r e l e a s e
stream of consciousness
h e a v i n e s s
embedded
d e e p
into my
b o n e s
i t s
presence
went
u n n o t i c e d
until
I
s t a r e d
into my
s o u l
I
tried to
p u r g e
i t
from
my
c o r e
to
u n t a n g l e
from
i t s
c l a s p
but the
s h a d o w
was a
part of
M e
wound
t i g h t l y
in
M y
g r a s p
I
wanted to
d e f e a t
it
but
I
was
a d d i c t e d
to
i t s
h o l d
what
w o u l d
I
do
w i t h o u t
i t
w i t h o u t
the
s t o r y
that
i t
t o l d
it
became
c l e a r
I
needed to
d e m o l i s h
the
c o n c e p t s
that
I
built
c o n s t r u c t e d
illusory
i d e o l o g y
started
t o p p l i n g
prefab
{I} d e n t i t i e s
began to
w i l t
I
s t r u g g l e d
in
r e l e a s e
but
i
k n e w
i
had to
e x p e l
it
to be
f r e e
i
loosened
my
g r i p
and
{s...l...o...w...l...y}
l e t
g o
as
h e a v i n e s s
~~~e v a p o r a t e d ~~~
out of
me
t o x i c
weight
that
I’d
been
c a r r y i n g
d i s s o l v e d
revealing
the
p o i s o n
it
had been
an
e x p a n s e
opened
in my
h e a r t
and
l o v e
began to
f i l t e r
in
that
p a r t
of
me
i' d
h e l d
so
t i g h t l y
took up
s p a c e
where
p e a c e
could
t h r i v e
l i g h t n e s s
flooded
every
f i b e r
and
i
finally
k n e w
the
p o w e r
of
R E L E A S I N G
to
t r u l y
b e
*a l i v e*
About the Creator
Kristen Balyeat
Words fly to me on the wind, bump into me as I'm strolling the city, splash me in the face while I rest by the river, and shake me awake in the middle of the night—I’m humbly one of the vessels they use to come to life.
Also, i love you:)
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
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Comments (35)
Directed to this because of the Spilt Milk Challenge and already said stuff further down. So will just keep it simple - flaily face.
Oh my. This is fabulous. Well done, Kristen.
Lovely piece, Kristen. I really enjoy your style because it's very much your own.
That was a wonderful piece of writing.
Dear Ms. Kristen - I'm so glad that I've just discovered your stories/with such gorgeous headings from your VM Tribute. *I've subscribed to you - I've always followed your thought-out lovely comments to other 'Creators' - btw: You Deep-Grasp Me - With Pleasure - Jay Jay Kantor, Chatsworth, California 'Senior' Vocal Author -Vocal Author Community~Village -
Excellent! there is nothing in the world is meaningless! please keep it up! thanks!
Breathtakingly brilliant. Sending love, Kristen. x
The format and layout are no indication of the power of the words they mask! Simply brilliant!
Remarkable work! Beautifully captures the transformative power of letting go. Congrats!
🌑💔🔒 This poem reveals the weight of heaviness and the struggle to let go, but through release, it uncovers the power of embracing vulnerability and finding true liberation. 🕊️🌟💖✨🌈🌸
To free ourselves from those core memories, beliefs & values that bind us to dis-ease with ourselves is a remarkable thing if we can accomplish it. For most, it takes a lifetime.
Just quietly back for second read of this superb piece. I think it’s a continual process of release for many. At least with me, I feel like I’ve worked things out and then fall back to ‘square one’ some days.. it’s as if it has to be practised mindfully on a regular basis.. Anyhow, congratulations on your top story. ☺️🙌
I appreciate your poetry, it resonates with me
This really spoke to me, very well done
This was so powerful and liberating! It also resonated very deeply with me. If only I had the strength to let the heaviness go. Loved your poem!
Enjoyed reading this!
The flow is spectacular! Congrats 🎊
I'm very late on commenting today and most everything about this one has already bee nsaid. Outstanding job on this one, Kristen! Congratulations!
Oh, This was just outstanding ❤️😉💯❗ Congratulations on your Top Story🎉🎉
Excellent!
Crazy
It's been a while Kristen! Quite a thought provoking piece.. that heaviness is within us all, and can take so many forms.. great introspection happening here 👍🏽
PS i would totally buy a poetry collection of yours. Just an idea 😉✨
Pretty much all of what everyone else said and what I said, but really I just came back to say congratulations on another fine entry into your catalogue and Top Story! Said it before, Say it again. Always feel a certain degree of comfort reading your work, like..I know...I'm in safe hands...even if you cover difficult subjects or whatever...always reads beautifully! Mumble over.
OMG I clicked on this so fast! I came back to comment once I got Audrey down for her nap, and it was Top Story. Congrats! 🥂 I love the language, flow, and message of this. I love the title and image you chose too. This perfectly sums up how shadow work felt for me. It was so hard to let go of lies I was told about myself, because they’d become my truth and identity… so even when I had the revelation that it was not who I was, and it was holding me back from becoming me, I couldn’t let go because I didn’t know who I would be if not those things. I was afraid I’d be nothing at all. Then, when I finally loosened my grip, what a release it was. I always feel your words in my heart, as if they could be about me—but you have such a distinctive way of expressing yourself that your poetry could only come from you. That is what makes it enjoyable to read.