Poetry Partners #38
‘My Disappearance’ by Susi Bocks of ‘I Write Her’
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
- Susi Bocks: https://iwriteher.com/
A double acrostic blank verse poem by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’
Dormant with melancholy, defeated,
I seek shelter like a wounded yeti;
surround myself with simple memories;
and hibernate. Depleted by drama,
paws torn in frantic escape, I'm a pup-
py, fearful, distrustful, fitful in sleep.
Everywhere, even within me, foes lie,
anticipating my imminent plea.
Respite's always brief. Would I had armor
against the greed, gossip and media
nonsense. Ultimately, I always bow in
concession, perhaps the greatest cynic
ever. That's how I can stand to surface.
Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)
Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!
List of Poetry Partners
- Murisopsis
- Judy Dykstra-Brown
- Jennifer Patino
- Mike L. Utley
- Barbara Schaefer
- Ron Rowland
- Cheyenne MacMasters
- Rae Cod
- Eric Erb
- Chris Reilley
- Jim-
- Selma Martin
- Vidah (Chavi)
- varityteller
- Veera
- Kunjal Gupta
- Coco
- Lov Verma
- bodypositivefemme
- Steven S. Wallace
- Shay Simmons
- Constance Bourg
- C. L. Barton
- Madamchryzl
- Sangeetha
- Jo
- Audrey Duff
- Gillena Cox
- Yasmin
- Martha Anewa
- Malalai Khan
- Adam Taylor
- trE
- Cindy Georgakas
- Punam
- davidatqcm
- Orion Foote
- Susi Bocks
- Mister Bump UK
- Kate Blake
- Freddie Omm
- kittysverses
- enchantedwords
- Saint Gaona
- Alan Steinle
- Karina Lutz
- Sarah David
- Beka Tucker
- Maria L. Berg
- Colleen M. Chesebro
- Jane Aguiar
- Jan Beekman
- royalpalmtree
- Marian
- M Jay Dixit
- Ken Hume
- Naa Lamiorkor Boye
- Reena Saxena
- Bridget
- Ash Evan Lippert
- Mike L. Utley
- Hadizat Motherconfessor
- Murisopsis
- Cindy Georgakas
- Swathi Rao
- Freya Pickard
- Harshi
- LaMon Brown
- Nomad
- Vedran Markovic
- The.Richard.Braxton
- Kim Whysall-Hammond
- Jeff Flesch
- hutschi
- Ami Offenbacher-Ferris
- Anca
- douryeh
- enchantedwords
- Kerfe
- Puvanesvari Rajan
- MistyBlue
- Henry Mworia
- Anna Smit
- Larry Trasciatti
- Sarah Cope
- Filipa Moreira da Cruz
- Robert J. Jr.
- Rosemary McMahan
- Iswar Kar
- Mapule Somo
- Anne Morrigan
- George Ellington
- J. P.
- Christine Bialczak
- Shalini Kathuria Narang
- LaToya Williams
- Maitreyee Telang
- Amelia Michelle Nicol
- A. J. Wilson
- Nick Pipitone
- Myrna Migala
- Kathy Labrum McVittie
- Dawn Pisturino
- Eugenia
- Tea Solon
- Marion Horton
- Hassan Safdar
- Grace Y. Estevez – Reddy
- Eileen Backman
- Suzette Benjamin
- Candace
- Tarlie Francis
- Aishwarya Kannan
- Michaël
- Mary Anne Abdo
- Benjamin Nambu
- Scotti Woolery-Price
- Ara
- Sean Matthews
- Joy A. Burki-Watson
- Filipa Moreira da Cruz
- Di
- Ami Offenbacher-Ferris
- Christine Bialczak
- Rob Kistner
- Michaël
- Sarah Cope
- Stephanie Malley
- musingsbymac
- Verne Ivars Krastins
- Brandon Ellrich
- Tallisman
- kalabalu
- Kunjal Gupta
- Malalai Khan
- Mary Anne Abdo
- M. Snyder
- Sherry Lens
- Barbara Dean Aliaga
- Devine Success
- Veera
- Maria Pavlova
- Kevin L. Perrin
- Alex Budris
- Wm. “Mark” Parry
- Rayla
- Rayla
- Artem Miachin
- Jeff Lee
- Artem Miachin
- Tanmay Philip
- Dee
- Tricia Sankey
- Cassa Bassa
- 3L
- Charles
- WickedLizzie
- L. M. Montes
- Marsha Ingrao
- WickedLizzie
- Jan Beekman
- Neha Singh
- Kaci Rigney
- Kaci Rigney
- Irobiko Chimezie Kingsley
- Gareth David Ogilvie
- Marvin Tordillos
- Jaideep Khanduja
- Poetisatinta
- Kiri Salazar
- Sadje
- Destiny
- Ami Offenbacher-Ferris
- Jaideep Khanduja
- Kaci Rigney
- Jan Beekman
- Karima Hoisan
- Melissa Lemay
- Kriti
- Susan Strasser
- Melissa Lemay
- Ancy Johny
- Destiny
- Komaljeet Kaur
- Melissa Lemay
[…] Review: Survival Theme3/16/22 Rising – MasticadoresUSA3/4/22 Sheltered – MasticadoresUSA1/19/22 Poetry Partner#38 – The Skeptics Kaddish1/10/22 Indie Blu(e) Feature1/9/22 Ghostlight theme – Pure […]
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such wonderful longing and ideas of comfort, especially in the underlying sense of letting something loose and discovering at the same time. I love these poems, wonderful!
💘 thanks, Amelia 💘
Cynicism helps one survive. It’s like a looking glass with a blunt view. 🙂
💚 Terveen 💚
Wow Ben, you list seems to be growing!
Thanks, Robert ~ it’s been a blast!
BTW, please feel free to call me ‘David’… that’s my first name. The word ‘ben’ just means ‘son of’ in Hebrew… I know my pen name is confusing- I’m sorry about that!
❤
David
No problem David.
💚 Robert 💚 ~ I don’t know if you’re much into writing poetry (I know you’re into photography), but if you’d like to submit a piece for me to respond to, I’d be honored!
Sincerely,
David
I love reading the alternating imagery in the lines and falling in love with the story between both poems!
💜💞 Jaya 💞💜 ~ thanks!
-David
Delightful!! The double acrostic is so good – with some difficult letters on the right side but you made it look easy!!
💚💖 Muri 💖💚
A nice double, in collaboration and the acrostic. You complement each other well.
I identify deeply with both of these poems. Susi’s sentiments are so accurate in describing introversion and the need to recharge depleted emotional energy, as are yours, David. And man, that double-acrostic format! I have a feeling it was likely difficult, but you make it look so smooth! Two big thumbs-up for both of you. 😉
💛💕 Mike 💕💛