When The Lantern Flickers
After getting CHEATED ON ALOT. There comes a time when certain things have to be written. I found a friend in the villanelle. Will my words breathe again? ‘We must first hate ourselves to take offence’. That was what the crow said to the villain. Authors whose words will bring you into harmony with your own 🙌🏽👑 Kelli Sheckler-Amsden, Harper Lewis, A. J. Schoenfeld, Novel Allen, Pamela Williams, Sandy Gillman, Tanya Rosa Marie👑🙌🏽
Come to the light you soldiers of pleasure ©️
Must you be lovers of gold and ledger
Where will you go when the lantern flickers?
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Your body brings disease in spite of wealth
Nothing brings more joy than a babies smile ©️
Come to the light you soldiers of pleasure
🌹🥀🌹
Where do you call home with roommates around
Money burns with fire when it implodes
Where will you go when the lantern flickers? ©️
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A thousand hellos to a new lover ©️
Will threaten your life span with a quiver
Come to the light you soldiers of pleasure
🌹🥀🌹
You smoke where the baby sleeps at night
Then suffer a wage that will cause a stroke ©️
Where will you go when the lantern flickers?
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The time for growth will soon run out for good
Will good be a treasure that you will keep?
Come to the light you soldiers of pleasure
Where will you go when the lantern flickers? ©️
~Caitlin Charlton~
About the Creator
Caitlin Charlton
poetry too close to home
🪄~unique fictional stories 💎 you’ve never known 🪄
📖~ let me read your work, say hi to me, I will leave comments longer than the road, please do return ~ 🙏🏽
📸 YouTube natures finest moments 🎥
~ married👰💍 ~
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Comments (20)
Tangle of beginnings and ends, baby and the flickering lantern.
In the soul goes all we know into life comes all that molds. We can choose to stand up tall or allow it all to make us fall. I can feel this poem 🥰
You put so much feeling into this. I'm sorry for what you had to go through.
"Where will you go when the lantern flickers?" Important question...strips one down to bare essentials really. Like substitute the word "light" with anything prioritised in daily life: Moolah, career, wi-fi. What happens when the energy of that begins to recede? Who are we without those things and what do we do? Thinking outside that proverbial box now is a necessity. Write on, Caitlin!
I have recommended this for a Top Story in this week's Raise Your Voice https://shopping-feedback.today/resources/raise-your-voice-thread-10-09-2025%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
"Where will you go when the lantern flickers?" is an urgent, life-and-death question. "The time for growth will soon run out for good," and "Will good be a treasure that you will keep?" seem to be a warning. "Come to the light you soldiers of pleasure." I can see why you wrapped this in a villanelle—important repetition. I love this so much.
The repetition of “Come to the light” and “when the lantern flickers” gives it such a powerful quality. Beautifully dark and thought-provoking. Thanks for the shoutout!
A raw, unflinching look at betrayal and self-reckoning. The closing repetition ties the poem together with a chilling sense of finality—stunning work, Caitlin.
Well done, Caitlin. I keep promising Mike. I will try a Villanelle; I must get on to it. I now know where to come for a great example of how to do it.
This is a great list of writers and some wonderful stories/poems <3, Caitlin
This is a piece that I hope helps you cope better with what has happened during your life. Writing is a help and your question throughout the poem is one to ask whomever. Good job.
This reminded me of pirates for some reason; stomping a foot on the ground and and chanting this in unison. It has some great spooky Halloween energy for sure! Sorry about your experience, it's heartbreaking when someone betrays you. This villanelle is a friend indeed. <3 <3 <3
This is a great take on the challenge and an excellent villanelle. Thank you for sharing the stories of those excellent Vocal creators
Sorry that you’ve gone through that, i admire you for channeling it into this raw art.
"come to the light you soldiers of pleasure/must you be lovers of gold and ledger" you had me right from these first two lines. ominous and terribly clear. shape up, or ship out for good. so terribly sorry you have experienced such a violation of trust in past relationships. ever-so-thankful for your ability to spin the tales you do from your experiences ❤️
“You smoke where the baby sleeps at night” aah, you’re killing me with this line. “The time for growth will soon run out for good”. So true, and you got me in the solar plexus again. Amazing.
Come to the light … where will you go? The essence of this poem is a quiet question fretted with warning. So many temptations, so many crossroads where life changing choices for good or ill are faced. I loved your use of metaphor, Caitlin. It gives your villanelle its emotional power. Well done! Good luck on the challenge!
Caitlin, you spoke words of a million people maneuvering through love and life. Thought we struggle, we find connection knowing we aren’t alone. Beautiful work. And thank you for sharing my poem ❤️. Words can change a lot
A body that brings disease regardless of wealth is a sad irony indeed. Well penned, my friend! ❤️❤️❤️
"A thousand hellos to a new lover ©️ Will threaten your life span with a quiver" Omgggg, these lines were my favourite! Loved your poem so much,a