Across the sea, a jungle green, A young man fought, a sight unseen. My father, there, in Vietnam’s hold, A story etched, a heart of gold.
The weight of war, a heavy pack, He carried burdens on his back. The sounds of fire, the cries of pain, Aching memories, etched like rain.
But courage bloomed where shadows fell, He faced his fears and fought them well. For comrades’ sake, for duty’s call, He stood his ground, he gave his all.
And when he came back home at last, The war’s grim toll, a shadowed past. Unspoken battles, burdens deep, Yet in his eyes, a love to keep.
He built a life, a world anew, The strength he bore, shone clear and true. My father, soldier, quiet, strong, In him, I see where I belong.
This ode to him, a whispered pride, For all he faced, for all he tried. A son’s respect, a heart’s embrace, For the hero’s journey, etched on his face.
The lines were drawn in quiet ink, A map of “yes” and “stay,” I feared the bridge would surely sink If I turned the other way. I held my breath to keep the peace, A ghost within the room, Fearing that my own release Would seal a friendship’s doom.
I thought the cost of being me Was more than they would pay, That if I spoke, they’d turn and flee And leave me in the gray. But then the weight began to gall, The “jokes” that left a sting, The way they made me feel so small While I gave everything.
So I stood up, a sudden flame, And watched the masks descend, I finally spoke my truth, my name, And waited for the end. They met my strength with cold disdain, With anger and with slight, They saw my joy as their own pain And walked into the night.
And in the silence left behind, The truth began to bloom: The friends I was so scared to find Were never in that room. For if a boundary breaks a bond, The bond was but a thread; Of people who are truly fond, There’s nothing left to dread.
If standing up meant losing them, I lost a heavy chain, A false and hollow stratagem That only offered pain. The ones who leave when you grow tall Were never yours to keep; It’s better that the shadows fall So you can finally leap.
I hide myself away, retreating from the world’s harsh light, To hide from those I fear, the shadows that invade the night. The whispers and the judging eyes, they pierce me to the core, So I draw the curtains closed, and lock the heavy door. I hide myself away, within this solitary keep, A silent farewell for now, while deeper secrets sleep.
The silence of this self-made cell becomes a heavy shroud, I cried myself to sleep, a soundless weeping in the crowd. To hide and weep, my body shaking with the strain, To hide and weep, to wash away the bitter, throbbing pain. Each tear a wasted moment, falling in the deep, As promises I couldn’t keep haunt me while I sleep.
A sharp regret now cuts the air: Why did I waste so much time? Consumed by baseless fear, an unforgivable, self-made crime. To fear what they say, the empty words that hold no weight, To let their careless judgments seal my solitary fate. I should have stood defiant, met their gaze with fiery pride, But cowardice took hold, and left me here to hide.
Again, the darkness calls me down, the cycle starts anew, I cried myself to sleep, until the morning filtered through. To hide and weep, a ritual of sorrow and despair, To hide and weep, a burden that my heart can barely bear. This isolation is a monster, feeding on my will, A self-imposed exile upon this lonely, silent hill.
But then a whisper rises, fragile yet defined, A voice that speaks of freedom, leaving fear behind. Open the doors, let sunlight flood the dust and gloom, And hide no more, escape this cold and empty room. Open the doors, the hinges squeak with long disuse, And hide no more, relinquish every weak excuse. The world awaits beyond the latch, vibrant and so vast, A future built on courage, leaving shadows in the past.
I cried myself to sleep, a memory that starts to fade, Wasting so much time, upon a path too long delayed. Wasting so much time, a treasure carelessly set free, But now the lock is broken, and the key belongs to me. The sun on my face is a promise, clear and bold, A new story beginning, waiting to unfold.
We stand together, a multitude wide, Our inherent worth cannot be denied. We are the many, strong and profound, On worthy, undeniable ground.
A powerful force, a presence complete, In every life’s aspect, we cannot retreat. We are the bedrock, the muse, and the light, The mothers who nurture, the wives who unite. Companions and partners, the friends tried and true, The unwavering support, seeing the world through.
Yet a flaw in our unity, a shadow we find, The support we give others, we leave behind. Hesitant to challenge, to push past the ease, To reach true potential that surely would please. And most painful of all, a failure to claim, The hard-won successes, and speak a sister’s name.
This must cease now, the passive days gone, We must seek out the moments, from dusk until dawn. To offer our praise, let our voices ring true, Each milestone a triumph, for me and for you. To consciously lift, giving momentum and grace, For every woman to find her true place. To challenge with love, with expectation’s firm hand, Demanding of excellence, across all the land. No criticism this is, but mutual rise, Reflected in sisterhood’s true, loving eyes.
Through this vow to support, and challenge we make, The success we can grasp, for goodness’ sake. Empowering each other, we’ll shift and transform, The women the world needs, weathering every storm. We’ll embody the purpose, we were meant to be, The women who changed the world, for all eyes to see.
To achieve this high goal, the toxins must fall, Excise the dark poisons that hold us in thrall. Shed the debilitating jealousy’s sting, That blinds us to triumphs the good moments bring.
Discard the destructive competition and strife, Focus energy outward, on a better world’s life. Not inward, against us, our battles are clear, Fighting for progress, not fueled by dark fear.
Cast off the petty, the soul-crushing hate, It consumes the bright light that seals our fate. The path forward is dimmed by this darkness within, We must clear out the shadows, and let light begin.
Let a new sacred covenant be firmly held fast, A mandate of love that is meant to last. Unconditional loving, and support burning bright, A sisterhood rising, with all of its might. Unbreakable, unstoppable, changing the world’s face, United in purpose, and filled with true grace.
The silent prisons of our own mind, Worry for the deeds we left behind, The chances lost, the paths we feared to roam, Our potential dormant, never brought home. This anchor heavy, second-guessing’s sting, Drags down the soul that was meant to sing.
To truly live, regret must be outrun, A risk embraced beneath the morning sun. The unknown holds the promise of our growth, A fertile ground for a pledged oath.
Take the chance at greatness, a choice for all, Be willing to reach, to answer the call. See what reserves within your spirit lie, Of strength and grace beneath the open sky. Commit to the dream, take the fearless flight, Forward with conviction, leaving behind the night.
Hesitation is the foe of every deed, By fearing failure, planting doubt’s cold seed. You’ll never know the heights you could attain, The monuments you’d build through sun and rain. The touch of courage, how it might inspire, A beacon lit by your own brave fire.
Embrace the call: Take the chance once more, See what you can do without a shore. Take the challenge, soar upon the breeze, Let past regrets dissolve with newfound ease. Don’t look behind; the future lies ahead, Just keep the onward path and be well-led.
Belief and grit define the way we go, The goals you set, the success you will know. Though failure whispers—part of learning’s art— Do not let that dark shadow break your heart. The glorious chance of victory is near, For this bright hope, dispel all doubt and fear.
Stop postponing the life you wish to lead, Write the unheard book, plant the needed seed. Learn the unlearned dance, let rhythm take hold, Sing out your heart, a story to unfold. Let nothing hold you back—no fear, no scorn, The time for your own greatness is this morn.
The jarring, insistent shriek, An alarm clock’s metallic cry, Assaults the fragile morning’s peace, A painful echo in the sky Of my dark skull. I groan, a sound Instantly swallowed by the deep, Heavy silence all around, I try to meld back into sleep.
A cruel hand pulls, a rhythmic beat, From sleep’s warm, velvet, soft embrace, It snatches me, with sudden heat, And leaves my heart against my face. My eyes fly open, dark and blank, Staring up at the ceiling’s shade, My body, safe within the bank Of blankets, a fortress I have made.
But now the cold kiss starts to creep, A sharp, unwelcome morning chill, That pricks the skin I cannot keep Beneath the covers, lying still. With weariness, I fight the day, The first act: pull the fabric high, To hide, to make the light away, And plunge into a private sky.
No. It can’t possibly be now, Time is a thief that steals the night, I want to vanish, somehow, From all the expectations of the light. Just lie here, a statue, breathing low, Letting my mind drift, free and wide, Back to the quiet dreams I know, A ghost the sheets completely hide.
This is my refuge, warm and deep, A sanctuary I’ll not leave, While outside, light and noises sleep. I am a vessel that will receive A torrent of chaotic thought, The doubt, the list, the sudden spark, In this brief silence, dearly bought, Before the world steps from the dark.
But then, the quiet starts to fade, A deep, weary settling down: Alas, the rising must be made. Each day, a loop, a weary crown. I run a race that has no end, Against the clock, against demands, A weight that bends, and still must bend. I shove the covers with both hands.
The only prize, the only true Reprieve, is time, unscheduled, pure: To take a day, a week or two, With only my children, to be sure. No emails, bosses, or cruel stress, Just me and my kids, simple, slow, Wrapped in the light of quietness. That is the only finish line I know.
The words, sharp and unwarranted, slice through the fragile shell I built. Tiny, invisible blades, their power immense, carving my heart into scattered, irreparable pieces.
My carefully constructed dreams, ambitious plans, vital goals— all crumble before this onslaught, a lifetime of building reduced to dust. My essence, fractured, lies on the cold floor.
Why do these ephemeral sounds, mere vibrations in the air, hurt so? Why grant them such devastating power, to tear the fabric of our being, to leave us utterly immobilized?
With a deep, shuddering breath, I rise. Muscles protest, heavy with despair. I kneel, picking mangled, bleeding pieces from the unforgiving floor, cradling the remnants, a silent cry.
I try, with feverish intensity, to mend— reaching for glue, tape, harsh staples. But none of them hold. The cracks are too deep, the breaks too fundamental. A heart shattered by words cannot be fixed by physical objects
Again, the haunting question returns: Why do I give words this power? Why allow such deep, lingering pain?
Yet, the act of kneeling has shifted something. I stand up, not whole, but resilient. I place my broken, but still beating, heart back into my chest, and with a final act of defiance, I dust myself off.
The reality remains: Words possess the power to tear us down, to reduce us to rubble, weapons that wound the soul.
But words are not solely destruction. They possess the capacity to restore. A single, well-placed phrase— of kindness, encouragement, or understanding— can be the foundation upon which we rebuild.
Love, in its purest expression, is the ultimate healing force, articulated through sincere, positive words, what ultimately saves us all.
Words can tear you down. Words can also lift you up.
Choose your words with the highest intention. Strive always to lift a spirit, to reinforce worth, to acknowledge a presence.
Never fail to be kind. Kindness is the shield against the world’s harsh words, the balm for its inflicted injuries.
Remember this immutable truth: Words are a powerful, double-edged sword. They can drag someone into the deepest pit of despair, or elevate them to heights of strength and hope.
Use this profound tool with meticulous care. Wield your words to heal, to encourage, and to restore.
