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Clinging and Cleared

Shadows drift when the iron grip's released.

By Michelle Liew Tsui-LinPublished 2 months ago โ€ข 1 min read
AI image generated by the author.

Some fingers cling tighter than they shouldโ€”

But when they open in a palmโ€”

The shadows cease.

Shadows part - light descends - when we release.

๐ŸŒซ๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ปโ„๏ธ๐Ÿ–ค

Cobbled, frost-covered stones

Shadows drift under streetlights.

Gripping with thin fingers

Refusing to release.

๐Ÿ’€๐ŸŒ™๐Ÿ–ค

I grasp its wispy fingers.

Prying - it clings.

Each finger lifts.

Drops.

And grasps - with more fervour..

๐ŸŒซ๏ธ๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿ’จ

My hands - in a palm.

Fingers limp, an absence of pain.

The shadow drifts --

Lightens.

Relents.

๐ŸŒŸโœจ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ

My fingertips leave the iron.

The mist parts -- light's new glow.

The cobblestones shine-

Clear-

Bright-

๐ŸŒŒ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ

Peace.

๐ŸŒŒ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ๐ŸŒฟ

Original poem by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin. AI tags are coincidental.

inspirationalFree Verse

About the Creator

Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin

Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.

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Comments (3)

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  • Andrea Corwin 2 months ago

    Let it all come when the time is right - not clinging, but in openness. Great poem!

  • Caitlin Charlton2 months ago

    Your command over the shadow, the fingers and the palm. Drove the image to me slowly but effectively. The way you set the scene, interacting with the cobbled stone and the streetlight, gives me so much more to occupy my mind, to enjoy the way you link words between rhythm. Love how the poem ended with peace. After the moment the fingertips leave the iron. ๐Ÿค—โค๏ธ๐Ÿ–ค

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