Nothing On The Acsendant
On presence, absence, and learning to sit with what remains
Today is the International Day of Nothing...when we mark the necessity of a little silence.
Emptiness and space are as important as thought.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. We need space.
Nothing is on the ascendant.
🕯️⬛🕰️⬛🕯️
An empty house, a quiet street,
Where no birds flew and the wind failed to greet
The clocks did pause, its ticks unsure
The world held its breath, the stillness queer.
🕯️⬛🕰️⬛🕯️
Shadows stayed, a touch too long
Visions looming by eye's edge
Its soul empty, bareness strong
Its cold breath cuts, a razor's blade.
🕯️⬛🕰️⬛🕯️
Its quiet surges, wraps and swallows
A chair, now gone, a lamp now blown
Its hunger triumphs, a new gallow
Nothing ascends its blackened throne.
🕯️⬛🕰️⬛🕯️
When the day was finally done
Blackness stayed, the light now gone
Nothing's soul had triumphed - won
A well-deserved, though unseen throne.
🕯️⬛🕰️⬛🕯️
Original poem by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin. AI tags are coincidental.
For Mikeydred's January prompt
About the Creator
Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin
Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.
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Comments (10)
"Emptiness and space are as important as thought." To simply be is a beautiful thing. Congratulations on your top story, Michelle! This is a lovely take on Mike's January prompt! 🪷
"Nothing ascends its blackened throne" will stay in my head as a lasting image. Powerful poem, Michelle, and well-deserving TS!
Nice!
I was really struck by the statement, "Emptiness and space are as important as thought." I completely agree with it. Coincidentally, I am in the process of redecorating my space to intentionally include empty space as part of the decor. I know that might sound a bit unusual, but it genuinely creates room to breathe. I loved your poem!
Beautifully crafted with an undercurrent of haunting reflection, Michelle. Congratulations on being Top-Storied! 🎉🎈🎉
Beautifully relatable
Woo, I was glad to see your name on top of the TS list! Really love this, Michelle.
An introvert's dream vacation
💖This poem brought meditation to my door. I found myself yearning to sit in that empty house, finally deaf to the relentless ticking of a clock. You have inveigled me into a state of peace by giving 'nothing' a body and a brain.
Sometimes we need quiet, thank you for another challenge entry