Before The Jump
In Anticipation Of The Fall
what if she fell from a height
that most don't come back from
overcome with fright
trailing the last of her breadcrumbs
the ones left to remind her
who she once was and when
now that all seemed a blur
could she rebound again
time in control
and she wavered at less than
her future dark as coal
chances cold, as a snowman
the ledge seemed inviting
as she fought off the urge
like a random flash of lightning
she stood on the verge
too scared to move forward
too stubborn to look back
erasing the chalkboard
ignoring the cracks
going all in
with what life had dealt her
a blessing or sin
whether tainted or pure
devoured by the notion
that she never mattered
what she'd give for a potion
to fix the ways she was tattered
to take a step back
and rethink her position
compensate what she lacked
and make the transition
but the clock only counts progress
might have beens go unrecognized
there is no way to impress
a soul that's been hiding its eyes
so she covers it all
with a smile full of pretending
she denies the fall
while seeking her happy ending
her heart in her hand
her last breath for the taking
as her feet leave the land
pondering the mistake that she's making
***
About the Creator
Kelli Sheckler-Amsden
Telling stories my heart needs to tell <3 life is a journey, not a competition
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More stories from Kelli Sheckler-Amsden and writers in Poets and other communities.
My New Book is Finally Here
My poetry collection Beautiful and Brutal Things is done. It's actually done and finally published over 270 pages. Over a year of my life went into this book. More than a year, really. Long days at my computer, sometimes seven days a week because I couldn't stop even when I probably should have. Then two months of editing that felt harder than the writing itself. But it's finished, and I'm still standing, and the book is real.
By Tim Carmichael5 days ago in BookClub
Comments (12)
Congratulations, Kelli, on your top story! Tragedy, but so beautifully written.
Love this, Kelli. I'm listening to the music video as I write these comments. Love it too. That's a great photograph to begin with! And I love your style... no caps... no punctuation... just flow. Congratulations on your much deserved Top Story! ⚡💙 Bill⚡
Congrats on TS!!!
Amazing
Great feeling of being up a height, I am ok with heights as long as I feel safe
Loved the poem, Kellie, and well done on your top story award - very pleased for you. 👏👏👏👏
So well written- really moved me!
Kelli, so many wondrous phrases in your poem, I can't list them all: her future dark as coal chances cold, as a snowman too scared to move forward too stubborn to look back erasing the chalkboard ignoring the cracks Well deserved Top Story - well done!!
Wow! That was heavy and beautifully sad. Well done and congrats, Kelli!
Beautifully written, congratulations on your Top Story!
This one hurt my heart well written, “there is no way to impress a soul that's been hiding its eyes” This was my favorite line. ♥️
Your portrayal of that teetering moment on the edge resonates deeply— the breadcrumbs as fading echoes of self, the coal-black future, and that stubborn refusal to glance back. It's a poignant reminder of how we all wrestle with our inner voids, wrapped in such rhythmic grace.