It’s Not Lost, or: Found

Poetry Partners #116

‘It’s Not Lost’, a series of tanka by Michael L. Utley of ‘Silent Pariah’

It’s not lost on me
How this coral-tinctured eve
Tempers morning’s joy
With sadness and coos of doves
Grieve dying light’s somber end

It’s not lost on me that I
Never got to bid farewell
As sun languishes
On melancholy verge of
Day’s bitter demise

It’s not lost on me
That no matter how I tried
I could not reach you
My arms were not strong enough
To save you from siren’s song

It’s not lost on me that I
Could not give you what you sought
To slay your demons
Could not be your shining hope
In your darkest hour

It’s not lost on me
That I mourn what never was
What could never be
How I wish this night would end
How I wish for you again

• Silent Pariah: https://silentpariah.com/

A series of tanka by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

it’s not lost on me
how intangible thoughts are
though... not impotent
articulate them with care
embrace interpretations

my lines may suggest
that I mourn what never was
that's my truth... in part
limits call for acceptance 
expectations can make space

there is fulfillment
within the boundaries of
what could never be
from across fancies' waters
despair's siren melodies

inevitably
borderline redoubts crumble
like Jericho's walls
how I wish this night would end
sings pain... while I steel for war

inevitably
insecurities pull back
ramparts get rebuilt
my wells of courage flow of
how I wish for you again

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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!

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List of Poetry Partners