Impressions Linger
Another conversation, another revelation.
My wounded mind refuses to hear
the words spoken from your heart.
You keep trying, despite my indignation;
***
my determination to not fall again
for the shadows of manipulation -
not cast by you, but still you feel the cold;
I see you shiver, like a shepherd in the rain.
***
I carry secrets as impressions
upon my guarded soul. Betrayed
by the conditions of the unconditional.
An enigma formed carelessly of protections.
***
I must change this misguided effort of disregard,
so that I can believe in the same person as you.
About the Creator
KJ Aartila
A writer of words in northern WI with a small family and a large menagerie.
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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.
By Vocal Curation Team6 days ago in Resources
Comments (12)
Wow, Nicely done
That hits home, great job
Oh wow very good there was so much wrapped up in this one.
Deep and emotional; so beautifully worded! ❤️
This is a hard but beautifully penned piece!
Ah, that's a rough place to be in. I've felt this as well :( Such a heartfelt and raw piece. Thank you for sharing.
I definitely felt this! Super powerfully worded 🥹❤️
Gosh, this was just so relatable!
This hits hard. Excellent writing!!
This is great, and that last line hits. Very well done.
💖😉
The wounds we carry & the walls of self-defense we erect to protect ourselves from it ever happening again, reluctant to allow ourselves to become vulnerable again even though this time it may very well be true & the only way to know is to let down our guard again. Ah, the internal struggle between wanting/needing to trust vs. our wounded sense of distrust. And how much more severe will those wounds become if trust is betrayed again, even if without intent? Beautifully expressed.