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
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
- 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
- Mike L. Utley
- Hadizat Motherconfessor
- Murisopsis
- Cindy Georgakas
- Swathi Rao
- 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
It takes 2 to tango and I love the the interplay and heart of this poem so well crafted Mike and David!
💖💖💖
🙏🏻❤️ Cindy ❤️🙏🏻
:Thanks a bunch, Cindy. 🙂
You’re so welcome Mike!!❤️
Wow. That was wonderful. What a beautiful pair of poems, Mike and Ben. Great idea for collaboration and what an exquisite result. I’m intrigued and look forward to reading more of these.
Oh rats, David. Sorry about the name mess up again. I hope I don’t make that a “thing.” 😀 Thanks again for the lovely post.
💕🙏🏻 Diana 🙏🏻💕 ~ thanks!
💗🙏🏻 Diana 🙏🏻💗
Many thanks, Diana. It’s an honor to be included in these collaborations with David. Fun times, indeed! 🙂
Congratulations Mike, both poems; by you and David, are so beautiful, loved reading them.. Brilliant collaboration👍
🧡🙏🏻 Saima 🙏🏻🧡 ~ thanks!
My pleasure🙂
Thank you kindly, Saima. Glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
Yes, Mike.. i loved it💕🙂 My pleasure!!