The world bends a slow hinge
unhinging the horizon
A memory breaks free
a perfect pebble
dropped into an empty lake
The ripples spread
and everything is changed
There is a stillness now
the kind found betwixt breaths
betwixt a question and an answer
betwixt the shore and the sea
I am standing on the precipice of myself
the person I was, a fleeting whisper
the one I will be, an unwritten page
The last sound I recall
was a sigh a final acceptance
Now there is only the vast
unfolding silence
a map with no familiar names
My heart feels
like a hollow thing
light and waiting
A ghastly wind I cannot explain
pushes me onward
There is no turning back
only this new fall
the feeling of letting go
of the known
and opening my eyes to the dark heavens
About the Creator
Tim Carmichael
Tim is an Appalachian poet and cookbook author. He writes about rural life, family, and the places he grew up around. His poetry and essays have appeared in Bloodroot and Coal Dust, his latest book.
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The Ritual of Winter Challenge Winners
Welcome to the Winners Announcement for The Ritual of Winter challenge. This prompt focused on winter rituals and the meaning that settles into them over time. The top pieces stay grounded in ordinary acts and repeated routines, letting winter shape the work through pace, attention, and restraint.
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Comments (5)
I've never seen heaven being described as dark, so I really liked that!
I love that I can relate to this and feeling this way at times. On the eve of something but unsure what. Great writing.
This draws you into the dark along with the pebble. Nicely done.
Well-wrought!
Ooooh, this was so captivating, sir! Loved every single thought-provoking line and idea conveyed here. I hasten to add that this felt like opening up my mind a bit and digging around how I feel at times. Gorgeous work, Tim. Truly.