slam poetry
Slam poetry: that magical mix of rhythm and rhyme.
Whispers of the Forest
Whispers of the Forest: A Journey Through Fresh and Uplifting Poetry When Ella first stepped into the forest that summer morning, she wasn’t looking for inspiration. She had simply wanted quiet. After a long season of city noise, deadlines, and endless scrolling, the stillness of the woods called to her like an old friend. The path was soft beneath her boots, made of pine needles and time. Towering trees arched above her like cathedral pillars, filtering sunlight into golden beams. The air smelled of moss, bark, and distant rain. And somewhere, high above, a bird sang a melody so delicate it felt like a secret. She stopped, breathed deeply, and let herself simply be. It was there, in that breath of stillness, that she heard the forest speak—not in words, but in feeling. She pulled a small notebook from her bag and wrote: The trees do not ask for applause, Yet they dance for the wind, just the same. She blinked, surprised. Poetry had once been part of her life—when she was younger, when her world was smaller and somehow wider all at once. But in recent years, she’d left it behind. Jobs, bills, and grown-up responsibilities had crowded it out. Yet here it was again, as natural and unforced as the sunlight. That one verse became two, then four. Hours passed as she wandered the woods, writing about leaves that whispered old stories, rivers that hummed lullabies, and mushrooms that rose like quiet miracles from the forest floor. Her poems weren’t polished or planned, but they felt alive—fresh and full of something real. Over the next few weeks, Ella returned to the forest again and again. Each time, she wrote more. She began to see patterns: the gentle rhythm of nature echoed in her words. The forest, with all its life and stillness, had become her muse. Her poetry wasn’t just about nature—it felt like it was nature. And she wasn’t the only one. As her confidence grew, Ella started sharing her poems online under the name Forest Voice. To her surprise, they resonated. People from all over the world wrote to her: "Your poem about the falling leaf helped me through a hard day." "I read your lines about the morning dew aloud to my kids. They wanted to go outside and find poems of their own." "I forgot how much I love trees. Thank you for reminding me." Soon, a community formed—writers, readers, nature lovers, teachers, and quiet souls looking for peace. Together, they began creating and sharing fresh, forest-inspired poetry. Some were just a few lines; others were rich, lyrical meditations. All carried the same heartbeat: a deep respect for the natural world and the beauty it offers, freely and constantly. Ella also began hosting small gatherings in local woods—"Poetry Walks," she called them. People would meet among the trees, walk in silence, write, and then gather to read aloud. There were tears, laughter, even spontaneous applause. No one judged grammar or rhyme. The only rule was to listen—to the forest, and to each other. These poetry walks grew in popularity. Local schools got involved, encouraging children to write “poems of place.” Older adults shared stories of poems they’d written decades ago and hidden in drawers. What started as Ella’s personal retreat had become something bigger: a gentle movement of renewal and connection. Through it all, the poetry stayed fresh—never stale or stiff. The forest didn’t repeat itself, and neither did the poems. Each walk brought new sights: a fox’s paw print, a spider’s web sparkling with dew, a sudden bloom of wildflowers. Each moment invited new words. Ella often said, “The forest writes first. I just listen.” She published a small collection called Whispers of the Forest, filled with poems written during her walks. It wasn’t a bestseller, but it didn’t need to be. It found its way into the hands of those who needed it—people looking for calm, for truth, for beauty rooted in the earth. And somewhere, in a quiet classroom, a child wrote: The wind is soft like my mother’s hug. The trees are tall like they have stories to tell. I want to live in a forest made of poems. Ella read those lines one morning and smiled. Because that was the heart of it: the forest had always been poetry. It just needed someone to listen—and someone to share its voice.
By Muhammad Saad 4 months ago in Poets
Whispers of the Heart
Whispers of the Heart “A Journey Through Love’s Most Beautiful Verses” The sun dipped low over the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of peach and gold. A soft breeze whispered through the wildflower meadow, carrying the sweet scent of jasmine and lavender. In the shade of an old oak tree, two people sat close, their laughter woven into the quiet sounds of the evening. Elena held a small leather-bound notebook in her lap. The pages were filled with flowing cursive, some inked freshly, others faded with time. Her fingers traced the edge of a well-loved page as she glanced at Luca, whose eyes sparkled with gentle curiosity. “You wrote these?” he asked, pointing to the book. She nodded, shyly. “Every one. Most people don’t believe in love poetry anymore. They think it’s too soft, too idealistic. But I think the world needs softness. And hope.” Luca smiled, his gaze tender. “Read me one?” Elena hesitated, her heart fluttering. She had never read her poems aloud to anyone before. These verses were pieces of her—fragments of feelings she had carefully stitched together with words. But something about the way Luca asked made her feel safe, seen. She opened the book to a page near the middle. “This one’s called 'In the Quiet of You.’” She read, her voice low but sure: > In the quiet of you, I find peace without asking. Not the kind that needs words, But the kind that feels like Coming home To a place I never knew I missed. Luca listened without interrupting. When she finished, he exhaled slowly, as though the poem had reached a place inside him words couldn’t touch. “Elena… that’s beautiful. You write like love feels.” She laughed softly, a mix of embarrassment and joy warming her cheeks. “Thank you. I guess that’s how I see it. Love isn’t just fireworks or grand gestures. It’s quiet moments. Being understood. Feeling safe.” He nodded. “That’s what you’ve given me.” The silence between them was full—not empty. It was a silence that needed no explanation, only presence. Luca reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch was as gentle as her poetry. “I never thought I’d find someone who sees love the way I do,” he said. “But being with you feels like… living in a poem.” Elena’s heart caught in her throat. “You mean that?” “I do. You make the world feel softer. Kinder. And your words—they don’t just describe love. They are love.” She looked away, blinking back the sudden wave of emotion. For so long, she had written poetry in secret, unsure if anyone would ever understand. Yet here was Luca, not only listening—but feeling every word. Elena handed him the notebook. “Pick one. Read it to me.” He flipped through the pages slowly, pausing here and there to read a line under his breath. Finally, he settled on a short poem near the end. “It’s called 'Love Grows Wild,’” he said. Then, carefully, he read: > Love grows wild Where patience plants it. Not trimmed to perfection, But free— With room to breathe And bloom In its own time. When he finished, he looked up. “This… this is us, isn’t it?” She smiled, eyes shining. “It could be.” The sky darkened to lavender, and stars began to peek through the veil of twilight. Crickets chirped in the tall grass. The world around them softened, as though nature itself was leaning in to listen. They stayed like that for hours—reading, listening, laughing. No distractions. No rush. Just two souls discovering each other through the language of love. As the moon rose, casting silver light on the meadow, Elena leaned her head on Luca’s shoulder. The notebook rested between them, open to a blank page. “Will you write a poem with me?” she whispered. He kissed the top of her head. “Only if we call it ‘Us.’” --- Author’s Note: Sometimes, love doesn’t shout. It doesn’t demand attention or make dramatic entrances. Sometimes, love arrives like a poem—soft, unexpected, and quietly life-changing. These are the whispers of the heart, and they’re the ones that stay with us forever.
By Muhammad Saad 4 months ago in Poets
