The Great Barrier Reef
I fear I will stay still
the same pulse, the same ghosts,
trapped in the looping film
of old problems re-run
Sixteen inside a grown body,
writing poems about
the same old fears again, again.
I fear I will waste
whatever spark I had
my mind gathering rust,
my fingers forgetting rhythm,
my words clipped and crooked.
And they’ll look at me,
mouths full of pity, whispering,
what a wasted potential.
I fear I’ll never live
on my own terms
nothing I can call mine,
nothing built from my hands,
no dawn worth waking for.
I fear bitterness
will grow like mold on my soul,
and I’ll start blaming everyone
for the walls I didn’t break.
I’ll spit venom like the underground man,
wear apathy like a badge—
It is what it is.
I fear I’ll prove everyone right,
and a few good souls wrong
And I fear the day I forget
that fear is only feeling, not truth
As these fears,
slow orbit around me,
forming a reef
around the small island I’ve become
On the days I feel brave,
I gather the fallen wood of my will,
shaping it into boats of hope.
But they always splinter,
their soft bellies tearing
against the reef.
Sometimes I walk to the shore
the water licks my feet,
clear, indifferent
and I see the reef,
shimmering, alive,
keeping me in,
keeping me safe,
keeping me stagnant.
Maybe I should learn to swim
instead of building boats.
But then again,
I fear water too.
@azurePond
Ah my friend.
I've missed you and I've missed your poems 🥰
You capture the worry and the anxiety that can consume us.
And hold us back.
Sometimes it's easier to build an island than to let someone throw us a life raft.
We let the worry consume us, instead of just learning, there is no set map or formula about what our life should look like 💕💜
@Amanda84 First of all I just want to apologise to you, Amanda. I was going to reply to you earlier but something came up and I left my laptop and then came back hours later. I’m sorry if you thought I didnt reply after seeing your lovely comment.
@azurePond
I was highly offended, I was like, does he not know who I am? 😂 No worries, truly my friend, I understand and no apologies needed 💜💕
@azurePond
I love your poetry! It's beautiful, I really like your use of symbolism and emotive imagery! (Sorry if it sounds like I'm grading the poem, I just got done reading a bunch of poetry for an assignment, and it's still fresh in my head)
Thank you so much @1JADED1 No worries at all... I actually love it and am glad the imagery and symbolism came through for you!
@azurePond
Also, really liked the underground man mention!
@1JADED1 Thank you! I'm really glad that you got the reference 😁
@azurePond
Perhaps you'll stay
Perhaps fear will win
Perhaps your will, will fade
Perhaps all boats will break
But perhaps not
Perhaps you'll wait
And tide will rise
And boat will glide
Perhaps you'll be set free
Perhaps one day
While you're fires burn bright
A sailor will see that light
The fire and smog of your wills blight
A master navigator will pass through that reef
Perhaps instead you'll learn to swim
A fear so great so dark so deep
yet even a feathers weight can shatter fear
Clothed in white feathers of light you'll glide the sea
But perhaps not
Perhaps no tide will rise
Perhaps no sailors will save
Perhaps you'll never see the feathers weight
But just maybe,
Maybe
Perhaps so
@7Bear7 Sooo beautiful, Bear *wipes tears away* .. Thank you so so sooo much * hugs * every line feels like it’s holding both the weight of fear and the hope of light 💖
@azurePond
Awhh I hope those are good tears Pond, not the bad kind. *Hugs* You are very welcome Miss Pond. *hugs again*
It's under the weight of fear we don't shatter into dust and atoms, fear gives the perspective hope cannot.
It's lifted with the light of hope we aren't crushed and ground to pieces, hope gives the strength fear cannot.
A deadly dance we all fumble the tune to.
But it's love that gives balance,
Love is fear,
Fear of loss of life, friends, family, time, and hope
Love is hope
Hope of new life, tomorrow, peace, joy, and fear
Or perhaps I am twisted and dancing to a silent and deadly tune, alone. . .
(Ahh apologizes, I kinda went on a semi poetic tangent)
once again thank you for the original post, its a blessing to read your heart filled work. I am glad you liked my poetic reply, and saw the love it was written with.
"Thank you for writing this for me.... it touches me more than words can say💙"
I don't know how to reply to that. . . You're welcome feels lame, and no other words seem to fit...
Love you take care, and heal up🩵
@azurePond so sad yet so beautifully written 💖 pond I believe we are all here for a reason and what we leave behind will never be nothing💖 on the bad days don't run, lean on us 💖 I'm always here for you 💖 your poetry always amazed me the way your mind thinks is brilliant💖 gives you a giant tiny hug 💗 I love you 💗
@Tinywhisper11 Thank you, Tiny. That's really kind of you. You’re right... we’re all here for a reason. Thank you for reminding me of that, and for being such a steady light... I’m really grateful for you 💗 sending that giant tiny hug right back 💗 love you too 💖
@azurePond 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
@azurePond hello friend, how does it feel to know that this piece wrecked me all too well? hear me out when i say, this, this wondrously introspective piece right there, this is the perfect embodiment of "this is me trying".
"the water licks my feet"? god, the imagery, the words. i just know one thing for sure, im going to revisit this poem time and time again, this is just too heartwarming, rather say heart-devastating. thankyou so much!
