You read my poems like evidence in a trial lining up my words as if healing were a crime. You say stop writing about yesterday as if yesterday didn’t carve me,as if pain should stay buried quiet, obedient, unseen. But my ink is not a confession it’s a release. Every line I write is something I chose not to become. You call it playing good, like kindness is a mask I wear instead of a choice I make every single day to not bleed on people who never cut me. Yes I have been broken. Yes I have made mistakes. But I am not standing here pretending to be perfect I’m standing here trying to be better. And that seems to bother you more than my past ever could. You hold old versions of me like they’re still alive, like I haven’t buried them with every tear, every lesson, every page I wrote just to survive. You don’t trust me I hear it in every accusation, every sharp word wrapped in hurt. But tell me how do I prove truth to someone who already decided I’m lying? How do I love in a place where I’m always on trial? So I write not because I’m stuck, but because I refuse to stay silent About the storm I walked through and the woman I became after. You see my past as destruction. I see it as proof that I’m still here. And no I won’t stop writing. Because my voice is the one thing I refuse to lose again. ~butterfly ~

Welcome to our latest group of 'Paper and Pen' members. Sending a warm welcome to @Mary Ingrassia @Jessica Lucatero @Evie Woods @Abigail Woods @Lucy Miller @Desaray Meredith @Butterfly Writes @Fierra Riley @Crystal Myers @Christopher Sanchez @Karen Gay Napier @Sanseria Murray @Dez Napoleon @Shanti Chambers and @Shalonda Williams We're thrilled to have you here! This is a supportive space for writers of all genres and experience levels to connect, share ideas, and grow together. Jump into a discussion, ask questions, or just say hello, we can't wait to see what you’re working on! Happy writing!

We are now into the holidays season. Times that may include sparkling lights, warm gatherings, cherished memories, and quiet moments of reflection. For you, this time could also include the smell of the fresh pine of a natural Christmas Tree, the sound of laughter around the table, or the hush of snow falling outside your window. There is poetry in every corner of the season. Prompt: Write a poem that captures the spirit of the holidays for you. It can be joyful or bittersweet, nostalgic or humorous. Focus on a single moment, a personal tradition, or the emotional undercurrent of the season. Use sensory details to bring your holiday scene to life. Here are some suggested themes that you can explore: - A holiday memory that shaped you - The contrast between celebration and solitude - The magic of giving and receiving - The winter landscape as metaphor - Family traditions, kept or broken ✨ Let your words wrap around the heart like a cosy blanket. ✨ And don't forget to share with us.