~Broke the Mold~

southern strength

“When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.”

Dalai Lama

Creepy clouds crowd my brain today

blackened sheep… insane… or led astray?

r e p l a y i n g… estranged thoughts cast away

rearranging… a brave… display.

 

Sittin’ here missin’… wishes… dead and gone

lonely feeling… won’t… leave… me… alone

walls made of thick… Mississippi… stone

r e e l i n g… this heavy heart roams.

 

Fingers lingering on which one to blame

considering inward….what should I say

A f r a i d    of stray pain staking its claim

wandering… when resolve starts to sway.

 

Wondering…. just what… I will find

with nothing left behind… but… time

troubled mind… resigned to define

L O S T… blurring lines you helped design.

 

My spirit… NO longer… your prey

appearance of thunder… kept at bay

h e a l i n g     hope… now… has a home

showing… strength… I’d never known.

 

Deciding despite the damage you have done

the fight of this journey has just begun

s h i n i n g    the light… on the lies… you’ve told

cuz--with this southern soul… they broke… the… mold.

Author's Note

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Reviews

[dan]

April, This is probably my favorite, so far, of your pieces that I reviewed. The wording itself is stunning, chock full of vibrant imagery; but perhaps the singular highlight of this is your PRESENTATION...using different font sizes, italics, ellipses and unorthodox spacing...really serves to place emphasis on the more cogent pieces of text. I don't normally give out ratings of 100 (except in rare instances), but you have earned one. Fantastic write, young lady! take care...dan

[AprilRN1210]

oh my goodness, what a review!.. you have just made my day.. Thank you so much Dan, I appreciate it..

[David Scott]

I like how you claim your power in this poem. There is still an attachment to a pain, but I see a forward gaze and a resolve to not only survive, but to thrive!
A word of caution would be to know when you need to accept what is and stop living life as a constant battleground...
Still, there is a time to fight and do so with iron resolve and narrow focus!
Great write!

[AprilRN1210]

it is funny how you bring up, "stop living life as a constant battleground"... what do we do when the battleground is within our heart and mind?.. I am trying to figure that out... Thank you for this thoughtful, insightful, lovely review David.. It is always refreshing to hear your thoughts.. I appreciate you sir :)

[linear]

When those battle ships grey approach,
And the dark clouds seem to cover every inch of blue.
A sun we loved no longer shines and all warmth seems to have vanished.

Then we either stand or fall
We are refined
Remaid

Enjoyed ....thank you.

[AprilRN1210]

thank you for this lovely, insightful review.. I am glad you enjoyed :)

[Stonz P.]

April, we were talking the other day how our "own writing gets affected" and see, now you've produced brilliance which I realise might have been missing from a few recent pieces.. Not saying they were not good... no, I am saying that THIS is what you can write...and what not...

The flow is good and the imagery is great as usual and you have produced a heartbreaking piece (at least to me). This was really good. I felt the pain... I'm really glad you have found your strength and I bet there's more playing hide 'n' seek :)
I loved how you portrayed "time" as the only thing you have, exiting that clichéd interpretation of 'no time at hand'.
Thank you for sharing this :)

[AprilRN1210]

you have just made my day.. I cannot tell you how unsure of this piece I was.. I think I always feel like that when just letting go and allowing my heart to speak.. my head wants to get in the way.. you are such a good, honest friend and I am thankful for all of your advice and encouragement... thank you! :)

[Jack Wolfe]

This is the beauty of words painted over solemn expression; I’m not exactly sure how to review this, as your style and word choices are eloquent, while the underlying meaning is powerful and honest. It’s reflective on internal and external emotion, thought, and even that which we cast upon the people in and around our lives, perception; it comes across ‘to me’ at least from what I know of your life to be an entire brew of: Past, Present, and looking onward to the future (of course my interpretation may be completely off, and if so, forgive me, and disregard.) Well done, April.

[AprilRN1210]

hey Doc.. your interpretation is spot on, as usual.. my heart needed a release and this is what it offered up.. we try to paint with our words those underlying thoughts and emotions and it is such a good feeling to not only have it read, understood, but appreciated.. that is all I could ever ask for.. thank you for this insightful, honest, and encouraging write.. I love hearing your thoughts on my work as much as I enjoy reading your pieces.. always an honor when you visit (even when grumpy is grinning at me with his read pen)..

[Jack Wolfe]

Read Pen, RED pen ;)

[AprilRN1210]

did that on purpose, and as anticipated you jumped.. lol
predictable Doc.. :P

[Baby Ricochet]

This one has a ballad quality to it. Just ad chords and you got a country song. Good one.

[AprilRN1210]

not much of a country fan which is blasphemy down here, but true.. but guess when this country heart speaks that is what comes out huh?.. funny how that works.. thank you sir.. always a breath of fresh air when you visit.. glad you enjoyed..

[MrsBear]

how did u get this video to your writing? Love the poem by the way.

[Jeannette Lunete]

Oh, April you truely got me with this one. We sometimes need to go through some reincarnations to actually feel alive. I guess that all of us will be passengers of this road full of variations. I'm deeply touched by the way you reflected issues of every mortal. Bravo! :)

[AprilRN1210]

life touches us all similarly, it is what makes us FEEL alive that differs greatly.. I am glad I was able to touch you with this one.. thank you for such a lovely review. I appreciate it.. :)

[Steve L.]

Poignant and piercing...you really dug deep within your heart and soul for this piece...I can FEEL your internal struggles. Brilliantly written.

[AprilRN1210]

I have always written as an outlet creatively and emotionally and I cannot describe how it feels to not only have it understood but appreciated.. and to know that I actually touched means a lot.. thank you Steve.. always so nice to see you my sweet friend.. ((hugs))

[Steve L.]

Likewise :)

[Austin Jolly]

This was a great read, and the choice of wording really set the mood of the writing...at least for me anyway. This is a great piece of work, I do look forward to reading more from you!

Best regards

[AprilRN1210]

It is nice to meet you.. I am glad I was able to set up the mood nicely.. I do like to play with my words, but emotion won out in this one.. my heart likes to speak sometimes.. I am tickled you enjoyed.. thank you and likewise :)

[DJ]

A fine write on challenge and growth.
It's not what happens that matters,
it's who you are in relation to what happens.

[AprilRN1210]

Thank you DJ.. reminds me of a quote, "people may forget what you said or did, but they will never forget how they made you feel."... everyone stumbles, wavers, and falls, the character is in the recovery... it is always nice to see you and hear your thoughts... :)

[AprilRN1210]

grrr. stinking typos, just messed up that quote dang it.. meant, they will never forget how you made THEM feel..