Brian MacDonald
Inspiration Piece

Gathering
By Nina Simon
Response Piece

There’s a spark in the room tonight.
Its glow casts me into the shadows of invisibility
sealing my wine-coated lips into silence
as I watch cliques of people,
heads bobbing in animated conversation
bodies swaying to the beat of yesterday’s tunes.

Is this how it’s always to be
on the outside
inside myself
a lone being
shrouded in the space around me
in a room crowded with couples?

I reach for another drink.

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Helen Whittaker
Inspiration

With This Ring
Nina Simon
Response

As a setting sun bleeds
violet and red into indigo-tinged skies
she unknots ropes of tension
that chafe her skin
and bruise her bones.

Releasing a sigh,
breathing eases,
heartbeat slows,
headache lifts.

The day is calmer
without him sitting in her palm
biting holes in her serenity,
suffocating her thoughts
with his noise.

She traces lines of life and marriage
up to the ring
he placed on her finger.

It slips off easily.
and her hand feels lighter,
new-born.

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Note: All of the art, writing, and music on this site belongs to the person who created it. Copying
or republishing anything you see here without express and written permission from the author or
artist is strictly prohibited.