“The Gift”
Presence is something we take so light.
But I’ve just had the best of nights.
I shared with you a simple moment
A laugh, a smile, a hug, so right
So easy peasy
nice and breezy.
I won’t take that gift for granted.
Living without it for ages
Made me know to well
the power of a joke or smile well landed.
I won’t hold too tightly
so please don’t fight me.
I’m trying this with you,
and we’ll keep getting through.
No, they weren’t my best lines, and I kinda hated them, actually. The poem needed work, but it wasn’t really about the poem tonight. It was about the experience. Of being with a friend who accepted me and who I actually liked being around. Someone in whose presence I felt easy and light, and finally, fit just right.
I left the poem and clicked over to my stats, wondering what the latest numbers were. “A Thousand Tiny Deaths” had gotten a lot of attention, and one of the reviews sounded suspiciously like Rhoda. It seemed my friend wanted to support more than just my book Moons Dancing.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
“A Thousand Tiny Deaths” Reviews
Review by Moonclad
Like A Friend, But A Poem
I’m going through something right now that feels like death. Or, at least, it feels like everyday some new piece of my heart dies, and it’s killing me slowly. But when I read this poem, I realized that those old parts of me and my life need to dissolve.
And that’s how I’m going to grow into something new. I want to become the fertile soil where all good things find rest, so I’m going to keep going and keep facing every day. Thank you, Ayela.
Review by QuirkyLoo
Death Dogs Us
My dog died on my birthday today, and I’m a little drunk right now, so I’m getting esoteric. Can I see her again? My Pooka? I still love her, and I’ll miss her everyday. Is she turning into dirt buried out in the yard? What’s gonna grow from that? Maybe a pretty apple tree.
Review by JarlesBurger777
A Winner
This is the sort of poem I wish I’d written myself. Beautiful and multi-layered. I love it! Contest winner.
Review by SpecialMommas
Dying Stinks
I’m old enough to have lost over and over and over. Some griefs fade with time; others remain pungent and unwelcome. Stinks sometimes to loose so much, but a poem like this is a comfort, even if I don’t really understand it. I never got the feeling anything good came from dying, but I guess I get it. Wish I knew what this meant.
Review by CarpetBagger20
Nature Can Help
Someone I respect recommended this author to me. I like her book, and this poem is so pretty. It says a lot about the kind of person she is that she thinks about nature this way. That there are cycles to everything. Some parts of our lives need to be buried so that time can break them down them into something useful.
It’s hard to live that way, though, so I’m going to try to take a minute every day to think about what needs to get recycled so I can move on to something better. This is a good poem, and I hope the author wins.
Wow. These folks were really focused on who was going to win. Since I saw Rhoda in that first review, I wondered if she’d had a hand in all the others. I grabbed my pad and sent her a message.
Sam: are you MoonClad? If so, thank you for the poem review. I’m so glad it connected.
Rhoda: it’s beautiful, Sam, just like you. Thx for being my friend, and never stop writing.
Sam: all these reviews make me want to keep going. Did you tell people about me?
Rhoda: ?? my mailing list might’ve gotten an enthusiastic recommendation
Sam: omg, Rhoda, you’re amazing. NOW who’s the awesome friend? YOU!! Link to "I Am the Best" By HC Merrin.
Rhoda: Wait, what is this?
Sam: lol, that’s the real HC Merrin singing.
Rhoda: LOL! What, he sends you songs?
Sam: ?? I fan girl so hard over everything he does, wouldn’t you send me songs?
Rhoda: LOL! You really do have a divine gift. A special sort of crazy! ?? Keep it up, Sam. That’s how the world will fall in love with your writing!
Sam: ?? I can only hope
Rhoda: hope matters. God, I’m tired. I’m gonna start saying stupid shit. Going to bed. . .
Sam: sleep tight
Rhoda: you too. let’s do dinner again soon
Sam: you betcha
I turned off my pad and closed the door on that day, feeling like things were moving in the right direction. Finally.