u/bstunz

Movement catches my eye.
Shadows of you
invoke no surprise.
A ghost.

No longer here
yet your presence,
persistent.

I catch your smiles
from across the room.
Your laughter echoes
in silence.
I feel your hands entwined
with mine.

An obsessive
regressive
suffocating
pull towards you.

Your words haunt 
my memory
as you flaunt
your beauty
on my screen.

Keeping you stuck 
in this limbo 
of my making. 
I am the one forsaken,
dead

to you. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1x1ydtv/comment/pf2if3j/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1x3ag68/comment/pfbgr3x/

I’ve learned more about you
from your silence.
Your reliance 
on the thoughts of others.

Bursts of texts
end abruptly.

Talks through the night.
Crickets for days.

Secrets shared.
So much laid bare.
Turns to quiet.

You mess with my head 
keeping me from my bed.
Filling the gaps
of what is unsaid.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1waz8tx/comment/p8m0u92/
https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1wcr00l/comment/p90v9gu/

Inspiration made me the vessel.
Writing is the release.

But now writing is inspiration.
Writing all  about her.

Building on itself.
One feeding the other.

Until too many thoughts
converge on pages.

Two.
Three.

Now I’m just making notes 
for each

So dawn
doesn’t take them from me.

Now I have to rewrite
the rest.

But yes.
This now becomes the fuel.

Not that blatant
until I check
the Markers.

Four written poems
filling four hours
to complete.

Until
tomorrow.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1w4rtb1/comment/p7goucd/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1w4rtb1/comment/p7goucd/

I put it on trial.

Word by word.
Line by line.

No applause.
No benefit of doubt.

Do you earn placement
or are you just flowers

Do you carry weight
or hide behind  the rhyme

Asked until it broke
or held.

Some lines sounding grand
but fail.

Some lines ordinary
yet stay.

I reach for sharper
and find dull.

I reach for louder
and lose voice. 

I leave it.

Every word
that is standing,
not untouched
refused to move.

not improved
acquitted.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1w2ofh3/comment/p6uv833/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1w2qr9l/comment/p6urusy/

I remember it vividly

I woke in the dark
determined to hold it

went over it 
again and again
committing it to memory

so dawn wouldn’t take it
for herself

I drifted off

when I woke
the details were gone

an arm
an embrace
maybe

No room
No words
No faces

only the feeling

Warm
Close
Real
Whole

as if we were not separate

there was nothing to picture
nothing to replay
nothing left
just emotion

and that 
was everything

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1v5zcch/comment/p0jw6iv/
https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1v9fvsk/comment/p0jy9pl/

An unseen dimension beyond
space and time.
every possible version of
reality
at once
it all exists

always all ways

not a direction
you move through
a field of possibility

All outcomes.
All moments.
All selves.
coexisting 
simultaneously

never directly perceive
A place we can only describe
never directly perceive

simultaneously 
coexisting 
All selves. 
All moments. 
All outcomes.

a field of possibility 
you move through 
not a direction

always all ways

it all exists
at once
reality
every possible version of
space and time.
An unseen dimension beyond 

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1v3pqcj/comment/oz4wmh8/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1v3olkj/comment/oz504ce/

I was quick
until you came along

I was sharp
until you exposed
my bluntness

I was bright
until you showed 
my dullness

Your quick
sharp
bright mind
behind a devilish 
silver tongue

I bow to you

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uurg6l/comment/ox6nf8t/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uuo1y3/comment/ox6oe0d/

Chaos
Groaning, grunting
Pained whispers

thump thump

More grunting
The thumping stops
Unsettling silence

thump thump

More grunting
The thumping stops
Fear spikes

Stuck. Paralyzed.
Not by fear or inaction

Grunting increases
Barrier bypassed
Freedom so close
Except for one last
choking string

SNIP

A first look
Eyes open
Contact made

Knowing now and forever
all is perfect

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1ur1514/comment/owd5w87/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uqrzhd/comment/owd759z/

I didn’t think it would be
this hard

Walking away
No communication
Moving on

I excelled at those
Could do it to anyone
from the time I was young

Work
Friends
Family

Didn’t matter who
until you

I don’t even know
how our friendship 
can affect me this much

Was it your voice
The deafening silence.

The thoughts you shared
that laid you bare.
Meant for no one
deep and dark
a side I never saw
left a mark.

I did the same 
like I’ve done
with no one before.

How your presence
changed me
inspired me
opened up
what I can be

my poetry

It all compiles
but maybe it’s just

your smiles

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uq0n6z/comment/ow61317/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1umsh32/comment/ow6a2ws/

the pull 
unrelenting
always here

time not a factor
Still feel
space meaningless
So close

Eloquent

Your voice
calm
Your gaze
unwavering
Your body
strong
Your mind

Expanding

Blooming 

yes to all of that
always all ways

dimensions 
collapsing
on 
us them
they’re here

reaching
something,
connecting
already there
space
and 
time

i feel you 
At the edge 
my awareness
you’re here

asleep
awake

the fifth
Maybe
somewhere out there
we were as one

will we be
Here together
we will be

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uliiw6/comment/ovr9nxo/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uo9dey/comment/ovr5z61/

The 5th Dimension
An unseen dimension beyond space and time
Where every possible version of reality exists at once
Not a direction you move through, but a field of possibility
All outcomes, all moments, all selves coexisting simultaneously
A place we can only describe, never directly perceive

The Edge (Bottoms Up)

We will be
Here together
will we be

we were as one
somewhere out there
Maybe
the fifth

awake
asleep

you’re here
my awareness
At the edge 
i feel you 

time
and
space
already there
connecting
something,
reaching

they’re here
us them
on
collapsing
dimensions

always all ways
yes to all of that

Blooming

Expanding

Your mind
strong
Your body 
unwavering
Your gaze
calm
Your voice

Eloquent

So close
space meaningless
Still feel
time not a factor

always here
unrelenting

the pull 

They said
their lover is
their best friend.

I scoffed.

Too much
from one.

Partner, sure.
Best friend?

Then you came.
I told you everything.

Even secrets I kept
from everyone.
Not because I should.
Because of want.

The one I’d choose to sit beside
when nothing is happening.
The only one
I want to know me.

A best friend.

Somewhere in that friendship
something bloomed.

I didn’t want more
instead of it.
I wanted more
because of it.

Now I understand.

Not grand
or dramatic.
Simple.

Choosing you
again.

I didn’t think it would be
this hard

Walking away
No communication
Moving on

I excelled at those
Could do it to anyone
from the time I was young

Work
Friends
Family

Didn’t matter who
until you

I don’t even know
how the friendship we had
can affect me this much

Was it your voice
The way you listened

The thoughts you shared
The feelings too
Secrets you told no one
and I did the same with you
like I’ve done
with no one else

How your presence
changed me
inspired me
opened up
what I can be

my poetry

It all compiles
but maybe it’s just

your smiles

https://www.reddit.com/r/justpoetry/comments/1ugkdu8/comment/ou188ez/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uck7su/comment/ou7bei9/

She didn’t ask for it
or even know
she carried it.

Small.
Dark.
Insignificant.

Easy to overlook.

She lived her life as always:
Work. Friends. Music.
Always live music.
Where she felt most herself.

From the outside, effortless.
She made it look easy.
No one saw otherwise.

Once in a while
she would toy with it,
unaware of what she carried.

At first, it meant nothing to him.
Then he noticed.
The way she turned it in her hands.
The way it lingered with her.

He didn’t miss it.
He knew where it was.

Control made things easier.
Predictable.
Contained.

He was glad
it was she who carried it.

He rarely used it anyway,
never seemed to need it.

Besides, it had shrunk.

Empty.
Shriveled.
Blackened.

Without the need,
he was fine,
moving through life
untouched.

She began to twirl it more,
still unaware.

Until
his control
collapsed.

He said:
It is yours.

What? No. Not me.

She didn’t want it.
Didn’t ask for it.
Never even saw it.

She returned it.
Right there.

He wished she hadn’t,
but was stunned
to see it had changed.

Now:

Warm.
Large.
Red.

Humming with life.

He carries it with pride,
but it is still not full.

Hers isn’t either.

Two incomplete vessels,
wondering
who holds 
what’s missing.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uelc88/comment/otl5zf2/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uelmqf/comment/otl16fu/

She didn’t ask for it
or even know
she carried it.

Small.
Dark.
Insignificant.

Easy to overlook.

She lived her life as always:
Work. Friends. Music.
Always live music.
Where she felt most herself.

From the outside, effortless.
She made it look easy.
No one saw otherwise.

Once in a while
she would toy with it,
unaware of what she carried.

At first, it meant nothing to him.
Then he noticed.
The way she turned it in her hands.
The way it lingered with her.

He didn’t miss it.
He knew where it was.

Control made things easier.
Predictable.
Contained.

He was glad
it was she who carried it.

He rarely used it anyway,
never seemed to need it.

Besides, it had shrunk.

Empty.
Shriveled.
Blackened.

Without the need,
he was fine,
moving through life
untouched.

She began to twirl it more,
still unaware.

Until
his control
collapsed.

He said:
It is yours.

What? No. Not me.

She didn’t want it.
Didn’t ask for it.
Never even saw it.

She returned it.
Right there.

He wished she hadn’t,
but was stunned
to see it had changed.

Now:

Warm.
Large.
Red.

Humming with life.

He carries it with pride,
but it is still not full.

Hers isn’t either.

Two incomplete vessels,
wondering
who holds 
what’s missing.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uelc88/us/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1uelmqf/comment/otl16fu/

Not to be heard.
For release.

Like air
finding a fracture,
they exit.

I don’t shape them.
I stand still.

This one
wasn’t made.

It exited.

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1ubm5sf/comment/osxtk1b/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1ubsdx1/comment/oszni4k/