A ‘Cascade’ poem
I struggle every day to make ends meet
Anxieties pummel me into broken gravel
Worn ragged, it's a stretch to say I'm free
Pressure grinds rough at soul skinned raw
Buses; clocks; jobs; child; chores; back|forth
I struggle every day to make ends meet
Pump me full of alcohol, caffeine, courage
Liquid channels wind through foggy stupor
Anxieties pummel me into broken gravel
Teetering 'tween survival and destruction
Feathers in wind gusts sucked into abyss
Worn ragged, it's a stretch to say I'm free
W3 poetry prompt
This poem was written in response to Punam’s W3 poetry prompt, in which she encouraged writers to write ‘Cascade’ poems on the theme of ‘Freedom’, employing personification in their poems.
Twiglets #292
d’Verse Open Link Night #322
I’m sharing this poem for d’Verse OLN #322.
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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[…] “Golden Shovel” poem was inspired by Ben Alexander’s poem “Straits, or: Expanses” in W3 Prompt #17: Wea’ve Written Weekly on The Skeptic’s […]
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I appreciate the authenticity. I love this piece.
🧡🙏🏻 Taylor 🙏🏻🧡 ~ thanks; this piece is genuine and vulnerable. It was hard to write.
All best,
David
Hi David! It is your poem that stayed with me after I read all the poems. Brilliant poems all but your words stayed with me after I had finished reading all. Congratulations, David, you are the Poet Of this Week. ❤️🤗
Yay! Thanks so much, Punam… I am truly honored. I actually think there were some particularly amazing poems this week! ❤
You are so welcome.❤️ Couldn’t agree more. Wonderful, insightful, playful and beautiful verses. 💕
Reminds me of the song “It’s a hard day’s night…”. Love the personification and the bone-tired weariness that you evoke.
Hope it’s not this bad, David. 😓
🙏🏻🤍 Punam 🤍🙏🏻
Reminds me of my life in employment. Though I miss the good parts of it today.
🧡🙏🏻 Reena 🙏🏻🧡 ~ I totally get it
Oof that sounds absolutely tiring. Brilliant and authentic take on the prompt, though!
Hope life eases soon!
💛🙏🏻 Deepthy 🙏🏻💛
It sounds exhausting being you, David! 💙 I hope you can find some way to relax, especially during your mother-in-law’s visit. 😏
😪🙏🏻 Merril 🙏🏻😪
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Your title and picture made me smile even before I read your poem. Life can be a grind sometimes as you have shown so well in your poem.
❤ Dwight ❤ ~ yes. that is exactly so… I often feel that deep in my bones.
This person has hit a rough patch. I really hope they have a support system that can help them through. If not, maybe a call to a help line? Free is relative, isn’t it.
This is incredibly hard-hitting and poignant! Sending love and positive thoughts 💘💘
💕🙏🏻 Sanaa 🙏🏻💕
This must be why they call it the rat race, cos it sure can feel like it, can’t it? I love the cascade form.
💙🙏🏻 Shay 🙏🏻💙
Rough and raw, deep and heart-felt, you articulate what most of us feel. For me it was not depressing. It’s closer to being liberating, truth on rye.
💘🙏🏻 Glenn 🙏🏻💘