One Poem Only

She will always be an unfinished poem. Unfinished in the way she lives -where passion collides with fear,and potential and failure reside in the same home. There is this great risk,a constant edge of falling apartno matter what she pursues.That’s her way through the world. I wonder if she chooses this incompletionor if fate carved it into her life before she ever had a say.And I wonder -if I finish something she couldn’t,would that mean her fate isn’t mine after all?
- Nur Houda Or

More from Nur Houda Or ↓

• @neverjustathought on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

One Poem Only submissions are open.

This round, I’m looking for poems about what remains. What stays with us after we experience change? What survives? What do we yearn to carry forward? Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. Also, if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. Submit a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space—no perfect studio recording required. And yes, your poem can have been previously published in a literary magazine, a book, or on social media. Submissions close Thursday, October 29. I’ll respond by Wednesday, November 11. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you have to share.

One Poem Only Submissions Form

As I sit frustrated at the world’s apathies I see my daughter happily chasing light leaks
spilling through the window they’re doing their own dance breaking up the room’s darkness
“I’m chasing the light!” she screams It jolts me back to the present (she’s always teaching me lessons)
-Mar Lamar

More from Mar Lamar ↓

• @marlamarrr on Instagram

Listen to her songs To the Moon & Someone to Blame now

Mentioned in this episode:

One Poem Only submissions are open.

This round, I’m looking for poems about what remains. What stays with us after we experience change? What survives? What do we yearn to carry forward? Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. Also, if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. Submit a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space—no perfect studio recording required. And yes, your poem can have been previously published in a literary magazine, a book, or on social media. Submissions close Thursday, October 29. I’ll respond by Wednesday, November 11. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you have to share.

One Poem Only Submissions Form

Here’s your recap of this week’s poems plus one new poem to carry us into the week ahead.

Aug 11 - Silence the Foe by Gloriaea. @_gloriaea on Instagram. Gloriaea’s Atelier on Substack. She has an upcoming release planned for 2026.

Aug 12 - i promised myself i will not write about you by Bushra Iqbal @lettersformedusa on Instagram.

Aug 13 - The Biggest Lie by Gabrielle Kay @gabriellekayartistry on Instagram. Her book, The Trail She Left: A collection of poetry, is out now.

Aug 14 - I Will Sing Louder Than Bombs by Aslam Sheik @smmaslam on Instagram. Aslam Mohammed on Substack. His book, Paper Boat - in Rumi's Garden, is out now.

Aug 15 - Words Are Fairy Dust by Misti Marie Elmore @mistimarie8 on Instagram.

Aug 16 - Baby Blue Marble by Old Fart with a Guitar @old_fart_with_a_guitar on Instagram. Listen to his music here: Old Fart with a Guitar.

Aug 17 -

Be FreeMaggie Devers Time for the chorusThe good bit we’re waiting forThe sweet part, the lines we knowBy heartAnd sing outFor us.
You quote chapter and verseGood for youBut what does it mean?You’ve memorized sonnetsBut that won’t feed my love
Write me a poemAnd shout it
Like we did after dropping quarters in the jukebox Or crowded around the pianoSipping gin and sodaSmoking cigarettes Oblivious to anything that didn’t matterOnly there for the chorus.

More from Maggie Devers ↓

• Read my debut poetry book, For My Daughter
• Follow me on Instagram for more poetry @rembrandts.cure

Baby Blue Marble Old Fart with a Guitar You ask me why in the world do many little things matter to me?Why in the world can’t I ever let anything slide?You say i’m piling up mountains of sand i’ve collected from mole hillsWhy in the world can’t I just go along for the ride?Well, it’s the why in the world that twists in my mind like a mysteryWhen I see bandits and bullies and arrogant villains prevailTrying to jam all they can through the eye of a needleBacking up traffic for miles on the heavenly trail
All the toys of the pharaohsAre in a museumOut in plain sightFor the whole world to see emGamblers and griftersAnd wannabe godsSoon figure out that they can’t beat the oddspampered or pooryou get only one tourRiding this baby blue marbleOn a journey around a less than significant star
You tell me Jesus is coming, well buddy you’d better get busyI don’t think fluffing up pillows or hanging his picture will doCause when he sees all the things you’ve done to the least of his brothersHe might be inclined to kick over a table or two
Every breath drawnFrom the first to the lastEach life to comeAnd each one that’s pastflower and seedsChildren and mamasDinosaurs, dolphins, leopards and llamashighbrow and humbleall rolling and tumblingRiding this baby blue marbleOn a journey around a less than significant star

More from Old Fart with a Guitar ↓

• @old_fart_with_a_guitar on Instagram
• Listen to his music here: Old Fart with a Guitar

Mentioned in this episode:

One Poem Only submissions are open.

This round, I’m looking for poems about what remains. What stays with us when we experience change? What survives? What do we yearn to carry forward? Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. Also, if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. Submit a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space—no perfect studio recording required. And yes, your poem can have been previously published in a literary magazine, in print, or on social media. Submissions close Thursday, October 29. I’ll respond by Wednesday, November 11. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you have to share.

One Poem Only Submissions Form

Words Are Fairy Dust Misti Marie Elmore Presumably in disbeliefI chased the star of PsalmsSang a song of lamentationWisdom proved me wrongTemptation swept me into herI confessed and swam awayI look for the morning starTo turn and eat the day

More from Misti Marie Elmore ↓

• @mistimarie8 on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

One Poem Only submissions are open.

This round, I’m looking for poems about what remains. What stays with us after we experience change? What survives? What do we yearn to carry forward? Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. Also, if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. Submit a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space—no perfect studio recording required. And yes, your poem can have been previously published in a literary magazine, a book, or on social media. Submissions close Thursday, October 29. I’ll respond by Wednesday, November 11. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you have to share.

One Poem Only Submissions Form

I Will Sing Louder Than Bombs Aslam Sheik Sleep, my child, though the night is wide, I’ll hold the dark from coming inside.Close your eyes, don’t hear the sky, Just hear my voice, I’m standing by.I will sing louder than bombs, Louder than fire, louder than drums.Even if the world comes undone, You’ll only hear your father’s song.Windows shake, but your heart won’t break, Not while I’ve songs left still to make.Let the war howl, let the sirens cry, I’ll drown them out, I’ll sing them dry.I will sing louder than bombs, Louder than fear, louder than wrongs.Even if the walls come down, You’ll sleep safe beneath my sound.They may take the streets, the skies, But they won’t take your lullabies. As long as I can breathe and sing, You’ll never feel a single wing…of war.I will sing louder than bombs, Louder than grief, louder than guns.Till the silence comes again, I’ll sing you peace, my little one.

More from Aslam Sheik ↓

• @smmaslam on Instagram
• Aslam Mohammed on Substack
• His book, Paper Boat - in Rumi's Garden, is out now

Mentioned in this episode:

One Poem Only submissions are open.

This round, I’m looking for poems about what remains. What stays with us when we experience change? What survives? What do we yearn to carry forward? Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. Also, if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. Submit a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space—no perfect studio recording required. And yes, your poem can have been previously published in a literary magazine, in print, or on social media. Submissions close Thursday, October 29. I’ll respond by Wednesday, November 11. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you have to share.

One Poem Only Submissions Form

The Biggest Lie Gabrielle Kay The biggest lie you've been told Is that the world doesn't need youThat no one needs you to understandOr needs you to be understoodThat the world doesn't need you to know everything or anything because it is completely indifferent to you and will continue spinning anywaysBecause it doesYour world wants you to stand in your feetNeeds you to stand in your feetMove in your shoesIn your bodyWith your brain and your mindIt's the way you think, interpret, and reverberate through the halls of timeIt's what colors your worldWhat brings vibrancy to your lifeThey lied to you because their innocence wasn't valuedThey lied to you because their world was built on cardboard legsThey lied to you because when they opened their eyes and saw you lyingthere, glowing, in all goldEnvy was all they could seeThey tried to steal it, they moved you and sat in your place then cursed thebrown lighting that wouldn't make them glowThey lied to you because they thought love was in the shineThey thought love was something you could sneak under your jacket andwalk out with before getting caught They thought love was a dark secret reserved only for those slick enough tosteal itWhat's not a lie is thatYou are the most beautiful thing this world has ever seenYou are the most kindYou try so hard every day in every moment with every breath and waymore than every beat of your heartYou are strongAnd you are capable of loveIn fact, you love more than anything I've ever seenThrough the murky Mississippi to the salt to the seaI've never seen love like thatI've never seen love so freeYou are goodGood enough to sit with meGood enough to say your nameYou are good enough to cryGood enough to claim your painYou deserve to have it stopYou deserve to say THIS HURTS RIGHT HERE, NOW STOPYou are worthy of reliefYou are joyYou are meant to glowYou are funnyYou never speak too muchYou have exceptional ideas and your heart's so soft it's toughYour courage is big like a lion, which just means your heartYou are allowed to rip your prey apart,Devour it, sit with your face covered in blood and still be the beautifulmajestic beast that you areWhat if we all got that word wrongWhat if beast only ever meant womanWhat if she's the boogeymanWhat if she's the crackenWhat if she's godzillaWhat if she is the beastAnd they liedAnd named her that so we would hunt her and poke her with hot iron rods And chain her with iron shacklesHoping HopingHopingThat as soon as that final ash would drop they could step into her light That the light they burned up inside of her would somehow fall onto all ofthemIt's all a lieIt's just murder and lies So leave them there, with their thoughts And KNOW Just know Know it all Listen and feel it and know Because you are right And it was all a lie You are the beast You are the beauty You are the best this world has to offer And anything EverThat ever ever ever makes you feel like you're notIs a lie

More from Gabrielle Kay ↓

• @gabriellekayartistry on Instagram
• Her book, The Trail She Left: A collection of poetry, is out now

You can listen to me read Gabrielle Kay’s poem, Different Spaces, over on Instagram @rembrandts.cure

i promised myself i will not write about you Bushra Iqbal but here i ambreaking it in twolike the flesh of a fruitgone terribly badthe sand breaks softlywith every step i takei like the progressuntil they're swept awaythe waves pull me inthe same way you lovedso ferociously gentlewith their wantno teeth no clawsall warmth all salti like it herethe place from whereno one can tellthe sky from the seawhere everything and nothingcoexist togetherwhere i'm neither alive nor deadneither sinking nor floatingneither breathing nor deadneither in love nor outi said i like it herewhere it's neither in the beginning nor the endingbut right in the middle of the storyit's the closest i've come to peacepiece by piece you seeso leave me by the seafor a while let me be let me seethe world in this lightin only and only this momentneither the past nor the futurelet me live in the momentlet the waves pull me inlet me think that it's youwho's loving meso ferociously gentlewith your wantno teeth no clawsall warmth all salt

More from Bushra Iqbal ↓

• @lettersformedusa on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

One Poem Only submissions are open.

This round, I’m looking for poems about what remains. What stays with us after we experience change? What survives? What do we yearn to carry forward? Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. Also, if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. Submit a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space—no perfect studio recording required. And yes, your poem can have been previously published in a literary magazine, a book, or on social media. Submissions close Thursday, October 29. I’ll respond by Wednesday, November 11. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you have to share.

One Poem Only Submissions Form

Silence the Foe Gloriaea Horror Horror Blood poured from my eyes Every word you penned Dug through my irises
But why foil the ink Stuff it back in the pen Hold one end to their jugular Until they eat their stained paper
Why not Pull out a fresh sheet And let your heart bleed Color every page With the kaleidoscope of you Until the lights shines Various frequencies amplified Blinding our skulls Until they've expanded
Mute the poet Cut off his chords Or find your voiceAnd illuminate the stage

More from Gloriaea ↓

• @_gloriaea on Instagram
• Gloriaea’s Atelier on Substack
• She has an upcoming release planned for 2026.

Mentioned in this episode:

One Poem Only submissions are open.

This round, I’m looking for poems about what remains. What stays with us after we experience change? What survives? What do we yearn to carry forward? Send me the poem you wrote and want the world to hear. Also, if you’d like to read your own poem on the podcast, you can. Submit a clear audio file recorded in a quiet space—no perfect studio recording required. And yes, your poem can have been previously published in a literary magazine, a book, or on social media. Submissions close Thursday, October 29. I’ll respond by Wednesday, November 11. Whether I read your poem or you read it yourself, I’d love to hear what you have to share.

One Poem Only Submissions Form

Here’s your recap of this week’s poems plus one new poem to carry us into the week ahead.

Aug 4 - Until We Are Soft Again by Shauna Richmond @shauna_lee_art_poetry on Instagram. Her book, It’s Time to Love Yourself First, is out now.

Aug 5 - “meet me under the celestial croissant” by Irina Vérène @queen_of_gore on Instagram and @queenofgore on Substack.

Aug 6 - Wednesday Double Feature Ancient Remedies by Raquel Medora @raquel.medora on Instagram, Lost in Thought on Substack. Her book Moms Are The Strongest Men is out now.

Aug 7 - Episode 99: Speak by Maggie Devers Maggie Devers. Read my debut poetry book, For My Daughter. Follow me on Instagram for more poetry @rembrandts.cure

Aug 8 - I've had too much to drink today by Precious @precious_poetry101 on Instagram.

Aug 9 - Voice by Yvette Francis @yvetteshealingspace on Instagram and Facebook. She has two books out now: Everyday Wisdom - Healing Words for the Journey & The Years of Solitude - Expanding Self.

Aug 10 -

Circe Maggie Devers You are Zeus come again.You are healed and rebornNow with all your strength That never left you,You who have foundHow to proclaim your immanence
Above the seaBelow the cloudsEverywhere the heart beats,The blood flows,And the nectar noses sweetAnd sweeter still to taste.
You eat the flowersLike a madwomanBut they heal youAnd you walk with even legs once moreTo birth a girl to save the world As Pluto moves to where they need to beAnd we stand once more,Forever more, to rite.

More from Maggie Devers ↓

• Read my debut poetry book, For My Daughter
• Follow me on Instagram for more poetry @rembrandts.cure