Released Poem by Leah Ayliffe

One of the first rhyming pieces out of you that I've seen. And a good one at that especially considering that it was written some time ago. Finding old poems is a great thing. Each one is a miniature time capsule which communicates something that we were feeling or we observed years ago. It puts you back into the moment of its conception and cements the memories that inspired the poem in the mind.

The cool tenor of this poem captures the moment for me very well; the situation evenly assessed - a moment that can recur largely unchanged at different times in life. One hopes it will not occur again, but if it does the song will be the same again. I have dug through the drawer to find the poem too many times, although others hardly at all.

At first I was happy to see today's poem: Reading a poem the very day it was written is something I enjoy. But then I finished reading it and felt really down. It's not possible to read a lyric poem and not feel its feelings seep into your feelings, it's a human as well as poetic reaction. I noticed this poem lacked your consistent energy of language, which made me think a bad experience had truly swamped you. B-U-T T-H-E-N I read your notes that this was an adolescent poem. WHEW! All's Well that Ends Well. Next day - Next poem.

'To give up would be to let go It'd be too hard for me to handle It's everything that my heart knows Memories burn out like a candle' Sometimes we become so accustomed to live with these memories, pain, and misery that even the very thought of trying to let them go - to dare to take a leap of faith into untested waters - seem to be a far worse idea than to hold on to the usual business of pain and misery.. A beautifully crafted poem Leah. Thanks for sharing.