Vocal Deep Cuts 4

So, it's the start of another week, which means it's time for another edition of Vocal Deep Cuts. You know the drill by now, though if you need a refresher or are new to the series, let me explain.

There are so many amazing creators on Vocal and so many pieces being published every single day that some slip through the cracks, like when the remote control slides down the side of the sofa.

To counter this inevitability, I wanted to help spotlight some of the lesser-read pieces on Vocal. I called the series Vocal Deep Cuts because, in music, deep cuts are the album tracks by an artist or band that were not singles and perhaps did not get the same airplay but are often the best songs. I feel this way about the pieces I choose.

These are the hidden gems that are in plain sight underneath our noses.

To quick things off and in keeping with the general structure of the series, one of my own.

Acrostic Elements

I think the Quadru-haiku Challenge helped me develop my love for writing poetry and trying to challenge myself. This was very under-read, for whatever reason, at the time, and I am still proud of it.

As the challenge offered the opportunity to submit four haiku-in-one, and the fact that there are some incredibly big words in the English language, I wanted to try and write four haikus consisting of 3 words each that still met the syllable requirement and made sense. Oh, to really push things, I wanted each haiku to be an acrostic, too, with a word that relates to each of the four elements.

Would I do it differently now? Probably. I still like what I did with it, considering where I was in my poetry-writing journey.

Now for my favourite bit - the stunning pieces, I've unearthed by other creators.

The Empty Man by The Invisible Writer

Will, or The Invisible Writer, is an incredible writer that I find very inspiring. Technically proficient, but also manages to nail emotions and can really pull you in. As it stands, this is the oldest poem on Vocal by him and I thought it was too good not to share. It's incredibly sad and raw but beautifully penned.

Love or Lust That is the Question by Mariann Carroll

Mariann is an excellent writer. She always puts a lot into every piece she publishes - you can tell that when you read her work. If it's a happy piece, it will be the most joyful thing, whereas if it's a sad and reflective piece, it will have a deep honesty and emotional tug to it. She is also very supportive of other creators. I think, along with Dharrsheena, she was one of the first to regularly read, comment and like my own writing. She has an almost unwavering positivity sometimes that is infectious! I felt this piece by Mariann deserved more eyes on it because of the questions it raises and the thoughts it provokes.

My heart is a sinking ship by Phil Flannery

Phil is a writer who I only became familiar with in the last month or so. Everything I've read so far, though, I have enjoyed. He entered a great piece into the Pitch Your Pilot Challenge, which I am certain will place and could even win, called Yeah Nah! That made me actually hope it would be made into a show. That was hilarious, though, but this poem is not. This poem is so heartbreaking, raw and full of honesty and despair, though written so elegantly.

Donation Box by C.H. Richard

One thing I've found interesting about taking on this project is how deep I have to go into some writer's body of work. Cindy is one writer whom I have immense respect for and has many strings to her bow. She can write immersive fiction, and her poetry blows me away. As many of her pieces have a lot of likes and comments already, I had to go much deeper (which is a great thing and means I had to really go on a search). My dive pulled up this little haiku (I know, I know - all haikus are, by their very nature, little). I love that it's very relatable and says so much with so few words! Enjoy!

the universe in the front seat by sleepy drafts

If you have not allowed your mind and emotions to be taken on a trip by sleepy drafts, also known as Em, what have you been doing with your life? There are a few creators (okay, it's a lot, but let's not get into that here) on Vocal that I feel are on another creative rung in the ladder than me - one that I might never get to (I may be being a little hard on myself, but it's how I feel sometimes, and I am completely fine with it) and Em is one of them. You could open any of her pieces, especially her poems, and be blown away. She is also incredibly laidback and lacks any sign of an ego! This is another example of her abilities, powers, whatever. Enjoy!

Wherefore art thou, Algernon? by Jazzy Goncalves

I only recently became familiar with Jazzy, and I am glad that I did. It was actually one of her thought/opinion pieces, and while I found I couldn't agree with what she was putting forward, I admired the fact that she was standing by what she believed and her unwavering positivity. She is also very supportive when it comes to reading other people's work and commenting with encouraging thoughts and insights. While this piece is full of sadness, it also showcases her awesome skill with words, and the ending especially caught my attention.

I love me, I love me not by Chloë J.

Incredibly prolific and without any drop in quality at all, Chloë J. is one of my favourite creators here on Vocal. I've followed and loved her work for some time now, and she never ceases to amaze me. Whether she is tackling something a little on the surreal side or deep, dark emotions and pain like this one, she never fails to nail it!

Seeds by Joelle Nanula

Joelle is another writer's work that I am relatively new to, but so glad I found her. She seems to effortlessly weave magic in her writing. She can take even the most simple and normal thing and turn it into a thing of beauty. The piece I've decided to highlight is really very thought-provoking with stunning rhymes, and I marvel at the way she tied it all up with a nice positive end.

xox by Sara

To complete this collection of Deep Cuts, I've chosen a piece by Sara. If you want dark, emotionally-fraught poetry that is like the author has bled onto the paper/screen, Sara always delivers. Technically her work is always sublime, but it's that ability to put her all into it, and not hold back, that is what gets me every time I read something she's published. Her work, in my humble opinion, is breathtaking, maybe a little uncomfortable at times(which is always a good thing in my opinion) but always honest. This piece, I feel, showcases that beautifully.

That's it for this week, folks! I hope you enjoyed my selection. Please do give each a read, like and comment. I am enjoying this series immensely and hope you all are too, as I intend to continue it for the foreseeable future.

If you are new to the series or missed an edition, here are the links to my previous Deep Cuts: