There is
Very little
Difference
Between a scar
And art.
Both start
With a wound.

#poetry

Every poem
A dirge for
All the women
I’ve been
That no one else
Ever met.

#poetry

There can be no bridge
As wide as the sea between
Your heart and your mind.

#poetry #haiku

I brutalized
The stems of
Daisies
To chain them
Together.
In this sunshine,
I feel the weight
Of them all
Around my neck.
We’ll do anything
To feel beautiful
Except look
In a mirror.

#poetry

If I were
The moon,
I’d slowly
Drift away
From Earth,
Too.

#poetry

Something understood. How to read poetry.

"I want to be the sort of person who reads poetry, but I don’t always understand it."

by Henry Oliver

https://www.commonreader.co.uk/p/something-understood-how-to-read

Books in Poetry at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/bookshelf/60

#Books #Literature #Poetry

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The Blue Poetry Book Editor: Andrew Lang Illustrator: H. J. Ford & Lancelot Speed The central illustration is a dark, swirling Romantic vignette of a reclining female figure surrounded by turbulent, dreamlike forms. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/46515/pg46515-images.html

Shadow
Is sworn to
Follow light.
We must
Embrace both
In order to be
Whole.

#poetry

Stir the ash
And you’ll find
A spark still
Remains,
Enough to
Burn down
The dark.

#poetry

#haiku by Lucas Weissenborn (IG: @luque_mit_q ). Lucas is a researcher, musician, & poet based in #Norway. His haiku & senryū have appeared in many journals, including Science. He was also once unintentionally appointed an expert on squirrels by a university in Russia. #hospital #poetry #spring

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Against a sterile-white background, this #haiku by Lucas Weissenborn @luque_mit_q | reads, hospital creek— it’s quiet murmur toward the sea Lucas is a researcher, musician, & poet based in #Norway. His haiku & senryū have appeared in many journals, including Science. He was also once unintentionally appointed an expert on squirrels by a university in Russia. #hospital #poetry #spring

Long Breath

© Simon J Ashcroft, 2026

#SJAshcroftsPoems #poems #poetry #PoetryCommunity #MyWordsMyWork

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Long Breath There is nought left of patience, in me. It burned to ash in Summer, then froze in Winter. It's true, the cold was waiting there, within my soul; but so was flame, though kept hidden. There is nothing of good or ill I have not done to my own self, by my own hand. Nothing worthy to be laid at another's door; and none worthy to take the blame. Patience could not withstand judgement, I had no thought to recall; leave me, rather, condemned. I understand the condemnation; nor fear to stand in its prison, or tribunal. © Simon J Ashcroft, 2026

I like to write little verse/poems in my head to process my feelings, and my lovely girlfriend suggested I should write them down, so here's one:

If at the end of my path,
Even if cold, alone and destitute,
I will feel the warm sun on my face and smile,
Knowing I helped some flowers bloom along the way.

#poetry

We were
Born of fire,
And to fire
We will return.
In this way
We are endless.

#poetry

The blinking cursor,
The great bonesetter,
Begs me
Mercy,
Mercy,
Mercy,
But I am too broken
To relent.

#poetry

#monoku by long time contributor, Mona Bedi @drmonabedi . Mona is a physician/educator in #india. A past FreshOut Featured Artist, her #poetry has many times, been featured here & elsewhere & has won numerous awards. #night #stars

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Against a moonless-night-black background, this #monoku by long time contributor, Mona Bedi @drmonabedi, reads, dark night the hush of winter stars Mona is a physician/educator in #india. A past FreshOut Featured Artist, her #poetry has many times, been featured here & elsewhere & has won numerous awards. #night #stars

#haibun by returning contributor, Vaishnavi Ramaswamy of Chennai, India.
( Instagram: @haiku_vaishnavir )

#haiku #poetry #prose #india

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This #haibun by returning contributor, Vaishnavi Ramaswamy of Chennai, India. ( Instagram: @haiku_vaishnavir ), reads Inheritance The keyhole beam catches the dust – sixty-degree motes suspended in the air. Mom’s pink muslin saree billows as the fan stutters into silence. Auburn curls. Fingers glowing bright red against the muted light. At eight months, that square jaw, heavy eyebrows. I reach for the old leather binding. photo album — the shadow of a dimple curving #haiku #poetry #prose #india

Go ahead,
Collapse in
On yourself.
Stars do it
All the time,
Only to become
The most powerful
Phenomena
in the universe.

#poetry

Collaborative #haiga with #drawing by Josiah and #haiku by Nitu Yumnam,

Nitu is from #India and lives in the UAE. She is a Japanese poetry enthusiast and finds that #poetry makes her more attentive to life’s small wonders.

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In a collaborative #haiga with #drawing by Josiah and #haiku by Nitu Yumnam, a tall slender pine is shown, bending to one side. Is it bending in the wind? Or is the tiny stick figure clinging to the trunk half way up, somehow pulling it down? Or is that a spider?” The accompanying haiku reads, loneliness even the gentle breeze feels heavy Nitu is from #India and lives in the UAE. She is a Japanese poetry enthusiast and finds that #poetry makes her more attentive to life’s small wonders.

I will transmute
Terror into Joy
Whenever it
Befalls me,
Ad infinitum.

#poetry

#haiku by new contributor, Thomas L. Vaultonburg. Thomas is a poet from Rockford, Illinois. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in many online and print venues. He is co-founder of Wolf Twin Books, where he collaborates with his partner, Tre. #poetry #fog #deer #illinois

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Against a fog-white background, a #haiku by new contributor, Thomas L. Vaultonburg reads, ghost cover — three deer inside the fog Thomas is a poet from Rockford, Illinois. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in many online and print venues. He is co-founder of Wolf Twin Books, where he collaborates with his partner, Tre. #poetry #fog #deer #illinois

Route

There is no path
through the rain.
No gilded sunlight
on the fabled uplands
of vanity's dream.
No route to avoid
the breaking storm,
nor light sufficient
to reach into
the recesses
carved by pain
in a heart that's lived
too many lives.
Only the tired grimace
of a face
worn and weary, hoping
to find the one road
that matters,
though not having
any map
to show the pass
it takes
through the mountains.

© Simon J Ashcroft, 2026

#SJAshcroftsPoems #poems #poetry #PoetryCommunity #MyWordsMyWork

Speech

Old Gods were never
robbed of their voices, although
their oracles closed;
close your eyes and hear them speak
with words borne on wind and dreams.

© Simon J Ashcroft, 2026

#tanka #poem #poetry #PoetryCommunity

The stars
Devour themselves
To create light.
Anything,
Anything,
But dwelling
In darkness.

#poetry

Time brings
The last light
Of a dead star
To the shores
Of your eyes,
And takes
Everything
In return.

#poetry

Give me the
Bliss of disintegration.
How beautiful it is
To be nothing
At all.

#poetry

#duostich by returning contributor, Oana Maria Cercel @oana_maria_

Oana lives in Italy where she writes and co-edits Cold Moon Journal. #poetry #betrayal #haiku #italy

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Against a plain black background, a #duostich by returning contributor, Oana Maria Cercel @oana_maria_ reads, sitting on ash his betrayal Oana lives in Italy where she writes and co-edits Cold Moon Journal. #poetry #betrayal #haiku #italy

There is
A cemetery
In me, a
Permanent
Memento mori,
But look at all
The flowers.

#poetry

Our first lover
Is fire, and we
Spend our
Earthly lives
Searching for
A spark.

#poetry

#monoku by regular contributor, John Pappas.
John is a touchstone-winning poet, literature professor & punk-rock drummer. He does all that in Boston, MA, USA. #poetry #spring #blooms #haiku

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On a white background, a #monoku by regular contributor, John Pappas, reads, first blooms everything an o can hold John is a touchstone-winning poet, literature professor & punk-rock drummer. He does all that in Boston, MA, USA. #poetry #spring #blooms #haiku

Let my bones
Be the stele
On which are writ
The pronouncement
Of the stars.

#poetry

At the
Moment of
Stellar
Ignition,
Numberless
Atoms
Were destined
To carry
Your name.

#poetry

We are each of us
The afterglow,
The consequence
Of stellar crucible
Is it any wonder we burn?

#Poetry #SmallPoems #MicroPoetry

#shahai by new contributor, Maria Tosti of Italy.
Maria is an established poet and lyricist who has been widely recognized, published and anthologized internationally. Her 2014 publication “Voci ai confini dell’anima” – “Voices to the Bounderies of the Soul” was published by Thoth Editions/Mario Vallone in paper and eBook format. The book includes poems in Italian, English, French and Spanish. #poetry #haiku #photography #haiga

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In a #shahai by new contributor, Maria Tosti of Italy, a bumblebee is seen at rest deep within a pink blossom. Whether she is sleeping as the accompanying poem states or not, who can say? In the foreground, a cirku reads, looking for a home a sleeping bumblebee among peony petals Maria is an established poet and lyricist who has been widely recognized, published and anthologized internationally. Her 2014 publication “Voci ai confini dell’anima” – “Voices to the Bounderies of the Soul” was published by Thoth Editions/Mario Vallone in paper and eBook format. The book includes poems in Italian, English, French and Spanish. #poetry #haiku #photography #haiga

I wonder if Macavity and the cat that walks alone have ever met? Or do they just avoid each other?

#Mystery #Poetry #Cats #Inspired

#monoku by Pegah Rahmati Nezhad ( @rahmati_pegah )
Pegah is a physician, scientist, artist, & poet from Tehran, Iran. She loves #micropoetry & lyrical prose, & believes in the power of words. #haiku #iran #poetry

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Against a stark white background, a simple three-word #monoku by Pegah Rahmati Nezhad ( @rahmati_pegah ), uses that tiny space to communicate an entire library’s-worth of meaning when it reads, worries wounds wars Pegah is a physician, scientist, artist, & poet from Tehran, Iran. She loves #micropoetry & lyrical prose, & believes in the power of words. #haiku #iran #poetry

I laugh
In order to
Stop the
Guttural
Scream
Rising
In my throat.

#poetry

#senryu by Ash Evan Lippert

Ash is an emerging queer writer from South Carolina. Their #poetry has appeared widely, online and in print journals. Their debut chapbook, “god of the body”, is available through Yavanika Press. Find them on Bluesky (@wanderstruck.blog) & IG: (@wanderstruck_haiku). #southcarolina #stars #haiku

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Against a back background, a #senryu by Ash Evan Lippert reads, stars over the fairgrounds I guess the number of jellybeans Ash is an emerging queer writer from South Carolina. Their #poetry has appeared widely, online and in print journals. Their debut chapbook, “god of the body”, is available through Yavanika Press. Find them on Bluesky (@wanderstruck.blog) & IG: (@wanderstruck_haiku). #southcarolina #stars #haiku

#senryu by thomas david
thomas is from West Sussex in the United Kingdom. His #haiku and senryū have appeared in Failed Haiku, tsuri-dōrō, Wales Haiku Journal, Cattails, Cold Moon Journal, The Heron’s Nest and now, FreshOut. #poetry #poetrylovers #uk

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Against a plain white background, a #senryu by thomas david reads, your name over and over again rose garden thomas is from West Sussex in the United Kingdom. His #haiku and senryū have appeared in Failed Haiku, tsuri-dōrō, Wales Haiku Journal, Cattails, Cold Moon Journal, The Heron’s Nest and now, FreshOut. #poetry #poetrylovers #uk

"A Distant Light" – a short, 8 poem, collaboration between myself and poet, Yasmin Khan, is available as a free e-book here:

https://fie.nl.tab.digital/s/KzWjboSfgcmqxeJ

There are 3 versions – PDF, a single document e-pub created via Libre Office, and an e-pub folder created via Calibre.

#poems #poetry #PoetryCommunity

Where time’s arrow
Pierces you,
May there pour out
Unyielding light.

#poetry

A hex
Whispered
In every
Breath,
A mote of
Hope where
the luck
Ran out
To summon life
In walking death
And silence
Every doubt.

#Poetry

Hello EVERYONE! I am really loving Mastodon and meeting awesome people! I have A LOT of fun creating ART* and POETRY!

*Conceived and created by a human. :)

Say "hi" and enjoy my ART!

My portfolio here: https://sharoncummingsart.pixels.com/

#art #artist #creativity #creative #abstract #abstractart #colorfulart #introduction #followfriday #followbackfriday #follow #mastoart #mastadonart #fediart #ArtMatters #artwork #colorful #AYearForArt #mastoartist #fediart #poetry #writing #fun #writingcommunity

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Just saying "Hi" and getting into the swing of Mastadon. I have A LOT of fun creating! This massive abstract was commissioned by Antonio Neri CEO, of Hewlett Packard. He was an amazing client to work for! See my portfolio here: https://sharoncummingsart.pixels.com/ #art #artist #fun #creativity #creative #abstract #abstractart #colorfulart #color

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Picture of a woman with brunette hair and a crew cut, green eyes, fair skin and a dangly artsy earring.

I’ve recorded myself reading a poem that appears in my book Disremembering, available for purchase at http://www.nihtgengapress.com

https://record.reverb.chat/s/bi8VwbwzQuVgLMsvOYUH

#Poetry #Reading #Books #Indie #IndigenousCreatives

I dissolve
Like a dream
Against your lips,
Your kiss is
More evidence of
Life after life.

#poetry

In the cathedral
Of your skull,
Hosts of stars
Sing you into
Being.

#poetry

To my guilty
Blood,
To my gilded
Bones, the
God of death
Is kindness.

#poetry

THE CITY IS A MAGIC SCULPTURE OF
THE GROUP MIND THE CITY IS A
MYSTIC DREAM OF FOREST MEMORY\
WALLS ARE THE LAST GASP OF FAILING
IDEOLOGIES…

—Robert Montgomery, billboard poem

https://www.robertmontgomery.org/b6hov0ii4s1uuvhwr33vbfj0ihu8hj

#Scottish #literature #poem #poetry #art #visualart #billboard

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A street corner in Shoreditch, London, UK. A white billboard stands above a single-storey building on the corner. The street curves away, with a black sign saying "24hr CAR WASH in yellow letters, and a lamp-post carries a speed-limit sign reading "20 ZONE". A young woman is crossing the street, possibly holding something in her arms. She is wearing a red shirt, a grey tank-top and an orange skirt. A couple of other people can be seen further down the street, standing on the pavements and talking to each other. Beyond the billboard we can see some trees, and a red-brick wall, possibly sheltering a low-level train line. Further in the distance, beyond the wall, a slender modern multi-storey building of glass and concrete rises up against a pale grey sky. The white billboard has large black capital letters on it. They read: THE CITY IS A MAGIC SCULPTURE OF THE GROUP MIND THE CITY IS A MYSTIC DREAM OF FOREST MEMORY\ WALLS ARE THE LAST GASP OF FAILING IDEOLOGIES | FROM THE NEW GENERA- TION A PSYCHIC LOVE WAVE WILL EX- PLODE ACROSS ALL COUNTRIES \ IMMI- GRANTS WILL BE HUGGED IN THE STRE- ETS /YOU WILL RISE IN AIR BALLOONS/ THE FUTURE IS A RISK OF OUR HEARTS Below the billboard is another poster, the same width as the billboard, but black, with white lettering. The letters get bigger, running the full width of the poster. The poster reads: THE FUTURE IS AN INVISIBLE PLAYGROUND/ YA NO SOMOS TUS SIERVOS /NO PASARAN |

All Aboard

Ambient Coo Choo #quatrain #poetry #dailydread #DoubleCouplet

http://ambientdread.net/2026/05/16/all-aboard/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social