My eyes
are liquid charcoal
burning with injury
crying no more
my tear ducts
are blocked
with fragments
called pain
empty feelings
stay afloat
fulfillment extracted
never drained
held tightly
between the creases
of clenched fists
like the
hummingbird’s wings
I hum
listen
to the lasting effects
of a rapidly beating heart
anxiously awaiting emancipation:
hmmm,
hmmm,
hmmm…
set me free.
Dedicated to creative expression via poetry and prose.
ERIKA "SAGE" KELLEY
Sage \'sāj\ - One that has wisdom through reflection and experience.
About Me
- esk
- Erika Kelley, pseudonym Sage, Founder and CEO of Sage Horizons, trains professionals, parents and caregivers on trauma using an arts-based approach and healing centered poetry framework. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.
Love for Writing
Sage's love for writing inspired her to create a literary blog, Sage Creative Corner, and writing group, Creative Scribblers, which is designed to help motivated writers refine and polish their writing skills through group interaction and critiquing. Erika has had social commentary published in online publications and poetry published in various anthologies and online magazines and journals.
Followers
Published Poetry: Literary Journals
- "Extroverted to a Fault" and "At Odds" The Word Place, 2011
- "Circus Monkeys" The Bicycle Review Issue 1, 2009
- "Beautiful" River Poets Journal Volume 3, Issue 3, 2009
- "Mine, Yours...Ours" River Poets Journal Volume 2, Issue 2, 2008
- "Daydreaming" Poetry Super Highway 2008
- "Rainbows," "The Cemetery," "Me, You, Music," "My Passion," and "Beyond the Shoreline" NUMBAT pdu Issue 2, 2008
- "Relatives by Marriage" Flask and Pen, 2008
Published Poetry: Anthology and Chapbook Features
- "Finally" Poetry of Marriage Anthology, Canadian Federation of Poets, 2009
- "Daydreaming" The Leaf Gatherers Chapbook, Lilly Press, 2008
- "Natural Rock" If You Believe, You Will Succeed Anthology, Mud Puddle Books, 2008
- "My Darling Love" For You, Daughter Anthology, Mudd Puddle Books, 2008
- "Blue Skies," "My Rejuvenation," "My Summer Love," and "Apprehensive Independence" Acts of Faith Anthology, Wright Jusino Publishing, 2008
- "Nature's Musing" and "My Sweet Revival" On the Quiet Side Anthology, New Jersey Poetry Society, 2008
Published Prose
- "Over Starbucks Coffee" River Poets 55 Word Short Stories Collection Chapbook, Lilly Press, 2009
- "I Do It Once A Week" River Poets 55 Word Short Stories Collection Chapbook, Lilly Press, 2009
- "The Male Perspective" The Coil Review, October 2009
- "Female Bullies...as Children and Adults" Feminist.com, September 2008
- "Women in the Workplace: Assertive vs. Aggressive" Feminist.com, July 2008
MY PASSION
Third night in a row you kept me up past midnight. This will have to stop…eventually. I can’t take the black circles under my eyes much longer, nor the fatigue. Yet, my brain remains animated, hungry for more. Tangled with my emotions, dripping with my creativity, hanging on to my every word. At least for one more night…I write.
--esk
--esk
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
In good writing, words become one with things.
All material contained herein, unless noted otherwise, is copywritten © by Erika "Sage" Kelley and may not be copied, published, or distributed without permission from the author.