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A Termite Mound

User Profile: azurePond
azurePond May 29th, 2025

 We raised our city in the dirt—
Tunnels like promises, rooms shaped
From mud and spit, where dreams convert
To walls the sun has rarely draped.

 You scouted paths where thorn trees grew,
Cast their sharp shadows, cruel and long
I nursed the gardens, coaxed what flew,
Turned dead leaves sweet with work and song

 Whispered, this will last.
(A hive is just hungry walls)
But nothing clings too long—
When the dry season comes along

 The thirst grew loud, the river shrank
To scar and whisper in the dust
Hope curled into a withered bank
You ate the last sweet hoard unsealing the trust

 You said, it’s only survival.
Fall began in small retreat—
Stumbling steps, a weak revival,
The queen turned glass, her reign obsolete.

 A fight of dreams that never flew—
Its wings still folded in the gloom
Hyenas laughed, they somehow knew
We’d made a palace from a tomb

 You swore we’d rise when rains returned—
But storms carved ditches of wrong
Our love bones thinned, the chambers burned—
Not even vultures stayed for long

 Now the aardvark claws our ghost tunnels,
Crumbling what we glued with sweat
Each room poured out through silent funnels–
Drops of salt like distilled regret

 Dung beetles steal our last gold crumb
And fly toward a sun we’ll never welcome
Grass stitches over what we’d become—
New termites build over them

Their queens no wiser—like me.
As wind whistles through their brittle walls.
They too stay guard with no decree,
On  a salt mound where memory icily falls.

Now I no longer follow scents I left behind—

Foraging, building a new mound unhurried

Yet every tunnel still asks the mind

A question the earth has quietly buried.

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User Profile: determinedSea4370
determinedSea4370 May 30th, 2025

@azurePond

You are always such a delight to read. Thank you for posting this, I love your work. You have great talent.

6 replies
User Profile: azurePond
azurePond OP May 31st, 2025

@determinedSea4370
Hey Determined Sea! 🌊
It’s so lovely to see you after a while.... I hope life’s been treating you gently and generously. Thank you for your wonderful comment — it truly means a lot, especially coming from someone whose words I’ve always admired. Hope you’re writing, dreaming and being determined like the sea you are. 

5 replies
User Profile: determinedSea4370
determinedSea4370 May 31st, 2025

@azurePond

I haven't been doing well, but I appreciate the well wishes! Thank you. I've been wrestling with myself to get back into creative work, so wish me luck on that. 

4 replies
User Profile: azurePond
azurePond OP May 31st, 2025

@determinedSea4370 I’m really sorry to hear things have been tough lately. Be gentle with yourself — creativity doesn’t always come easy  when you’re not feeling your best especially when the thoughts are louder than your words. I remember you once told me that writing helped you, and you used to post so much back then. I hope you’re able to tap into that again, to channel what you’re feeling and find some catharsis through it. Wishing you all the luck (and peace) as you find your way back. Rooting for you always. 🌱

2 replies
User Profile: determinedSea4370
determinedSea4370 June 2nd, 2025

@azurePond

I went ahead and wrote 3 poems the other day, so thank you, maybe I'm getting back on track.

1 reply
User Profile: azurePond
azurePond OP June 3rd, 2025

@determinedSea4370 thegoon-bigoldgoon.gifcarebear-carebears.gif

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User Profile: azurePond
azurePond OP May 31st, 2025

@determinedSea4370 I’m really sorry to hear things have been tough lately. Be gentle with yourself — creativity doesn’t always come easy  when you’re not feeling your best especially when the thoughts are louder than your words. I remember you once told me that writing helped you, and you used to post so much back then. I hope you’re able to tap into that again, to channel what you’re feeling and find some catharsis through it. Wishing you all the luck (and peace) as you find your way back. Rooting for you always. 🌱

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User Profile: Amanda84
Amanda84 July 1st, 2025

@azurePond

A question the earth has quietly buried, such a short but captivating sentence, we try so much to bury our feelings, our trauma, our experiences and we hide behind masks, smiles, afraid to speak out, or be ourselves, the world says it cares until it's not in line with their thinking or it becomes too uncomfortable. That is why it's great to be here with people who just get it 💜🥰

2 replies
User Profile: azurePond
azurePond OP July 1st, 2025

@Amanda84 Thank you so much for your insight, Amanda. And yes, I am grateful for people like you, in 7cups who gets it <3

1 reply
User Profile: Amanda84
Amanda84 July 1st, 2025

@azurePond 💜🥰

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