By Helen Grant That hospital bed was a raft, clearly sinking, clearly not drifting him back to me. His white bed sheets weren't the flag of surrender, but all of my tissues were; a drowned flag from me gasping 'you can let go if you need to.'   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Samantha K. Collinson They cracked my shell. Scooped filth from my port. Wiped me like a corpse. Booted me back. Watched me stutter, blink, obey. Five years later, I still carry the memory of fingers that fixed me— claimed me. Love is a code. And mine was altered without consent.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Harleen Quinzelle Excitedly, Naively, Foolishly:  I loved you with every breath. Intoxicatingly, Obsessively, Greedily: You inhaled until my lungs collapsed. My hopes, my dreams and very essence of being- you sucked out of me. . . lifeless in your arms. Only then did you realized necrophilia was not “your thing.”   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Deirdre Devally Long, tall Sally up the alley. Getting pally.   Happy, Baby?   Till you’re there, sure – pull my hair, I don’t care.   She gets paid, mortgage made.   buses back, beer and bath; tender where he slammed his wrath   husband, movie, kids, she’ll smile home is home another while.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Megan Cartwright A marriage will endure if you cement the foundation. There is little to be gained in turning blind eyes. When they tore down the walls they found where he lies. A relic, our Dream House from the For Sale  sign.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Darren Wilkins I said I loved you  every day except the one when I awoke and you were gone. You said you loved me.  every day  but one  and so, I carried on.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Peter Cranmer Feldstein was a great friend of hers For him, she danced in the streets   But that didn’t stop her from tearing out his eyes one night And rummaging through his bloodied pockets.   When she found what she wanted She danced again.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Amanda Danger I never wanted To be the Apple of your eye – That fruit is poisoned: Brutal blows Fall on Alabaster skin Bruised Globes Rotting On the Tree of Life A starving child Fed on Tainted fruit   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Joeii Monday In another universe, She doesn't write poetry. She's happy instead.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Eliza Kettle The chameleon Was so good at blending in That she couldn’t remember Who she really was   So she decided to try Not being a rock Or some bark Nor pretending to be a glossy leaf   But when she looked in the mirror All she saw Was the mirror looking back   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Chris Burrage Weary of the earth He leaves for the stars Pulls on ropes long shed Of taught, strong sinew. Ladders to places Long unseen and fraught With passages lost, Peopled by brethren All wandering weary.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Li Alves Anchor words. Phrases held in short memory. Neither guilt, nor echoes. Only I and my breath Can save me from my childhood So that I am not A mere consequence   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By D A Angelo                  I dive into myself  like a kingfisher                               convinced  there must still be fish, despite  the river being barren                                    for years.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Molly Winters I hold so many people in my heart But sometimes I wish I could put them inside my brain so that they could see all the ways they are hurting me by loving me while hating who I am.     #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Deb Lucas No tools in your head you suffered the fools you wished you were dead. Fucknuts and ghouls.   Shit for brains, dirty veins no one sees you there cold and dank city lanes you’re just a vacant stare   from hollow eyes and empty brain your silent cries and dirty pain.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Peter Warr An old man sat on a chair Thinks of everything that’s been And outside he watches Waiting for the brown leaves To turn green   An old man sat on a chair All hopes of youth subside And outside he realizes That all of the leaves Have died   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Evgenia Cotsis you look like you love me you look drunk but i am afraid of your sober indifference i’d rather your fire cool blue and the american spirit in your teeth i’d rather the ire in your desire i’d rather you just kill me   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Sea Sharp She doesn’t float. She sinks her cascading spine down an undulating rocker of vapours.   Yesterday, she fermented. Today, she foamed bubbles. Tomorrow, she’ll be fantastically new.   In this uneven pool of cruel temptation, she has a way with the Devil and finds it easy to say nothing and mean it.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By James Langford Way too hot to dig two graves. I can see my shadow sweat. High noon and not a lick o’ shade. My friend can’t live without his pet. His dog coughed out her final days. Best to put his mind to rest in one hole.  With his dog, he splays.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge

By Thomas Whitehead Every summer the scar comes out, glistening against tan, A reminder of what was once so that there she is again: Against blue skies, caryatid a singular storm cloud carrying. So that grief might be as cyclical as the seasons, impressed immutably upon me. And then in winter fading.   #darkpoetsclub #smallspacedeepimpact #50wordchallenge