Poetryjar

Ghosts in ink, echoes in glass.

[poetryjar]

One day, he was here, The next morning he was gone.

Gasps echoed! Time stopped.

[poetryjar]

A mango on an apple tree, A fish roaming far from the sea. Not belonging defines me.

Reading maps that lead nowhere, Wearing keys around my neck That open no doors.

Too small—you could fold me, Tuck me in a matchbox or drawer. Too thin, like a picture in a frame Hanging unnoticed on the wall. Yet, no space shaped like me— No place to call home.

I am the puzzle piece That never fits— A moment you can’t divide, A time you can’t split.

[poetryjar]

Met it first inside an ancient book. No clue how it was spoken, Or if spoken aloud, what kind of Spirit it might summon.

"Void", said a voice in my head.

Held it in my hand, A rough touch, a heavy scent. On my tongue, it melted like Bitter chocolate stained with ink.

Dark grit smudged my teeth, Then my gut clenched—haven’t Smiled ever since.

Its heavy scent dug deep— Nested beneath my ribs, then Seeped through my veins like A swarm of small insects.

Like poison—not enough to kill, Just enough to let the soul drift In nothingness.

Now, I am the void My tongue once failed to spell.

@picklemafia

[poetryjar]

Bury your head in the sand—don't worry. Nobody sees a giant like yourself. The world rolls on.

Wash your hands, day and night, Of all your sins. No one will hold A grudge. All will be forgiven.

Lie, lie, lie. Shout "Honest". Watch the nods, Hear the hmms.

A rasp from the shadows, "Watch out! Monster." Called a liar, branded imposter.

[poetryjar]

(Then) I poured my heart, my soul, my mind, Into a poem and swore to Cherish it until the day I died.

Bound it, kept it safe, Swore to carry its secrets down To the grave.

Held it tight, kept it near, Away from darkness, Away from fear.

(Today) Ten thousand words—or more—unbound, Scattered upon the shore. Oaths broken. Rhythms misplaced. Forevermore.

The tide took what I once held dear, I stood in silence, a moment of respect — Heart full of regret.

Feet were heavy, almost numb. Reached home, kept the lights shut. Whispered in the dark: "What have I done!"

— What the Tide Took

[poetryjar]

The Lost Shadow

No shadow now. One afternoon—poof—it was gone. A magic trick that impressed no one.

Searched by day, search by night, Using torches and candlelight.

Stood beneath the sun for hours, Hoping it might reappear & Gain its power.

Asked the moon, the sky, If they’d seen my shadow passing by. Heard no answers… only the hope That it was simply shy.

Lost my shadow. It won't stand by my feet.

Maybe I lost it while I was asleep — In a nightmare or hopefully in A sweet dream.

[poetryjar]

Heatwave

Ugh, here we come.

Grief is knocking on my door. Asking to be let in— To play old friends once again.

"I'll be quiet," she says, "I won't cause a riot."

“Not today,” I answer. “Go home. I’m not the fool I was before.”

"Please," she whispers. "Let me in. I’ll cling to you like a shadow, Or your dearest kin. No one will ever know That I am here within."

"But me?" I ask.

She doesn’t reply— But I feel her smile, Cold and sly.

She’s waiting. Waiting for me to give in.

“Not today,” I say. “Go home. I’m stronger than I was back then.”

"I'll live deep within your soul— Your darkest secret, Your silent sin."

She's getting under my skin.

"Open the door. Let's be friends once more."

I grip the knob. Hear the door unlock. A strong heatwave storms in.

I'm knocked on the floor. Once again, she wins.

Heatwave — a prompt by @picklemafia

[poetryjar]

Four

I lived afraid of ever saying no. Yes, or silence — that's how I'd go.

Played it safe, walked by the rules. The only roads I took, Led just from home to school.

Call me naïve, or call me fool. I lived my life between the lines of "don't", or "that's the rule".

Never climbed a mountain, not even one. But built so many walls, till I was done.

People grew year by year, While I grew by four every fall.

Lived a small life, knew almost none. My friends were very few — Most were imagined ones.

Loved the lights, the quiet, and the sun. But when night fell, it wasn't stars I saw — Only echoes of wars, and guns.

[poetryjar]

I'm now the person I once swore I'd never be. Lurking in the shadows, afraid of the sun's beams.

Voiceless — conversations are only with the dead. Their voices echo, trapped inside my head.

Loud — so loud — they speak, so clear, Reminding me of all that I dread and fear. I beg them, please, to stop — their voices haunting me.

But then I remember… I’m talking to the dead. And I shiver, feeling the distance between us spread.

Why has it suddenly gone so cold? Like I'm wrapped in ice — am I losing control?

A heaviness grows inside my chest. I see a faint light… then everything goes silent. Deadly still.

- Voiceless

[poetryjar]

In this haze, I lose my way.

I forget my destination, Where I'm from, is blur.

Don't recall what my last name is. Uncertain if this is a curse or a bliss.

[poetryjar]

The Sea Within

Close your eyes and tell me, What do you see?

Do you see the clouds? The dark, mysterious sea?

Breathe in, breathe out, Imagine that peaceful place You long for but have never been.

Look closer, keep breathing.

How do you feel? Do you feel calm, Or do you feel like diving into the sea?

Open your eyes, find me. Beyond the glassy wall that stands Between you and me.

You'll see me screaming But my voice you will never hear

I'll watch you wonder, Who is she?

I dive deeper and deeper into the sea, Until I disappear.

[poetryjar]

I have never been on track. I don't even know what a track is.

I walk. I stumble. I fall. I break my leg.

Then mysteriously, I lose friends.

I cry. I hide. I keep my lights Dim.

I heal. I walk again. I fall.

I break my arm. I injure my leg.

A friend of mine rolls her eyes: "Look what you've done To yourself!"

I walk away knowing, I'll fall again.

[poetryjar]

I've got older but not wiser. I didn't get married. I have no child. All my friends Have their own kids. My mother looks at me: "Why can't you be Like everybody else?" My heart is broken. But I've gotten used to it. Besides, I'm too tired to get it fixed. I find solace in silence, In moments alone, Where I don't have to answer, Or pick up the phone. But the world is too loud. And everything runs too fast I try to keep up, But I'm always the last.

[poetryjar]

Light & Shadows

I knew you loved winners, So I thought of winning your heart.

In your eyes, I saw you admired Strong women, so I folded my vulnerability, Hid it, decided I wouldn't...

Let it set us apart.

You were so bright, and All I had known was the dark. At night, I fantasized about the sparkling stars, That you could plant into my starless sky. I won my prize. Your heart was mine. I painted my shadows with Rainbows and sunshine. Until one day, I realized...

It was all based on lies -- my lies.

I see you now, from a distance. In your eyes, I see a glimpse of darkness. I see the pain I've caused. However, from your smile I know that You'll be OK.

I hurt you more than I should. But I made you stronger, so I know Your wounds will mend.

[poetryjar]

Let me start this story from Where it ends.

(a fair warning... it doesn't end well)

A slowly beating heart, Lungs, gasping for oxygen.

Forgive me, my friends. I wish I were someone or something else.

(sorrow was deep within)

There was no one to blame but Myself.

I've been told before: What you deserve is what you will get.

(I didn't deserve this)

It's too late now, For my soul to mend. I long for a new story, a new beginning, A different end. But that's something I don't deserve To get. (or so they said)