Awake Beyond Smoldering
It was a withering husk,
and I almost didn’t recognize it
as my own broken heart,
that which had been fractured
through years of denial
over what had been lost
long ago. But that was then,
when I could not accept the truth.
When fear of the unknown kept me
from finding a happiness
that could be mine. I turned my back
on the charred remains to find
that happiness, knowing my heart
would follow, hopeful we would succeed.
This poem is my response to MTB: Middles and Turns, the prompt from Peter at dVerse ~ Poets Pub, which is to write a poem that takes a dramatic turn.
Image source: freevectors.net (edited here)
rivrvlogr 
I think we need to something understand that we can always find a way to phoenix from our ashes and flame again.
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Sometimes it’s hard to see that light.
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upbeat at the end – the charring remind me of burnt letters, or bridges – but a point of dislocation from the past
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Burnt letters and bridges – good analogy. Thank you.
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Beautiful turn, Ken. How’s your internet going??
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Thanks, Lisa.
Internet is functional. No snow, so that’s good. We keep getting text messages reminding us of a pending repair, and that orange cable is since been spliced to a black cable in the middle of the street, so I guess that was their repair. Meanwhile, the cone placed 4 feet from the curb has been run over a few times.
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You’re welcome, Ken. Glad you’ve still got it for now at least.
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I thought of the Phoenix, too, in the charred ashes being reborn. I like the hope at the end.
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This is gorgeously rendered! I love the reference to “broken heart,” and the glimpse of optimism at the end. It’s excruciating.. propelling forward in the darkness in search of the light.. but it’s there. 💝💝
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Thank you, Sanaa. That turn can be a hard one.
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I’ve got one of those behind me, too, Ken. I’d bet most of us do. You tell the turn exceedingly well. Peace.
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Thanks, Ron. Sometimes you move on. Sometimes it takes a nudge (a big one). Either way, you go forward.
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It does take a chunk of courage to abandon ship (the known) … I like the notion of heart following after mind finally chooses to leap.
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Thank you, Jazz. Sometimes it’s the heart that’s more deeply entrenched, but when there’s little left there it’s time to heal.
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resonates deeply as it’s so personal giving hope and healing
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Thank you.
Comes a time when a turn is what’s needed. Finding a new source of resolution.
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absolutely … we can only bang that brick wall so many times
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.
turning from the flame
burning scrap of living wood
makes a shine from pain
.
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pain resolved
when flame extinguished
search for light
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Beautifully expressed!
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Thank you, Lucy. 🙂
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What a lovely turn of events, of resolve.
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Thank you, Helen. Resolve is key.
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Nicely done Ken – love that hinge right in the middle – ‘but that was then…’ and then keep us hanging on until the reveal in the last couplet – happiness first and the heart (oh broken dead thing) revives.
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Thank your thoughtful assessment, Peter.
And thank you for the prompt.
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The poem turns with the persona makibg a step forward and this reader applauds
Thanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💗love
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Thank you so much for that thought, Gillena.
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Knowing the heart would follow is very strong; shows trust and faith. It’s a courageous poem of a courageous move.
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Thank you. A turning point requires commitment to move forward. Confidence is a good part of that, even if it needs to build with time.
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As I shared with Ingrid, it takes a while to realize we are 100% responsible for how we feel, or at the very least, how we hold those feelings. Nice write Ken!
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Thanks, Rob.
Sometimes that’s a lifelong task.
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Beautiful poem, Ken, the fractured heart will heal under the light and warmth of love. Some scars will remain but could they enhance the whole?
You will succeed! 🌻.
Miriam
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Beautiful poem, Ken, the fractured heart will heal under the light and warmth of love. Some scars will remain but could they enhance the whole?
You will succeed! 🌻.
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We do learn from experience. 🙂
Thank you, Miriam.
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Ken, for me, the word ‘we’ is the essence of the whole poem, which is utterly lovely.
Yours,
David
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Thank you, David.
I consider “we” in two ways.
One, that my heart and mind would move forward together. And two, my heart’s mate and I together, as has been so fortunately the case.
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I’m happy for you, Ken.
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A great title, Ken, and I love the progression of a withering husk of a broken heart to hope and happiness. I like the literal turn of the back on fear of the unknown, and the hint at a phoenix rising from the ashes..
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Thank you, Kim. Like many of my poems, the title came last. This one required some thought.
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Sometimes fear of the unknown is the thing that holds us back from true happiness. I’m pleased you found yours!
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🙂 Thank you, Ingrid.
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O yes indeed, speaks so powerfully Ken.
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Thank you, Paul.
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Very welcome Ken 🙂
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This is so beautifully done! I love it!
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🙂 Thank you, Dwight.
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It’s always hard to trust and it’s always brave to let yourself fall in love, but even more after we feel our trust has been broken. (K)
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There’s nothing simple about healing. Thank you, Kerfe.
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Amazing how often hearts can break and mend themselves by having hope.
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Long ago, I had a conversation about hope. I thought it was about semantics, that hope is open ended – anyone can have it – when, in fact, i didn’t recognize I was being told to stop wasting my time. Sometimes it takes hindsight to realize the truth and move on.
Thank you, Sara.
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Thank you for commenting and sharing.
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