15 Comments
User's avatar
Steve Baker's avatar

Holly, your poem brings back something I’ve only ever seen from the outside ... the way a person can freeze in a moment that’s too sharp, too sudden, too heavy. I wasn’t the one who went silent, but I witnessed the fallout, the way the room changed, the way shame settled over everything like dust. Your words capture that quiet collapse so clearly that it feels like watching it happen again.

There’s a particular ache in seeing someone you care about fold inward like that. You learn the shape of their silence, the weight of what wasn’t said, the long echo that follows long after the moment is over. Your poem names that echo ... the fragments, the memories, the longing for more time ... in a way that feels honest and familiar.

Thank you. It speaks to the people who lived the moment, and also to those of us who stood nearby, trying to understand what broke and how to hold what remained.

I don’t have answers for trauma, but I witnessed the fallout, and your poem brings back the truth of how heavy it is. I’m responding from the human place, not the wise one.

Steve

Joshua Lee Downs's avatar

It felt like…

You were simply feeling

And the words were flowing

I felt it

Loved it

Thank you

Very beautiful

Gabby approves…too….lol

Holly's avatar

Thank you I appreciate you reading I’m so glad you liked it :))) and Is gabby your cat

Joshua Lee Downs's avatar

Yes..lol

It was my pleasure

Suzie's avatar

Holly, this made my heart ache. Such beautiful writing, nostalgia and pain weaved through 🖤🖤🖤

Ramona Moth's avatar

the little details of the geode, the shellacked picture, the clay... ahhhhhhhhh

Holly's avatar

thank you Ramona I honestly want to get a picture of the shellacked board my great grandpa had of my sister. it was big! and he carried it around with him everywhere to show her off, it is such a sweet story

Nora O’Dowd's avatar

So many striking images, Holly! Great work!

Luna💫's avatar

Oh holly olly, the way the fears and the fragments weave together and melt into one another… At first it feels like a self loathing or self-fear, then transforms into memories, fractured through your mind like a cracked mirror… there’s longing and regret, and deep wounds looking for love to close. Hugs through the ether, Guv 🖤🖤✨

Holly's avatar

This comment made me well up thankyou for taking time for me, hugs right back governor

Ray Sweatman's avatar

Wonderful imagery and chord progression

Holly's avatar

Thank you Ray :)

The Art of Being's avatar

Holly! As always the imagery gets me. The specifics suck me in and then you give space enough for me to create my own meaning. What a winning combination 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Holly's avatar

Thank you! I really try not to over explain so that is so helpful to know I’m succeeding !

MoTy's avatar

“my fingers deep in the sockets” - wowzers! I’m sold x