The Art of Becoming Nothing
Seven Sacred Steps to Sublime Dissolution
First: Weep until thy tears carve rivers
through the mask thou wearest for the world.
Let the fire burn away all false names
they have branded upon thy soul.
Second: Remember the baby thou once were
before they taught thee shame and smallness.
That innocent eye still burns within
fan its flame till it consumes thee whole.
Third: Stand naked before the mirror of truth.
See how thy spirit rots in its cage of flesh.
The bars are made of others' expectations
bend them with thy bare and bleeding hands.
Fourth: Visit the grave of thy murdered joy.
Dig deep with fingernails into earth
until thou touchest the coffin of thy dreams.
Pry it open. Let the dead thing breathe.
Fifth: Fast until hunger becomes thy prayer,
until thy ribs show through like prison bars.
Feed only on the bread of solitude,
drink only from the cup of thy own tears.
Sixth: Burn every photograph, every letter,
every proof that thou didst ever exist.
Watch thy history turn to ash and ember
now thou art free to be reborn as fire.
Seventh: When thy mother weeps for her lost child,
when thy lover searches empty rooms,
when the earth forgets the weight of thy footsteps
then shalt thou know the terrible joy of freedom.
For the soul that empties itself of self
becomes a vessel for the infinite.
In thy nothingness, thou shalt find everything.
In thy death, eternal life shall spring.
About the Creator
Tim Carmichael
Tim is an Appalachian poet and cookbook author. He writes about rural life, family, and the places he grew up around. His poetry and essays have appeared in Bloodroot and Coal Dust, his latest book.
Keep reading
More stories from Tim Carmichael and writers in Poets and other communities.
Standing While Falling
Quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche "He who wrestles long with monsters should beware lest he himself become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Man is not destroyed by suffering, but by the meaning he makes of it."
By LUCCIAN LAYTH6 days ago in Critique
Comments (17)
Wow, how is this so good. The writing feels like a steady, peaceful heartbeat. And the effect is a sense of peace. It feels like a breath of courage. I better subscribe, I wanna read what else you come up with.
Tim I'm a new writer here and published 6 stories but still no reader in my stories, what should I do, please tell me some group on social platform to join them and to improve my skill or something else. Is stats box take more time to display views
True lines and so impressive tone...
Holy shivers of reality.... This struck a chord yet it is so delicately balanced that your words hypnotize the reader. 'when the earth forgets the weight of thy footsteps then shalt thou know the terrible joy of freedom.' You didn't just say know the joy of freedom ...you said Terrible joy...that added word is brilliant. This is why you stand out.
We always think that "having more" will bring greater security, yet we forget that humans are inherently meant to "walk" — walking is for seeing the scenery, for encountering ourselves, not for proving how full our bags are.
Chills, this is a work of art. A pedestal for the broken heart to be revered.👏👏👏👏
CONGRATS ON TOP STORY!!!! YOU ARE WINNING SO MUCH LATELY AND I AM HERE FOR IT!!!!!
This felt like a quiet scream from the heart — raw, aching, and strangely beautiful. It lingers like a truth we don’t say out loud. Thank you for showing that even in the unraveling, there’s rebirth.
This felt like poetry carved into the soul. Haunting, raw, and strangely freeing. Thank you for reminding us that sometimes, becoming nothing is the start of everything.
Really happy to see you in Top stories
Congratulations
This reads like sacred scripture for the soul’s rebirth. Painful, beautiful, necessary. You’ve turned destruction into an art form.
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
This was beautifully written. Raw and introspective without feeling forced. I really appreciated how each section built on the last, like steps in a personal reckoning or transformation. The imagery was powerful, especially the line about being a vessel for the infinite. Really resonated with me.
Damn this hits hard.
Whoaaaa, this was both poignant and breathtaking. I especially loved the fourth and fifth steps!
I love this! This part gave me goosebumps: Fourth: Visit the grave of thy murdered joy. Dig deep with fingernails into earth until thou touchest the coffin of thy dreams. Pry it open. Let the dead thing breathe.