When I was writing one day, a line came to me: “What Remains.” It led me to think about how nature cycles through life, where things fade away and then grow again. It reminded me of the hope that follows loss, a feeling many share. Nature tells stories of rebirth, showing that even after tough times, renewal is possible. Inspired by these thoughts, I wrote a poem and submitted it to Jacaranda Journal for their “Scorched Earth” issue. To my joy, it was accepted. Working with their editor, Anneka-Rose Burrell, was a valuable experience as she helped me improve the poem. For example, I changed the title from “What Remains” to “Traces” to not repeat the title in the first line. Now, “Scorched Earth” is published, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys literature. It includes many thought-provoking works that resonate deeply. This is my poem:
Traces
What is it that remains,
beneath the dust of days?
When wildfire sweeps
through fields of wheat,
and winter scorches
spring’s last seed—
in the soil
where it first lay to bleed?
Perhaps there is hope
in the quiet wind
that lulls the river to sleep.
A shard of light,
a fragment left of us,
glimmering
beneath the river deep.
Owls are seen as symbols of wisdom in many cultures. Their ability to see in the dark connects them with insight and intuition. In various mythologies, they are guardians of the night, representing protectors of secrets and watchers of the world. Additionally, their silent flight signifies the unknown and the spiritual. Their mysterious nature makes them powerful symbols of transformation. They encourage reflection on the deeper aspects of life and hidden mysteries.
Those who follow me know that I love to use nature and animal symbolism in my poetry. I am fascinated by owls and I have written about them before. When a poem prompt came up with a picture of one, I started to write the poem “My Kingdom Lost”. The theme is dealing with losing something precious, a thing connecting us to our past. The poem was recently published in Mildew Magazine’s issue themed “Ever After“.
My Kingdom Lost
An owl came
and took it one day,
my kingdom lost,
my infinity stone.
Gleaming in
the dark of night,
a memory stolen,
now carried away.
His claws grasped the chain,
wings spread wide,
feathers white as ice,
yellow glint eyes.
Like a thief,
he rose in silence
into the clouds.
I reached for it,
but it could not be held,
slipping through my fingers
like a breath of wind.
Now my pendant swings,
catching morning light,
quietly watching
from above.
What resonates with you most in the poems? Share in the comments.
Leave a Reply