Tag: Music

The Emotions & Solstice Sadness

trE
The Emotions: What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas

Solstice Sadness

Winter sneaks in, draped
in drama, hands on
heavy hips, waiting to
cover us in dysfunction.

I know I won’t say anything
when I see her today, but I’ll
want to. And she won’t say anything–I’m the expressive
one when it comes to
“such a time as this.”

We’re feeding off of cold
energy–trying to warm our
hearts, both too afraid of
being hurt–it’s just around the
corner, yet we’re holding on.

The Emotions’ “What Do the
Lonely Do at Christmas” comes
on and tears stream down
my face.
How can you listen to this
song and not feel something?

The air outside sends a chill
to my bones that is indescribable.
I am frosty–winterfied by
jealous winds and made stoic
in the presence of God’s
season.

“You have too many periods
in that one statement for me
to feel comfortable about your
reply” she tells me as she reads
my response to her asking me
not to hate her for picking
up another shift that cuts our
time in half, and I read and
reread the statement, and the
only thing I can come up with
is, “I don’t know why you’re
uncomfortable. I place periods
where they belong. It’s
grammatically correct.”

My spectrum brain didn’t see
the coldness of it–the short-and-to-the-pointness of it, and I
have to remind her sometimes
it’s best I communicate verbally
because word of mouth
in written form can be
misconstrued.

We agree it’s our emotions
taking over . . . we care too
much not to care at all,
and this season always finds
us tugging war with ourselves
and the battles are many.

I am fighting for more than
peace and strength.
I am fighting to be understood
by a world that may never
understand me but it
hurts so much more when
she tries and she can’t, either.

Happy Winter Solstice, beautiful people! I’ll be spending this day with someone very near & dear to me. I hope all of you will get the chance to do the same.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

surrender or die trying

trE

an audio poem

surrender or die trying by Tremaine L. Loadholt via SoundCloud

like Nas’ “It Ain’t Hard To Tell“,
when we spot each other
in a room full of our
workmates, we fight to get
to that hug we’ve been
missing–that embrace that
saddles us with contentment.

we fight for the purity of touch.

I know you. you know me.
we broke down walls to be
able to say, “She’s whole
without being halved.”
we have the drop on
one another but we’ll never
use it.

I am counting down the days
until I see you again.
until I get to hear that
Flint, Michigan accent with a sprinkle
of the Deep South swirling
on your tongue.

maybe it’ll be the right time
to say, “Yes” to what we’ve
had to say “No” to for
so long.

or maybe I’m just living
through my fantasies
again–envisioning you as the
key to my heart’s happiness.
or maybe, we’re treading
lightly because the heavy waves
are getting heavier and we
need these damn jobs.

we’ve been cautious for years.

and there’s no cat and mouse
with us–we’re simply plagued
by curiosity and frozen from
impending corporate damage.

how long will we be able to
hold up our end of the
bargain before we have to
surrender?

are we willing to battle
in the wars of political correctness for the honor
of true love?

am I?

*Background music: It Ain’t Hard Tell instrumental, produced by The Large Professor

Two Things Thursday #25

trE
1. The Sheltering. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
2. Teddy Pendergrass, Latest, Greatest Inspiration

1. The Sheltering by Khaya Ronkainen is a book of poetry I read recently. I knew I would love every minute of this read, and I DID!

Below is the review I left for the book via Amazon:

“Not Fooled By the Cover

At first glance, regarding the cover, I didn’t know what to expect. My first thoughts were, “Will the poetry be gentle and childlike?” Or, “Will I actually need to take cover from its power once I’ve read it?” And after reading this work of literary art, it’s clearly the latter.

There is nothing lacking here. Every poem is a hard-hitter, dragging you down a rabbit hole of reminiscent recollections of pandemic’s past while battling the many paths we walk with grief.

A few haibun and visually structured poems struck several chords with me.

I knew the author would share something poignant and superb, but “The Sheltering” is practically flawless.

At just under 80 pages, there are various opportunities to connect and be alerted to spend more time with one’s thoughts while devouring the words shared in this book.

I agree with another commenter, “The world should read this book.” We were all there, and we still are.”

2. Teddy Pendergrass‘s Latest, Greatest Inspiration is such an incredible song. It’s the second share for this post, and if you listened to it via the YouTube video above, you’ll understand why I chose this song.

First off, I am a huge Teddy Pendergrass fan. I really hate that he’s not still around anymore to belt out beautiful ballads such as this one.

He died in January 2010 at the age of 59.

Why do I love this song so much? It is in the lyrics, the melody, and Teddy’s “Smooth-Like-Buttah” voice. One particular part melts my heart every single time,

Things never looked clearer, peace within never felt nearer
My burden’s gone, it’s turned to a song
Tender as a baby’s touch, I needed you, oh, so much
At last, my load is so light.

Now if that doesn’t connect with you, I can’t help you.

Latest, Greatest Inspiration will always be a top contender on my favorite songs list. I hope you’ve enjoyed listening to it just as much as I do each time I hear/play it.

You inspire me,
Inspire me!
Don’t you know it?
My latest, my greatest inspiration.

This concludes the Two Things Thursday series. Thank you for joining me every week for it.