The camouflage of darkness hides all that defies existence, traps secrets within secrets. Light withheld tries to burst forth only to be gathered in nets of insecurity - to be hidden away as shame and unworthiness. Unquenchable is the thirst initiated as emotional wounds – invisible yet ever festering, unhealed. Eyes cannot see the cords of pain as they wrap - around and around, intricately weaving trappings of denial, warping the eyes and mind with judgments set forth as punishment - unyielding pain bound to perception. The deepest, most malicious of all denial is to shield a soul from goodness when all it seeks is to feel whole. Especially when it is your own...
Bio: Nikki Anne Schmutz is the author of Open Soul Window, In Speaking of… A Poetic Journey From Dark to Light, and Found, a novel. She is a published poet and novelist, produced screenwriter, freelance poetry editor, and advocate against sexual violence. She has been an editor-in-chief of a magazine, poetry editor for a literary website, and has recited poetry for a podcast. She currently reads poetry on her YouTube Channel, Perfectly Written Pictures. You can follow her poetry on her website, www.alittlefireleaping.com