“A Poet’s Lamentation”

On By Mike U.In Poetry

“A Poet’s Lamentation”
© 2025 by Michael L. Utley

pardon my sorrow
and forgive my weeping soul
my humble supplication
loosed into the void on raven’s wings
to fall on deafened ears of fickle gods

there is no recourse but to hemorrhage
wring my bleeding heart of every drop
of my wretched existence
rend the sinews from my bones
and flay me naked

in this bleakest night
‘neath the bitter howling stars
my armature gleams ghastly
pale, my dynamo has stripped its gears
my lidless eyes see all and naught at once

as galaxies cavort and novae scream
tunes atonal to eternity
and singularities gorge
on time itself, I writhe in
insignificance

what of sacrifice
what of tears that stain the path
to heaven or hell, what of
all the shattered promises, edicts
proposed to bridge sepulchral crevasses

to heal humanity, to proffer hope
all I hear is silence, all I see
are forsaken blasted lands
smoking ruins, open graves
all I feel is dread

words in lieu of souls
that is all the poets have
to lay upon the chantry
of contrition, penitence conveyed
through lifetimes etched in stone and signed in blood

a universal verse, an astral dirge
seeking meaning in obscurity
the great myst’ry locked away
far beyond my lexicon
all words have failed me

41 thoughts on ““A Poet’s Lamentation””

    1. Thanks so much, Robbie. I was so glad to be able to write this new poem. It’s been eleven-and-a-half months of writer’s block for me, aside from half-a-dozen new haiku/senryu. There’s a lot of frustration in this piece, and that’s part of the reason. I’m glad to know this one connected with you, especially that second-to-last stanza. Writers bleed words, it seems, and when writer’s block comes along it feels like I’ve bled-out. Thanks again for your kind words. Have a good Sunday, my friend. 😊

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    1. Thank you, Sara. I think all creative types experience angst on some level, and it can serve as inspiration. It certainly comes into play in most of my writing. Thanks for your wonderful support, my friend. 😊

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    1. Thanks so much, Diana. Yeah, this one broke the writer’s block that’s dogged me since last March. It was good to see those words lurking about in the shadows again. I completed another new one last night as well, so that’s two new poems in three days. I’ll take that any day! 😊

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  10. Dearest Mike, I am so happy to see you broke your writer’s block so first of all congratulations. Your poem certainly touches my heart in a deep way and I am glad to see it. Every stanza is powerfully written about the sorrows of life, and is masterfully expressed.

    “to heal humanity, to proffer hope
    all I hear is silence, all I see
    are forsaken blasted lands
    smoking ruins, open graves
    all I feel is dread”

    I think so many of us can relate to this piece right now in the US. Thank you for sharing this heart-rendering piece with us today. Sending love and hugs from both of us Mike. Joni ❤️

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    1. Thanks a bunch, Joni. It was so good to get something new written (I finished another new piece last night and posted it here as well). I certainly had our current darkness in mind when I wrote this. It’s terrifying what’s happening here in the States. So many evil men with way too much power, destroying everything in sight, and half the country gleefully cheering them on… “…all I feel is dread…” That sums it up for me.

      Thank you for your kind words, my friend. It means the world to me to receive your support. I hope there are more poems queued up in my head before writer’s block returns. Lots of love to you and Scott. 😊

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    1. Thank you, Peggy. Glad to know this one clicked with you. It’s weird to feel excited about writing something so bleak, but after nearly a year of writer’s block, it was so good to feel that flow again! Your support is priceless, my friend. *tips cap* 😊🧢

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  13. Dark and powerful, Mike, and this verse resonated:

    to heal humanity, to proffer hope
    all I hear is silence, all I see
    are forsaken blasted lands
    smoking ruins, open graves
    all I feel is dread

    Amazing how you string words together that go straight to the soul. Beautiful piece! 🤗

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      1. Of course, Mike. You know me, I am honest to boot, is that an actual saying. lol. Awww that’s kind and I am fortunate to have you as a friend as well, And happy Fri-Yayyyy now. That is such a fortuitous statement because it is all happening with unexpected delight, my friend. Thanks a biz-zillion and you too! Stay open!!!!❤️

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    1. You got that right, Dawn. A dark poem for a really dark time. If I don’t write it out, it feels as though I’ll burst from all the fear, uncertainty and frustration, you know? I hope things eventually right themselves, but I really can’t see that happening at this point. So many people are struggling and being threatened, their lives disrupted by evil men with too much power and rancid hubris, and I’m one of those who will lose everything I have unless all the hate and greed are somehow overcome and compassion and kindness take their place. So, until then, my writing will likely bleed more angst.

      Thanks for your kind support, my friend. 😊

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