Just processing a very old memory tonight. Written while listening to “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan which was the song I was humming that night.
Fluorescent lights
blink out
& I can hear
the thunder now
As I slowly
slide
back
down
against
the wall
In this corner
time & place…
I feel so crumpled
So..
small
& yet it rains
& I ache for daybreak
just like yesterday
My arms are now
violently trembling
wrapped tightly
around my knees
I begin slowly rocking
As I close my
tired swollen eyes
& lean my hot face
against an
artificial breeze
towards my shadow
that sits beside me
below the window
another drag
of bitter nicotine
& clouds swirl & dance
like the summer storm
that surrounds me
As I try
not to cry-
As I try
to just breathe //
& yet it rains
& I ache for daybreak
just like yesterday
Letting it all go
Releasing this
bittersweet sorrow
As I dream of peace.
Gretchen Venters 
I think all of us have some knowledge of this feeling. You capture it very well. Thank you.
oy, whole lot of feeling in this scene…leaning into your shadow was the part that caught me…nice weaving in of the lyrics as well…
Thanks B. It was an intense night…
nice, I felt the energy and the tension
Thank-you 🙂
oh heck… loads of emotions in this gretchen… the sitting next to the own shadow… good to be able to let go finally…
Always nice to see you here Claudia. If was hard to write this one.
What darkness life can have, and how powerful the music can be. So well you weaved the lyrics into the text.. And so great to see you back again
to still dream of peace amongst intensity and chaos… is like music to the soul; beautiful melodies cannot be destroyed…
Music gives us a way of expressing our emotions when words fail us, when we are not even sure we want to express them. Beautifully and very intensely described.
Thank-you 🙂 That is so true. I listened to that song as I wrote (on repeat) and it really brought that memory back to life
Full of emotion this. Music (and smells) all remind us of times both happy and heart rendering sad.
Yes this one memory was strong in every way. Sadness was thicker than the humid air that night.
I like the refrain of the rain in between ~ I think in moments of solitude and sadness, music can reach us in the smallest corner of our space ~ Have a good week Gretchen ~
You seem to echo the rain, the pain–a wonderful poem, Gretchen.
Thanks Polly. It was intense to write. I wasn’t sure if anyone else would feel it.
A groovy piece about a sad head space, but very evocative. Love- “& lean my hot face / against an / artificial breeze” and “another drag / of bitter nicotine”
Thank-you! I was going for as much imagery as possible 🙂
Exposing those dark times by writing about them sheds some light but we never are sure they will not return …it takes a lot of courage to weather the storms…I think peace comes when we realize we are ok, no matter what, and the emotions will ebb and wane, but we remain intact hopefully.
Agreed 🙂
Wow Gretchen you have captured this feeling so vividly, I hope the music has improved your memories in some way.
Music usually improves everything for me 🙂
I think it has that effect on us all.
You can tell that you poured your soul into this one….very moving for the reader.
🙂 thanks
Gretchen, your poetry always holds such vivid emotion – loved the refrain and the rain.
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beautifully woven, Grethchen..so much enjoyed~