

sad

Have you
ever been
so sad

That you felt
your heart
disintegrating
piece by piece

Your soul
withered

Your spirit
dissipated
like smoke
in the wind

Nothing makes
sense

Except the taste
of sadness.

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