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Free by Shannon McCullough

Shannon McCullough

Free

Four, it’s easy enough—
Piggybacks and enormous hands
And a mother’s comforting touch.
Outwardly, one could understand.

Fourteen, big hair, and L’Oreal lashes,
Wondering aimlessly around the mall,
Searching for love, but loneliness attaches.
Darkness begins to fall.

Twenty-four, a merry-go-round thrill,
Staring at these tiny faces; they are counting on me to win.
Insecure, relying on my own will,
Hearing the silent screams arise again!

Thirty-four, haunting recollections,
Numb, still, intense dire straits.
Hit my knees! Make a wise decision!
Tangling with hate!

Fresh air, new eyes—forty plus!
Thank you, God, for believing in me!
Walking tall, using your crutch,
You have set me free!

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A Tortured Soul by Stephanie Eberly

Stephanie Eberly

A Tortured Soul

She stands alone,
Abandoned in a sea of doubt.
She crouches,
Facing the waves that mercilessly beat her.
Her foundation crumbles as time tears it away.
She is nothing but a shell of her former self,
Left to face the ghosts of her past.
She stands motionless.
A monument to all that was and all that is.

She is like an abandoned castle,
Left to face Mother Nature alone,
Majestic, yet slowly caving in,
Surrounded, but alone in its shell.
The halls that were once filled with people
Now stretch out in an empty expanse.
The rooms that were once richly adorned
Now contain mold and spider webs as decoration.
The walls snap and crack as wave after wave crashes.
The concrete foundation begins to wear away.
There is no worker to repair damages.

There is no caretaker to remove the weeds.
The castle is alone,
Surrounded by the timeless air of past events.
History imbedded into the structure,
Broken walls, and shattered relics
Are all that remain of the former glory.
Only time will tell how the days will end,
As the ocean fiercely erodes
The cliff where the structure stands.

But one thing is certain,
History cannot be undone.
Like an ancient castle clutching a lonely cliff,
She is an anachronistic monument,
Evidence of past choices, past mistakes,
Of things that cannot be forgotten.

What’s done is done.

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Just One More Time by Dana Sterner

Dana Sterner

Just One More Time

It’s been a lonely road—away from you
Things I’ve done—things I’ve seen
I’ve often thought of you
I miss you now more than before
I miss the things you once hoped for
What I’d give—just one more time
To see you smile
To know you’re proud of what I’ve done
To know the struggles I’ve overcome
Thoughts of you carried me through
The lonely times away from you
What I’d give
To hear your voice, to listen close
The things we’ve missed—we’ll never know
What would have been if you were here
Talking together through the years
The countless joys they’ll never show
What I’d give
To share with you just like before
Time claimed you in your younger years
But in my sorrow I have grown
And thank you now—for what is clear
What you gave I’ll always have
But what I’d give—just one more time
Just one more time—to have you here

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Baby Blues by Kaylyn Walls

Kaylyn Walls

Baby Blues

The ocean in your eyes,
Unsure of what the future lies.
The waiting
The wondering
The wishing

The nurses bring you near
In hopes to ease my fear.
Our eyes finally meet.
That moment is bittersweet.
How could I not love thee?
As we approach the slope,
I begin to hope.

The ocean in your eyes,
Unsure of what the future lies.
The hoping
The heartache
The handicap
Time moves differently now that we are together.
They say, “Baby blues don’t last forever.”
As I look into your eyes,
I wonder if they will remain the color of a summer’s day sky.
You, my darling, my life, and my son, I adore.
My heart is just so sore.

This depression is surrounded with misconception.
I am left to question.
Who can help me?
What is my problem?
When will it end?
Where can I go?
WHY is this happening?
How could I not love thee?

The ocean in your eyes,
Unsure of what the future lies.
The yawning
The yearning
The yesterday

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How to Survive by Hannah Streett

Hannah Streett

How to Survive

The lights have gone. Familiar darkness tickles my skin, poking and shoving, trying to find my weaknesses. But I don’t have any. I don’t want to have any. I am comfortable with the darkness now because that is the only way to survive in this world. As invisible minutes tick past though, sparks jump around within me, causing my limbs to twitch and my gaze to dart hopelessly through the night. No. This is fine. I’m all right with this, remember? They die down, flickering into oblivion, and I relax. This is normal, after all. Why should I feel uncomfortable in my life? There must be an excellent reason hidden within me because just moments later, a remaining, unnoticed spark flares up again and rockets through my body, stronger than before. I stagger backward. A strangled cry stabs my ears. Is that from me? I collapse against the wall, curling up and slamming my hands into the sides of my head. That will make the voices shut up, right? Because for that second, I remember. I remember that I am a horrible person doing horrible things and all I want to do is go back to my ignorance like I have a thousand times before. But this time, the thoughts won’t stay contained. They bounce around my skull in a furious cacophony, berating me for the lies I’ve told, the people I’ve killed. I wish someone would put me out of my misery. But as I scream again, a pinprick of light flickers across my vision and a hand, strong and sure, grips mine. I shrink back. I won’t let anyone help me. I don’t deserve to live unless I can do it on my own. But the hand follows, refusing to let me go. And although I’m trembling, it pulls me back onto my feet.

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Liquefy by Stephanie Glover

Stephanie Glover

Liquefy

For her each day dissolves into the next, like a sugar cube in hot water. Instinctively she clings, grabs, and clutches to the remains of her earlier self. Memories assemble in a dense haze of déjà vu. Little-by-little, piece-by-piece, and bit-by-bit she forfeits what made her sweet and solid. She dissipates.