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DECEMBER #WRITERSCHALLENGE "The Elements"

Well… Can I just say… That I’m so proud of you guys. It feels good to read through your work and reminisce sitting up hours at a time making sure your pieces would post the next day. You guys give me so much joy. I love how at ease this challenge felt and how you all jumped in head first with it. I hope everyone enjoys what came from it. Thank you so much to all who participated. Thank you to all of you who were still nervous about trying it out.  Thank you to all of you who simply enjoy reading. See you in the new year? You’ll just have to wait and see ..

@_theredelephant

No one talks about the missing air— The kind usually disguised as The wind beneath your wings Where does it go after you lose your feathers, One by one, until you’re threadbare And the wind can’t (read won’t) carry you anymore? As you tumble from the sky, Do you focus on how hard you WILL hit the ground Or how to prevent yourself from feeling the impact? At some point in your fall, as it is your journey alone… You begin to accept the inevitable. Cool logic begins to caress your mind, the air is already known to you. The barrier of selfishness rises to protect you, Including your broken wings, too, as an afterthought. You can see the ocean of your despair clearly now… The wings are abandoned in your realization of their current futility. The shock of the impact and the iciness of your misery Both blinds and makes you intimately aware of Every. Single. Thing. you don’t, can’t, and won’t feel anymore. The churning currents bring a weariness that consistently pulls you under. Have you learned the lesson yet? Where is your answer? The need for air while immersed in the depths of your agony can kill you. Drowning is your quick means to an end until you realize… I wanna live. Mastery of the waves is the answer, but how do you get there? How can you possibly lift yourself from the water, and its cool disregard of you? Will you become a casualty to your misery? The fleeting thought is paralyzing. Where is the lesson? Have you learned the answer? How can I not be a casualty to the murkiness of my own thoughts? My own thoughts, feelings. And you learn that you own this. You master your waves…you become the water bearer. Atop the waves, I can see the easy, gentle way the water meets the earth. Momentarily greeting her, slipping away, but always returning… A fire burns brightly on her shore, with the promise of warmth and home.. I hesitate to abandon my mastery, what I’ve perfected. Her fire is beautiful. Between the comfort of the air, The mastery beneath my feet, Do I dare chance to leave what I know? Her invitation for infinity is consistent, Reminiscent of her fiery majesty One that challenges what I know Yet makes me feel safe in my opinions. I’ve stepped away from my mastery into something Not completely unknown To someone I feel I’ve always known. Her fire does not aim to consume, But to be simply for me. This is home.

#theelements

@DerogatoryWord

“We’re losing her … her oxygen levels are dropping.. she needs to breathe …”

Infiltrate my lungs. Break through my bronchial tubes and give me the retraction I need to speak .. When we collide .. your hands control my esophageal cavity .. unable to grasp the sense of sound until you tell me to ..

Breathe ..

Teach me how to sing you sonnets with each pass of air.. How to push through my eyes rolling behind their shields and fight for each passing moment because the light looks promising …

Breathe ..

My sensors are no longer in control and as you phyx I wate to see black .. Comatose for you..

Breathe..

Disciplinarian … Dictation spoken in the language of sacrifice .. I give unto you.. If this is what death feels like then I’ll spend the rest of my days with you never fighting to ..

Breathe..

Again…

#theelements

@MeJollyRancher

Water falls from Her cheeks Cascading permanent streaks Ascending mists from chai scented linen I can feel the rain pour through the clouds The puddles build up in erect mounds All the while memories are under her feet The soft smells nd voice tones slowly fading My hearts core is breaking To cry now feels like somewhat of a mistake So my mind races through the pain But I can't seem to stay in my lane Driving uncontrollably pushing them away Secrets kept under lock nd chain Wells wished upon while coins ricocheted 11:11 flashes nd it's always the same One more second This dream is my reality in fact Coping with moving forward but never looking back I'm building but this bridge is made of wax Idk how else to make it stack Emotions so out of whack I'm lost nd don't know when I'll be intact-- --MEJ

#theelements

@JupiterBleu

EARTH

I started as a seed Who with your nourishment Sprouted into a being full of your love It’s s no wonder that my heart Always went looking for you In the core of disguised angels Whose eyes were as empty As their capacity to love me The last time I allowed myself To dig my hands into your soil Spread you apart And bury my roots She ripped herself from me I was exposed Alone Eviscerated Is it no coincidence that Even when I wanted to escape From this life The destination was always you Six feet under you Even in finality I begged for your peace Until I finally recognized that you buried me continually with the hopes that I would emerge from beneath you, bearing both strength and wings

#theelements

@BlahImAfrican

Burn

For once I want to look at you And…… Not have to run my hands over the endless scars I want you to not have to turn the other way Because….. Well, because you know the pain The heat The fire And each time we ignore the signs still Embrace the magical moment that is us We ignore the burn In that moment We find solace in our chaos Paralyzed with the love we share You run you hands on my scars “This is the last time”, you say “I believe you”, I reply Yet as we both stand there, We know it’s never over Through out time and space, We shall always share this curse

@CWallCan

I’ll never be tamed. This flame too Unpredictable for Safe candlelight. I’ve blackened all I loved. Exhausted of Apologizing for my nature. I destroy. I lick beautiful things To watch them burn. I’ve always found Quiet ashes less Offensive. I’ve tried Turning the flame Onto myself, but It only doubled out Of spiteful. This Fire body is tired. Wanting cool touch, Or gentile breeze, To feel soil under its Feel. Grown tired of Exterminating the World around me. Put me out, I’ll be Sincere in my smoke. I’ll unfurl unto the Heavens and pray I didn’t burn my Bridge there.

@Ebbycoleclinton

it seems we have settled into this shatter. the shards of broken promises must be embedded by now.

passersby mistake it for glow. say we radiate all that should be.

your magic seen pulling my heart out of chest like crane. the way you pendulum swing swirl & seduces the wind round me like dusty fingertips pulled from my earth.

coated in your anointing. dipped me feet first by hair into you. came up, not for air but for sight. I was plenty well with drowning as long as I could glimpse you once more.

skin be composed of wet earth & ash. smoothed over bones by calloused hands, you’ve molded before. this be my first time malleable and I’m having a hard time drying right.

You say too many cracks in me.

must be time to crush, wet, inflame & throw.

DECEMBER #WritersChallenge Welcome Back!

I had to dust the corners of this blog to welcome you guys back for another #WritersChallenge ..

What better way to end the year (because 2016 was a tough one for some of us) then to create!

I received text messages, DMs, phone calls and got chewed out plenty in person about the #WritersChallenge & why it suddenly disappeared …

There are reasons.. plenty more than excuses and I can’t truly apologize about them but I can say that I too have missed the challenge.

I *hope* that you creatives didn’t stop writing. I *hope* that you creatives have remained inspired. That was truly all the #WritersChallenge has been about ..

OKAY! Enough of that sappy mess. Let’s get straight to the challenge for this month!

So the topic of concentration for this month is “The Elements” & I don’t mean the ones on the periodic table…

•Fire •Water •Air •Earth

These elements have so many interpretations and are used throughout astrology, religion and spiritual practices.

I want you to pick the element that speaks to you, raises your brow, makes you wonder, brings out a deep thought, and/or a distant memory and write a piece about exactly where it takes you.

This challenge will truly play on your creativity because you can take this piece in so many directions. Don’t think so hard on what your sub-topic is but focus more on why that element in particular is stirring up your creative juices.

Here’s my twist .. with a lime ..

I want you to use “High Emotion Words”. A lot of you have asked me in the past “How do I make someone FEEL my poem, how do I bring the reader in?” Here is your opportunity to practice using “High Emotion Words” to bring your poetry to life.

Here is a link to a site that has over 380 “High Emotion Words” listed .. use as many as you can to give your poetry a stage for the audience to view.

http://www.thepersuasionrevolution.com/380-high-emotion-persuasive-words/

This site is only a start as there are way more than 380 “High Emotion Words” that exist throughout the English language. So please be patient with yourself.

Your pieces will be due by Sunday December 4th 2016 by 12pm

… I’m posting the topic today BUT the countdown to complete your pieces won’t begin until 12am December 2nd 2016. So if you want to start before the clock starts please by my guest.

As always I will keep you updated on how much time you have left on the @WritersWords_ Twitter handle.

For all the newbies (and veterans) when you’re satisfied with your piece PLEASE email it to me here:

[email protected]

INCLUDE your Twitter handle name PLEASE or if you choose to post anonymously let me know before hand. I won’t post your piece if I don’t know how you want me to identify you < — THIS IS IMPORTANT

If you have any questions for me you know how to find me .. @WritersWords_ OR @DerogatoryWORD on Twitter.

Be patient. Be creative. .. and as always ..

Leave it all in the poem :)

FINAL #WritersChallenge

Mannnnnnnnnnn …

if you would have told me that this is how things would have gone, I would have told you you’re absolutely lying.

I have met some talented people. Some creative people. Some broken people. Some open people. So human. So raw. So gifted.

I will never take any of you for granted. Ever. Those long nights sitting up and reading all the submissions. My best friend bringing me dinner because I would forget to eat so I can make sure that everything is perfect .. The tears streaming down my face as I read each of your pieces .. Seeing how honest you can be..

I thank you, from the depths of my soul .. For every single letter .. Every single quote .. Every single punctuation mark.

I love you all.

Below are the submissions .. for the FINAL #writerschallenge..

#finalwords

@DerogatoryWord

From the mouth of the one who loved her:

She was ... Unsuccessful at a lot of things.. One being loving herself before me .. Before her very eyes.. She would ignore the one who needed her most ..

She would do anything I needed .. Say what I wanted to hear.. ... & I apologize GMa but your granddaughter was a freak one ..

But she couldn't love herself before me ..

Lena had this way of making your world seem ultraviolet .. She made euphoria out of gravel and cement ... Dance so soulful that if you didn't know any better; her scars seemed more like vines for the budding roses that were about to bloom ...

But she couldn't love herself before me ..

She would sing outside the window of your soul.. The soft songs of forever and security.. Get up in that kitchen and make the 'itis her mission .. She would fall into submission... with a simple glance

But she couldn't love herself before me ...

Her tears... hit your skin like volcanic matter .. Hearing her talk through countless nights of sniffling and screams ... Her tears felt like 3rd degree ...

Holding her ..was more for you than her because even in her pain she would pass you the first tissue ..

But she couldn't love herself before me ...

Lena was blind. Even if I gave her my eyes .. Which I offered .. Her occipital cavities couldn't shrink to fit how much of her I see ..

Lena was hard of hearing ... The world around her seemed louder than she ever portrayed ... fire burning through the open pores of her body ... she would still smile and say "I'm okay"

But she couldn't love herself before me ..

Be it four of me .. She would love us all the same .. Lena saw no limits ...

Now she's laying here .. Soft eyes and straightened lips ... Clutched in her cold hands a picture of our first kiss .. Sewn into her gown.. The number of times I said I loved her ... Braided into her hair .. the sequences of our life together ..

Her fourth finger .. Left hand, tatted my resting heart rate ..

Even in her ascending ... She couldn't love herself ..before me

#finalwords

@seaux_breeze

My eyes open and see nothing. Only darkness. The air is still and so am I. Too still. And then I hear them say "Now for the viewing of the body". I freeze as much as this stillness will allow. I realize what and where I am. Fear consumes me instantly. So many memories. So many thoughts. Dear God, I'm not ready. My birthday is in 34 days. It can't be my time so soon. What about my fiancée? Dear God she needs me. God, I wanted more kids. And then I hear it. Loud and clear. The quiet sobs of my mother. Strained, choked sobs littered with "why's?". The scent of her tears washes over me as she gets closer to this box. Fresh rain and cinnamon. My mama always smelled so good. I'm stuck here but that scent moves me. She touches my face and I sink further into my death. "My baby girl. My last given and first taken. Why'd you leave me so soon? You weren't done. I never told you but I'm proud. Of the woman you became. I see you. I always have. You will always be my little rock. Mama loves you. Her kiss replaces her hand and the rest of my world quakes. With no words I beg, mama don't leave me here. Please. I hear her shuffle away. Those knees that no one ever massaged but me creaking all the way. Cherry blossoms, next. Oh sissy, I wish I could see you. I know you wore your best for me. "Nannie you look so pretty. I miss you already. The boys are with me. They didn't want to come up. But you know they love you. I'll take care of mama and watch over Samara. Come and see me baby". I feel her kiss and I can feel her energy shifting. This day, my death, it's changing her. Amber and smoke, now. My brothers are here. Both of them. Even in this space, I'm shocked. Daryl doesn't say much other than a quick thank you for loving his kids when he couldn't. It's Doug who shatters almost all of what's left of me. "Lil big sis, I hate this for you. I almost didn't come but I had to tell you I'm sorry and also that I forgive you. We did and said a lot but I heard you. I only tried to be better because you asked. Damn." His lips quiver against my forehead for a fleeting second.

That's his way. Never one to tarry.

Aunts and uncles and cousins and nieces and nephews. So many scents and sounds I can't keep up. Then there's that stillness again. Citrus. Nervousness. Hurt. Anger. Confusion. I almost pray she doesn't speak. She's quiet so long I start to fear she won't. Right when I come to terms with the last "I love you" really being the last, she speaks. And the little I have left dissipates. Those tears I know so well. That low hum she creates when she's scared. "Hey Prettiest Bird. Where are you flying off to? And why didn't you take me? I'd rather be there with you than here without. I have so much left to say but all that matters is that I loved you infinite. And im sorry for all the wishes we never got to make come true. But go knowing you did it right. You loved hard. You have plenty. You cared too much. You laughed. You loved. You lived. Go knowing that you altered my course and I wouldn't have had it any other way". Her lips press against mine. Expectant. Hopeful till the very end. I feel the air around her. It's charged with all the emotion I was always trying to pull from her. I lay there, dying in my death, as my loved ones say out loud how much they appreciate all the things I thought they never noticed. How they loved and cared for me. How I made them smile or wiped a tear. Brightened a day. I brightened someone's day. Soon after I can feel them lower me into my forever. The soft thud of the dirt that will cover me. Me. A flower, gone back to earth. But I planted my seed in the hearts of those who crossed my path. And even here in the dark, I know they'll keep me in their light.

#finalwords

@MeJollyRancher

I want it all back-- Her Eloquent thinking Earnest conversation Accompanied smiles nd mental penetration She'd always been that peace for me Her Instincts showing a sincere gleam While she toyed with the earths elements, reigning supreme In the back of my mind I can't even blink But her reflection revealed more to me than the naked eye could see She was a tough ass cookie Always waiting, waiting nd waiting For your true colors to bleed out deception with deceit But cherishing each moment before they leave Capturing stories from behind her lens Shuddering secrets from way back when Contesting any shot she felt the need to defend She knew the right times nd all the right places The spots I loved nd the ones I could throw away with- My love was her love nd she never complained about the complacent Wanting more nd more to throw in the towel nd instead grab a blanket Shoulder was always open for a session or to wake nd bake with --Now here we stare into her lens one last time, not at all ready to seal this component But we know her words wouldn't let us back down from any opponent In her memory let's capture the moment-- £MEJ FINAL ENTRY FOR THE WRITERS CHALLENGE 5-30-16

#finalwords

@jaydreal

So how would others describe me? I can't even describe myself because it's a never-ending circle of doubt and fear. A circle of never-ending dishonesty towards myself and my well-being. Who the fuck am I!? How can I expect others to describe me when I only give them certain shit? Sure...I can sit here and describe myself to you and paint this little pretty picture of a handsome chocolate-boy with a heart the size of the galaxy....and although that would suffice for you, it wouldn't for me. A guy who's struggled his ENTIRE life learning how to cope and accept the fact that he likes women and men even if the world can't understand. A guy who's tried so hard to please the God he serves but feel as if he's a let-down because he's not perfect and because he feels his sexuality will get the best of him. How about the guy who ALWAYS put others ahead of himself because it truly makes him happy? What the fuck am I actually supposed to say about a big ball of emotion because everytime that ball thinks about shit, he wants to break down in tears of anger!? Am I supposed to just walk around with my head held high in accordance to what I teach to others? Am I supposed to just accept that positivity will be my best bet to help drown out the worries of the world and the worries of my own life? Quite frankly, I don't give 21 damns and 2 fucks about what people think about me. But deep down, I honestly do care because I pride myself on being the individual I portray. But nobody will ever understand the battles and what I go through mentally on a daily basis. A motherfucker like me should've BEEN locked up in the looney house. But what keeps me sane is what others think of me and how others will perceive me to be if I were to leave this Earth today.

They would see me as the big-hearted good individual who always carried a positive energy and cared for everyone he came in contact with and loved unconditionally. They would described me as the big goofy kid who loved to make people smile and laugh. That's what they would say.

#finalwords

@sunempathy

Obituary

I remember. I was sitting on the couch and enjoying a pizza, when she called me. She gave me an address and told me she had a surprise. We had been friends almost a year by then, close enough for me to not question a surprise (I mean, who would?). My car was having a hard time driving on top of the gravel when I got there. I had never been this far up. She was sitting on a bench and I walked up to her and asked her what my surprise was. She smiled, took my hand, and we walked into the woods. As we walked she told me about every plant we passed. She picked up flowers that had fallen and had me smell them. I realized just then that I had never actually smelled a flower. I was putting the flower back on the ground when she stopped me. She said I wasn’t taking enough time to appreciate it. I was getting a bit impatient. I wanted my surprise. We stood there for a couple minutes while I smelled flower. I remember being shocked to discover a citrus smell. She laughed. We kept walking and she turned off the nicely laid out path. I wasn’t sure if this was allowed, or even a good idea. But I followed. She told me to take off my shoes. I laughed out loud. I told her there was no way I was doing that. She rolled her eyes, took off her shoes and socks, and told me this was a part of the surprise. Now, by then I was skeptical about this supposed surprise. I couldn’t come up with a surprise where it was necessary to be without shoes, but I trusted her, so I followed suit. The ground was warmed by the July heat, and softer than I expected. It was almost bouncy. I looked up at her to find her with her head tilted towards the sky, enjoying the sun. To this day, I have never seen anyone more at peace than her in that moment. “Do you feel it?” she asked. “The sun?” I frowned, “Of course I feel it.” She shook her head and looked at me, “You are aware of the sun. You aren’t feeling it. Breathe. Breathe in the flowers. Breathe in the soil. Close your eyes. Feel it.” And she went back to facing the sun. I closed my eyes and the smell of the flowers intensified. The ground became softer. The sun became warmer. And I was a part of it all. I was a creature who had the ability to appreciate these kinds of things. All of a sudden I forgot about my couch, I forgot about the pizza, I forgot about my job, I forgot about my family, and I forgot about myself. I wasn’t myself anymore. I was a creature. A creature who was a part of the ground, the flowers, and the sun. Afterwards, we hugged, and I cried. This is who she was. She wasn’t a “friend”. That word seems so pedestrian. She was the person who showed you yourself. And the world is better for having had her.

#finalwords

@BlahImAfrican

Tapiwa,

How can one be so petty and so caring at the same time? Your savage levels are unmatched. But we still love you. One that's always there for everyone yet so afraid to let people in. You care way more than you should. You see it as a blessing and a curse. You love even when it hurts and you never let your flaws show. Friend to the end. One that's not afraid to speak but yet gets tongue tied when it comes to the ones you fall for. One thing you are is a friend. Always. We never have a dull moment. Car rides with music to random antics on random nights. Never a challenge. How many days have we lost sleep all sake of our antics? Yet we live to tell the tales. This is not the end. It's only a pause.

• knowing my cousin/best friend/ wing

#finalwords

derogatorywords

Dark Corner

In the middle of the AM I cry out for a embrace so tight that it resembles my lungs under the rib cage ..

Awaken from a slumber if we can call it that .. Scared of why death didn’t just choose me first ..

My reach shortened by fear of grabbing onto the first sign of comfort when some beds fit for a king are actually the cold hard cement floor ..

I call out to you ..

Not sure what I should call you.. Not sure what I should listen for in return ..

But I cry for you ..

Something like .. “God” .. I think? “Most High”.. “The Alpha”..

I’ll just call you “Far Away” because I seem to know you only from a distance ..

I apologize for only calling your name .. when she’s pulling my mane … ..and giving me breaths that if I didn’t take them I would deem anything else blasphemous ..

But hear me now..

I come to you in a moment where I’m not sure how I got here but I plan to see myself out with a cloak of invisibility ..

But life has really been shit for me and I don’t want to be in debt to my happiness ..

Choose me .. Not because I’m pretty or without sin because if you ask me my scars make me hideous and sins haven’t cost me my life so they must be free ..

Choose me … Not because I choose myself ..because honestly I don’t, if I had it my way I would let this world swallow me whole and pick my demons out of their teeth with my rib bones..

Choose me … Not because I like the attention .. because if I had it my way I would cover myself in introversion and make my smile a reborn virgin with no chances at popping my cherry unless you can handle the weary ..

Just …pick me.. I’ve been standing in this line so long, I’ve given names to the roots that are growing around my ankles .. But take me from here … Please…

They say if it’s your will than its your way .. and I took that as a sign of an advance directive …

Your Will.

I thought that if it was in your Will then I would be listed as a beneficiary .. the person who collected your healing powers and bountiful nourishment that only a someone of your stature could give ..

I am the darkness in a room full of light .. I am the salt in a tear .. I am the direction in a broken compass ..

Please ..just choose me ..

“God” “Most High” “Alpha” “Allah” ..

Whatever you want me to call you .. I’ll be here on my knees .. With my hands together because I think that’s how they do it.. Talking out loud to myself ..

…because I haven’t quite learned your name ..

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