Hi Kaytings , I recently found and read your poem from the “Read and Review tab on our link bar… I think your poem would be classified as a free-verse lyric poem, which I am just learning more about. Your poem really touched me. It’s about your character’s journey to find inner peace after a traumatic experience at thirteen, when “darkness stalked” and stole a young man’s innocence. From the start, I could feel the weight of his pain—how he felt hollow, trapped by shame and rage. But what grabbed me most was the honesty and the hope found along the way. This isn’t just a poem; it’s like a conversation with someone who’s been through hell and come out stronger.

Your poem takes us through the struggle to find peace. At first, the boy (as the poem says) thought he could force it with techniques—counting breaths, shouting prayers into pillows, meditating. I’ve tried stuff like that, too, so I get it. But he says those things only numbed the pain for a little while; the hurt was still there, pulsing under the surface. Then he turned to trust—trust in God, in something bigger. He started singing in a choir, praying even when he wasn’t sure, and writing poetry to heal. I love how you portray peace as a blend of hard work and letting go, emphasizing that one must do their part but also accept help from others.

One line really stuck with me: “Is peace achieved by will, or given without merit?” He answers, “Both and neither,” and that feels so right. Peace comes from facing tough memories, talking to a counselor, and learning to forgive yourself—stuff that takes effort. But sometimes it just shows up, like “dew on cold mornings,” unexpected and gentle. I’ve felt that too—those quiet moments when things suddenly feel okay, even if you didn’t plan it.

He also looks up to people like Nelson Mandela and Thich Nhat Hanh. Mandela faced years in prison but came out with mercy, not bitterness. And Thich Nhat Hanh said that mud can grow a lotus—meaning even messy things can lead to something beautiful. I like how you use these examples to show that peace isn’t weak. It’s tough, built to handle pain and still keep going.

Faith is a big part of this poem, and I connected with your wrestling with it. He asks how a loving God could let bad things happen—a question I’ve had myself. The prayers are “jumbled with doubt,” but he keeps going, finding hope in the mess. It’s real and raw, and it made me feel less alone in my own doubts.

The poem also talks about the world today—how we’re all connected but so lonely, scrolling screens to avoid our feelings. You called out “charlatans,” pushing quick fixes like retreats or special teas, and I nodded along. Healing isn’t that easy. It takes guts to face your pain, not just cover it up. I respect how you keep it real, saying peace needs time and honesty, not fake promises.

By the end, the poem stands for someone who’s been broken but is piecing themselves back together. Your protagonist prays, sings, writes, and chooses compassion over anger, one day at a time. It’s not perfect or finished, but that’s what makes it powerful. Lines like “peace rose like dew on cold mornings” and “even the darkest past cannot extinguish the light within” stayed with me. The language is simple yet powerful, painting pictures that I could see and feel.

Reading this felt personal like a friend opening up about their scars and how they’re healing. It’s not just their story—it’s for anyone trying to find light after dark times. This poem is a gift, showing that peace is possible, built through effort and grace. It left me hopeful and inspired to keep going, one small step at a time.

I am far too new to this genre to offer much help in design, format, or other bits of the poetry genre that might be of use to someone who can write such a moving piece as this. Which is why I only include the emotion it inspired within me. I did affiliate my little review with one of my review groups (their biggest complaint being that my numbered effort could be larger… I kid for their benefit. Forgive me, please. I chose your poem over a dozen others because it was the most moving. The truth is that this is the biggest accolade I can offer because I am so bad at poetry that I usually pass it by when looking for something to review, but this one was unique. Well done, my friend, well done indeed!




My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .