You navigate the heavy, suffocating geography of grief so beautifully here, turning a simple cliché into a vast, inescapable spectrum where even the sky and your own veins conspire to keep you trapped ✨
What struck me most was that you never left the world of blue. Every shade seemed to carry a different emotion, memory, or question, and by the end I felt less like I had read about sadness and more like I had spent time inside it.
The line that stayed with me was:
> "How will we know
> where you end
> and where I begin?"
I found myself sitting with that for a while.
There are seasons when our pain can become so familiar that it almost feels woven into our identity, and that question captured that experience with remarkable honesty.
I was also moved by the image of the *Forget-Me-Nots*. Even in the midst of all the blues, there is still a quiet longing to bloom. That gave the poem a tenderness I wasn't expecting.
Thank you for trusting us with something so vulnerable. Your poem didn't try to force a resolution, and I think that's part of what made it feel so authentic. It invited me to sit with the questions instead of rushing past them.
One of the things I love most about poetry is that it gives us the opportunity to know one another in ways ordinary conversation often can't. Your poem felt like an invitation into your inner world, and it was a privilege to spend some time there.
Thank you for trusting us with it. I have a feeling your willingness to write honestly is going to help many people feel a little less alone, and a little more known.
Holly, the blue palette becomes emotional weather here, carrying royal beauty, ocean grief, indigo ache, baby-blue memory, and the strange pull of an aquamarine dream. The questions about where you end and another begins, whether rain can be separated from clouds, and why the head keeps winning give the poem its deepest ache. The bird’s voice interrupts the beauty with pressure and warning, which keeps the piece from becoming only atmosphere. Grateful for the way you let color hold anxiety, longing, memory, and the hard question of choosing a way out.
Your poem brings so many shades of blue to life. I felt both the ache and the beauty in every line, and I appreciate how you captured that in such a vivid way.
Be unabashedly you. Your honesty is what makes your work so beautiful and powerful 🤍
Thank you, yes.
Quick life summary: I spent many years touring the globe as a jazz/R&B saxophonist (with artists I assume you know), including years of parterning with US Embassies overseas creating cultural diplomacy projects. During that time I also taught college: music, business, and philosophy.
About a dozen years ago I went into commercial real estate and capital finance, again working internationally, becuase I got tired of touring. I still compose music professionally, and, if you can keep a secret, am starting to record a new jazz album, my first release in a while (I can still say "album," right? I know I'm dating myself).
That's why my writings here are called "Capital&Culture."
"Cerulean abyss"...love that term. It draws out so many refractory moments spent in the ocean. Specs in the vastness of infinite depth and mystery that are the seas. Given that roughly 60% of an adult (male) body is made of Dihydrogen Monoxide (and about 55% average in that of females), how fitting are these allusions to oceanic blues and greens! Nice, Holly, nice! Your referent poetic allegories are apt, too.
You navigate the heavy, suffocating geography of grief so beautifully here, turning a simple cliché into a vast, inescapable spectrum where even the sky and your own veins conspire to keep you trapped ✨
Thank you so much Brandi. Your comment made my evening when I read it. Feels great to be seen and for people to get it. Appreciate you.
Beautifully crafted piece
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Lawrence 🤍✨
You're welcome
Of all the colors of the spectrum, blue best mirrors the many shades of the human condition.
I think so too. Thanks so much for always reading, Christopher :)
I love how you embraced a moment here and sank into the saturation of it.
It’s been blue all around Jay.
Thank you.
Holly,
Thank you for sharing this.
What struck me most was that you never left the world of blue. Every shade seemed to carry a different emotion, memory, or question, and by the end I felt less like I had read about sadness and more like I had spent time inside it.
The line that stayed with me was:
> "How will we know
> where you end
> and where I begin?"
I found myself sitting with that for a while.
There are seasons when our pain can become so familiar that it almost feels woven into our identity, and that question captured that experience with remarkable honesty.
I was also moved by the image of the *Forget-Me-Nots*. Even in the midst of all the blues, there is still a quiet longing to bloom. That gave the poem a tenderness I wasn't expecting.
Thank you for trusting us with something so vulnerable. Your poem didn't try to force a resolution, and I think that's part of what made it feel so authentic. It invited me to sit with the questions instead of rushing past them.
Your comments kill me in the best way, Kevin. Thank you so much for your deep read. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.
Holly,
That means a lot. Thank you.
One of the things I love most about poetry is that it gives us the opportunity to know one another in ways ordinary conversation often can't. Your poem felt like an invitation into your inner world, and it was a privilege to spend some time there.
Thank you for trusting us with it. I have a feeling your willingness to write honestly is going to help many people feel a little less alone, and a little more known.
I'm looking forward to reading more of your work.
Absolutely endless array of different azure terms…I had no idea there were so many ways of terming blue!
I appreciated this at the end of a long day…felt like levity:)
One small thought…blue veins…I have to think there’s another way of describing that with another blue synonym (maybe add labyrinthine to the vein ….✨
Please keep reading 💛
All poetry sounds beautiful and means so much more when read by its author 💜
There’s a lot I could have said for blue veins. Wanted to keep that line simple.
Thank you for listening Mike.
Thanks for reminding me that simple is oftentimes best💜
Holly, the blue palette becomes emotional weather here, carrying royal beauty, ocean grief, indigo ache, baby-blue memory, and the strange pull of an aquamarine dream. The questions about where you end and another begins, whether rain can be separated from clouds, and why the head keeps winning give the poem its deepest ache. The bird’s voice interrupts the beauty with pressure and warning, which keeps the piece from becoming only atmosphere. Grateful for the way you let color hold anxiety, longing, memory, and the hard question of choosing a way out.
Thank you so much, Kevin. 🤍💙
Your poem brings so many shades of blue to life. I felt both the ache and the beauty in every line, and I appreciate how you captured that in such a vivid way.
Thanks so much for reading sunshine!
So poignant...your voice totally transforms the experience.
So appreciate you saying this. I need all the encouragement to keep doing the voiceovers.
Your voice is lovely, both authoritative and vulnerable at the same time.
Keep doing the voice overs; it makes the impact that much more powerful.
Your feedback is so sweet, Demetrius. Exactly what I’m going for as I read. Poetry can sound so differently, depending on how it is paced and read.
Need to dive into your work? You compose?
Be unabashedly you. Your honesty is what makes your work so beautiful and powerful 🤍
Thank you, yes.
Quick life summary: I spent many years touring the globe as a jazz/R&B saxophonist (with artists I assume you know), including years of parterning with US Embassies overseas creating cultural diplomacy projects. During that time I also taught college: music, business, and philosophy.
About a dozen years ago I went into commercial real estate and capital finance, again working internationally, becuase I got tired of touring. I still compose music professionally, and, if you can keep a secret, am starting to record a new jazz album, my first release in a while (I can still say "album," right? I know I'm dating myself).
That's why my writings here are called "Capital&Culture."
💙🤍
💙🤍
Very fine. As my favorite color is blue, Indigo to be exact. I know the powers of the blues…
Blue is also my favorite. So much depth.
Thanks so much for always reading, LS.
De rien as we say down at the French connection. Ca va bien 👍🏻
The Blues have it! Lovely Post and a pretty stunning photograph, wow!
Thanks so much. High praise coming from the best.
"Cerulean abyss"...love that term. It draws out so many refractory moments spent in the ocean. Specs in the vastness of infinite depth and mystery that are the seas. Given that roughly 60% of an adult (male) body is made of Dihydrogen Monoxide (and about 55% average in that of females), how fitting are these allusions to oceanic blues and greens! Nice, Holly, nice! Your referent poetic allegories are apt, too.
You always insert fun facts. Thanks so much for reading and commenting, KK :)
Beautifully written, Holly! 💙
Thank you much for reading and commenting, Lisa :)
That is so beautiful
Thank you for reading and commenting, Steve.
I am happy I listened to this beautiful offering today. Your voice is heartening and gentle to listen to. Thank you. 🤗