the loudest silence
ode to a mixtape
Keep this mixtape
all that is left of me and you
a broken piece of what ifs and sullen news
this mixtape is the best of us
full of sounds and words
that was so close to being true
this mixtape was a promise; the traces of you
what we knew
could never be
as you hold the fallen dreams of a love that ceases
play those songs and remember the times
I laughed in your car
with the windows down
asking you to drive around town
for just a bit longer
so this mixtape could play
you were more than I wanted
nothing I could need
that crush, and this tape
I hope you think of me
when you play 21 questions with the next one
chasing cars in my dreams
and hearing this mixtape
is the loudest silence
so I keep this tape
there is no song without you
as this plays
don't call me a friend
**Author's Note: There are song titles hidden in this mixtape poem.**
About the Creator
Jazzy
Follow on IG @jazzygoncalves
Head of the Jazzy Writers Association (JWA) in partnership with the Vocal HWA chapter.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
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Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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The steps to losing a child
Step One: Lose a child. Not what anyone wants to happen and nothing you can do to change it, but you can go through steps to becoming happy again. You can go through steps to loving again. You can go through steps to become a new you because after losing a child you will never be the same person you once were.
By Tabitha Hinkley6 days ago in Fiction
Comments (8)
Ugh, I adore this! So well done, Jazzy. The sadness of how the relationship ended, the bitterness towards "the next one" and the anger/reluctant acceptance at the end of "don't call me a friend." There is so much complexity layered within deceptively simple verses, and I can't compliment you enough on this. I do hope this places! Also, the song titles went over my head. But now I want to go on a research adventure to find them all. (Oooh, you could make a real mixtape and link to it here! How fun would that be??)
Jazzy this is such a beautiful ode to something so nostalgic! I was just after the mixed tape era, so I never had this pleasure but got the junky second-hand version; burned CDs. I love the emotion within this and the way you snuck so many great song titles within a well versed poem! My favourite that I spotted was chasing cars by snow patrol!
Well done...I recognised a few in reading it, now I am off to try and get them all. 21 Questions by 50 Cent, Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol...Crush by Jennifer Paige. That's a few off top of my head. I had to Google Jennifer Paige as I couldn't remember her name. Clever and relatable for many people, Jazzy G!
This is so clever. I loved it before reaching the author’s note and even more after.
Great poem! I especially love the lines "chasing cars in my dreams and hearing this mixtape is the loudest silence." 👋
Omggg, this was so nostalgic and related! Also, I don't know what song title you've hidden here 😅
Super superb and loving it!!!❤️❤️💕
This is absolutely gorgeous, start to finish. And hiding song titles in the poem is a great idea!