Hope In The Glow

 In the stillness of the winter's embrace, 

Twinkling bulbs like stars in the sky, 

Whispers of warmth through the frosty air, 

Each flicker is a beacon in this sacred space, 

Illuminating dreams that lift us high, 

Guiding our hearts through moments of care. 

 

On streets where the shadows quietly blend, 

A cascade of colors begins to unfold, 

Each ornament echoes tales from the past, 

Even when weary hearts struggle to mend, 

These radiant wishes, like treasures of gold, 

Hold memories sweet, forever to last. 

 

Snowflakes swirl with a glimmering grace, 

As tendrils of light wrap around the trees, 

Each shimmering strand, a promise anew, 

In the hush of the night, we find our place, 

With glows of hope that dance on the breeze, 

Beneath this brilliance, we both shine through. 

 

We gather our thoughts, our burdens in tow, 

Yet lights above grant us strength to pursue, 

A reminder that warmth can conquer the cold, 

In silence, we let our true courage flow, 

For every shadow, a flicker comes through, 

Together we rise, both resilient and bold. 

 

As we stand 'neath the festive array, 

Our hearts find solace in shimmering spheres, 

The glow of the season ignites a bright spark, 

Each flickering light keeps all darkness at bay, 

A reminder that hope can banish our fears, 

With whispers of love that dissolve every dark. 

 

Let the lights guide our path through the night, 

As we wander along this winding road, 

When heavy, remember the glimmers we see, 

Each bulb a promise, each flicker a light, 

In the depths of despair, love's pure code, 

Holds us together, a soft, gentle plea. 

 

Through every struggle, we search for our light, 

With each heartbeat, a chance to renew, 

In the magic that fills the chilly air, 

We’ll treasure the moments, laughter, and bright, 

Holding tight to the hope in all that we do, 

In the glow of the season, we find our care. 

 

So let’s celebrate each luminous thread, 

Woven through life in colors so bold, 

With lights that inspire and brighten our way, 

Together we journey, free from our dread, 

For the shine in our hearts can never grow old, 

In the glow we discover our warmth’s gentle sway. 

 

As the world spins 'round, let us take a pause, 

And breathe in the brilliance that soothes our plight, 

Amidst all the chaos, the laughter and cheer, 

We'll find in this light a moment to cause, 

To cherish the small things that make us feel right, 

For love lights our way throughout every year. 

 

In the hush of the night, let hope take its flight, 

In the glow of the season, together we stand, 

For each twinkling light shows how deeply we care, 

Uniting our spirits, igniting our might, 

In the beauty of moments where dreams are planned, 

With whispers of joy and wonders we share. 

 

In the quiet of evening, let laughter resound, 

Echoing softly through the streets that we roam, 

Each chuckle, a note in the symphony's song, 

In warmth of connection, we’re beautifully bound, 

Creating a chorus, a harmonious home, 

Where the glow of our hearts fills the night, fierce and strong. 

 

With each fleeting moment, let kindness ignite, 

As we spread our wings and take flight on the breeze, 

A ripple of warmth in the frost-kissed air, 

For the love that we share can shatter the night, 

Bringing together those longing for ease, 

In this vibrant tapestry, we lovingly care. 

 

Friendship And Hardship By EM Whitman

Why is it all coming out now? 

I whisper to myself, trying to slow the tears down, 

Thoughts that lingered, emotions concealed, 

Now erupting, a flood, my heart unsealed. 

 

My worst fears mocked, you called them a jest, 

But to me, they’re real, a heavy unrest. 

I sought your help, hoping you’d understand, 

Yet when tears filled my eyes, alone I would stand. 

 

I suppress and I hide, fill my cup to the brim, 

Then chaos unfolds, as emotions swim. 

When you saw me overflow, you turned, walked away, 

Leaving me lost, confused, led astray. 

 

You judged me for burdens, called them too sad, 

Once full of joy, now your laughter turned mad. 

You shattered my confidence, broke peace into shards, 

It took time to mend and to lower my guards. 

 

As joy slipped away, slowly replaced by sadness, 

I wore a facade, painted smiles in my madness. 

Three years have passed; I have become someone new, 

Afraid that my truth wouldn’t be liked or deemed true. 

 

But then came a love that shattered the night, 

I cried, "How can this be?"—a heart filled with light. 

You listen with care when I’m lost in the fight, 

And together we share the burdens that bite. 

 

You notice the whispers, the details, the small, 

Being there for each other, we answer the call. 

We stitch up the pieces, both broken and whole, 

In this bond we’ve discovered, I’m finally bold. 

 

I learned of a magic I once thought was a myth, 

That friendship exists, a true, precious gift. 

Through emptiness felt, I thought all was lost, 

But you showed me the way, despite the cost. 

 

I’m grateful for struggles, for tears, and for pain, 

For you stood by my side, through sunshine and rain. 

No matter the mistakes, you chose to stay near, 

In sadness and joy, together we cheer. 

 

You taught me to open, to trust, and be wise, 

To separate good from the guise of the lies. 

No more lukewarm waters, no pretending at all, 

I speak with my voice, and I rise when I fall. 

 

Through laughter and shadows, we sift through dust, 

Reviving the dreams, in our friendship, I trust. 

Once used and discarded, I now stand anew, 

With friends by my side, together we grew. 

 

In the depths of trials, our bond stands strong, 

Through tempest and turmoil, where we both belong. 

With you by my side, I discover sweet peace, 

A cherished connection that will never cease. 

 

Through storms we have weathered, our spirits entwined, 

You’ve kindled my heart with love that’s refined. 

Your presence is a beacon, my soul’s gentle guide, 

In the warmth of your friendship, I take my stride. 

 

With every moment shared, I find renewal anew, 

Transformed by your kindness, as if born from the blue. 

Together we flourish, a harmony grand, 

In the garden of friendship, forever we stand.

Close Friends EM Whitman

 

I’m finally over my crush!

Yes, he used to make my heart rush,

Now it’s just friendship that runs through my veins,

He was always there for me, even when it rained,

When I told him I liked him, he looked shocked,

Later, I told him that it was over, because a new friendship was unlocked.

 

Our Parents and siblings are close, we call each other family,

Sometimes we goof around, act silly,

Other times, we get serious, I love our deep conversations,

I believe we fill each other with inspiration,

He’s seen me embarrass myself,

He has also seen me cry for help.

 

At my best or worst, he’s there,

He’s my close friend, he cares,

He encourages me, even when he feels down,

He always tries to make me smile when I frown,

He reminds me he’s there when I need a listening ear,

He tells me, “I’m always here.”

 

I try to remind him of the same,

Sometimes it feels like he thinks I’m lame,

Then I remember how long we’ve been friends,

I know this relationship won't end!

I’m so glad we crossed each other’s paths when we were young,

It allowed us to grow together through the great and the things that stung,

 

He’s one of three friends who helped me through the worst breakup of my friendships,

We’ve been through many hardships,

We support each other when we have tough mountains to climb,

Not everything we’ve faced can we define,

We’ve stuck together, no matter the weather,

I know we will be friends forever.

Being Used EM Whitman

 Got what I need to give a helping hand,

Then you came to me with a confident stand, 

You asked to borrow a wrench,

What you did with it put me in the trench,

The use of my tool broke me and left me feeling lonely,

You used me for selfish things, would you call that friendly?

I don’t mind helping; it’s the use of what I had that made me feel violated.

 

You say you need help for a good deed,

I ask ecstatic, “What do you need?!”

“Glue to hold something I love together.” She sounded broken and sad

I gave her the bottle, knowing she would do just that.

She glues her possession together, it looks almost new.

This time I didn’t feel so blue.

I don’t mind helping; it’s the use of what I had that made me feel joy.

 

Some people care about what they say,

They think to themselves, “Will I lead them astray?”

Others don’t even think about the people being deceived.

The ones who we thought were kind, their acting we believed.

You have a choice, you can lie and get high on momentary pleasure,

Or speak life into others, be kindhearted, and look toward a good future.

I don’t mind helping; it’s the use of what I have that truly matters.

Just Friends EM Whitman

    

    My love language is words, but your actions make me fall even deeper for you. I often reread your texts, but I find myself replaying the moments we share in my mind the most. Your big, bright smile lights up my days when I thought I could only see darkness. You remind me to pray and seek God, guiding me down the right path. I've known you for years, yet I discover something new about you every time you speak.

 

When I learned that you love to read, I couldn't help but think, “It would be wonderful if you appreciated my writing as much as you do others when I become an author.” I write scripts in my head, and you improvise; perhaps planning this isn't the best idea.

 

One day, I woke up to reality, anxiety swirling about what I needed to do. I found you and said, “We need to talk.” My fingers trembled, my heart pounded, and I could tell you were a little nervous too. "What do you need to talk about?" you asked, your voice slightly shaking as you tried to conceal your nerves.

 

“I…” I began, repeating the word until I found the confidence to finish. “I like you.” I noticed a look of surprise on your face. “I’m only telling you because everyone else seems to have figured it out, and I thought you’d prefer to hear it from me.” Your expression shifted to understanding. "Thank you for telling me," you said, reassuring me that I had done the right thing. I laughed nervously; I had never done this before. What was I supposed to do next?

 

Two weeks later, we sat on the sidewalk, talking, and nothing seemed to have changed. “Did you tell anyone besides your mom?” I asked, surprising myself with my lack of nervousness despite all the overthinking I had done during those weeks. Did you like me? I was scared if you did.

 

“I told my dad, no one else. I’m sorry we haven’t talked about this sooner—it's been a couple of weeks,” you replied. “It’s okay; there’s really nothing to discuss anyway,” I said.

 

That night, I lay in bed, realizing that I should have asked you if there was anything you wanted to talk about. The next day, I approached you and asked, “So, is there anything you wanted to discuss?”

 

“Yeah, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you telling me that you like me, but I don’t like you in that way. I still want to remain friends,” you said.

 

“Oh, yes, of course! I understand,” I replied, knowing that I can’t make you like me. It’s neither your fault nor mine.

 

Now I'm finishing up your sister's gift, and I can’t wait to see her reaction. I can’t believe I realized my feelings for you on October 5, 2023. Here’s something crazy I didn’t tell you, and I’m glad I didn’t because I didn’t want to scare you away: the day I discovered my feelings for you is the same day you got baptized, just in a different year—2024.

 

Hopefully, you won’t read this, but if you do, just remember that while I like you, we were friends first. Please don’t hesitate to talk and ask questions. I want to be there for you more than anything. We agreed that we wanted to be just friends anyway.

Something Lost EM Whitman

 

I see her walk, then her phone drops, away from her ear.

Mouth wide, tears, she cries, water pouring from her eyes.

I could tell from the sight that someone held her tight, not tonight.

She’s now on the ground looking like a sad dear.

I bet the thought of her getting up, she despised.

In a battle with sadness and despair, she’s losing the fight.

 

My feet draw near to her, and I crouch beside her.

My arms stretch wide around her, and I whisper, “Who was it?”

She took a shaky breath and said, “My best friend.”

Not all pain is physical, but emotion can be a heartbreaker.

“What was their name?” She was shaking; I could feel it from where I sit.

 I let her cry, she needs to get on by, I know to her, this felt like the end.

 

Her eyes up, glossy, she croaks, “Liv.”

I then find my eyes leaking; I, too, have experienced loss.

“I bet she was great and loved you dearly, like a sister.”

She tells me she wants these feelings to leave.

I tell her, “God has a plan, He’s the boss.”

“You’re right.” Her voice cracked. “I’m just going to miss her!”

 

“Not everything from her is gone, I say, because you have memories here to stay.”

She stands up and nods, “I just don’t want to feel the hurt.”

“No one wants someone they love to be lost.” She said almost in a whisper.

“Yes, but they can be found where your memories were shared, like the bay…

Or when you had way too much fun in the dirt.

Remember these times and let them shine like glitter.”

The Garden Project By EM Whitman

 

“I’ve waited long enough,” I said,

If I stay here long, I’m good as dead,

I can’t stay in the alley,

I was leaving, then I saw Shelly.

I handed her the seeds,

They would fulfill the city’s needs.

 

Then I heard them, their feet clapping,

Quickly, they’re coming, let’s get cracking!

She grabs my hand and takes me up some stairs,

The sun looked like someone holding signal flares,

We jumped from one building to the next,

We could feel the breeze against our necks.

 

Shelly planted the seeds in random places,

We are starting with small spaces,

Putting them in cracks in the pavement,

We will not give in to this enslavement,

Our food and air are slowly poisoning our bodies,

Gardening is no longer just a hobby.