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Wholly Fractured

A Mikeydred One Week Sad Poem Challenge For All Vocal Creators

By Paul StewartPublished about a year ago Updated about a year ago 1 min read
by Bouke de Vries, Portrait of the artist 5, 18th century white Delft fragments and porridge bowl handles, 190x240x528 mm

the visage of someone broken

"only

someone run down, worn out

through

tired

suffering

or who picks up the burdens they bear

do

to face another day

we

do you look with scornful resentment

learn"

at their downcast, downbeat countenance

some cracks never fully heal or disappear

scars we carry, the trauma we suffer

hurt, pain, internal, infernal

self-affliction, self-destruction

what is done to us and by us

we heal and callous over, but something always

remains

fine lines, grazes and bruising

on the surface, are like icebergs

"wisdom

only a some piece of the puzzle

comes

story or endurance, perseverance

alone

beauty is only skin deep, but

through

suffering" bores holes to our core

*

Thanks for reading!

Author's Notes: This is for the incredibly prolific Mike Singleton's A Mikeydred One Week Sad Poem Challenge For All Vocal Creators, which you can find out more about following the link:

We don't know the trauma, sadness, hurt, pain, suffering, experiences, and burdens that people carry, so it's best not to judge people solely on outward appearances.

The poem includes two quotes by Aeschylus

"Only through suffering do we learn"

"Wisdom comes alone through suffering"

*

Here are some other things that happened recently...

artFree VerseheartbreakinspirationalMental Healthperformance poetrysad poetrysocial commentaryEkphrastic

About the Creator

Paul Stewart

Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.

The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!

Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!

Reader insights

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Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Compelling and original writing

    Creative use of language & vocab

  2. Easy to read and follow

    Well-structured & engaging content

  3. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

  1. Masterful proofreading

    Zero grammar & spelling mistakes

  2. On-point and relevant

    Writing reflected the title & theme

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Comments (14)

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  • Grz Colmabout a year ago

    Terrific! Love the message and that last line Paul. 👍

  • D.K. Shepardabout a year ago

    Excellent work, Paul! “fine lines, grazes and bruising on the surface, are like icebergs” is such powerful analogy! There’s often so much more below the surface isn’t there?

  • Komalabout a year ago

    Wow, there's a lot of depth in this one. The fragmented style emphasizes the brokenness and healing journey, capturing the struggle and resilience of the human experience. It's like peeling back layers of pain, but also finding wisdom in the process. Raw, powerful, and poignant.

  • Calvin Londonabout a year ago

    I loved it, Paul, and very cleverly put together, but we have come to expect that from you. Excellent poem

  • Ann ☕️about a year ago

    Wow, this poem is so heartfelt! Thanks for sharing this~

  • Whoaaaa Sir Paul, this was sooo profound! Loved it so much!

  • Kodahabout a year ago

    This format was so creative! Incredibly done, Paul! 💘🌟

  • Silver Dauxabout a year ago

    Good message to this. We never know what someone else has dealt with or is dealing with. Love the style of writing too. Very nice and great entry!

  • Kelli Sheckler-Amsdenabout a year ago

    fabulous entry...lyric and picture

  • Excellent words and love the image you found

  • Sid Aaron Hirjiabout a year ago

    it is we with no boundaries to empathy who suffer this

  • Mother Combsabout a year ago

    Love this, Paul!

  • John Coxabout a year ago

    If you were to boil this poem down to a single line, ‘we heal and callous over, but something always remains’ would be it. Extraordinary line! A single line poetry challenge would be interesting I think. Great entry, Paul!

  • Mark Grahamabout a year ago

    How true on both your poems you have shared here. Good job.

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