I’ve been dreaming. been dreaming a lot. In my dreams they don’t make sense — not a lot. My mouth is muffled. My chest is heavy. I can’t speak the words they make me. I’ve been dreaming. been dreaming a lot. How do I know if you’re here? How do I know If you’re not? Is it your ghost? What if it’s not? What if my brain is just toast? What if it’s not? I’ve been dreaming. been dreaming a lot. Take it away. What’s in my head? If you hate what I do, Do what I did. Because, I been dreaming. Been dreaming a lot. By Nicole Jordan Ink & Alchemy Community

One thing I see writers do all the time is try to skip the pain in the lesson. They state the lesson as a truth rather than describing the pain for the reader. But that’s ALL WRONG. Human souls don’t trust the lesson unless they can really FEEL the pain that came with it. It’s human conditioning… We skip the pain!!! BUT, when you’re writing lyrics or poetry that matter… lyrics that mean something… poems that stay with someone… you can’t just state the lesson. You have to show the cost of learning it. And that’s our job as writers, as ALCHEMISTS Writing is truth-telling. And truth-telling means letting the pain live in the lines. FOR EXAMPLE: In songwriting Don’t write: “I learned to be strong.” Write: “I sat on the bathroom floor at 2 a.m. holding a phone that never rang.” Don’t write: “Love hurts.” Write: “Your coffee cup stayed in my cabinet three months after you left.” Or in poetry: Don’t write: “I miss you.” Write: “The pillow next to mine still holds the shape of a head that isn’t there.” See the difference? One tells the lesson. The other lets us feel it. At Ink & Alchemy, this is what we’re practicing. We’re not just writing pretty lyrics. We’re not just writing pretty poems. We’re turning real emotional experience into something powerful. Because emotion comes from friction. loss. longing. the moment that broke you. In my opinion, the best humans usually have a war story. Life is hard. But this is how we can appreciate it and reflect in a way that really helps. So when you sit down to write— a lyric, a verse, or a poem— don’t omit the pain, close your eyes, and remember it remember the smell smells the sounds the people the feelings. This is the MAGIC ingredient that turns words into ALCHEMY And that’s the moment someone reading your work says:“Wait…that’s exactly how it felt.” Love, Nicole Jordan Ink & Alchemy Skool Community

This poem is deeply personal and I am exploring bringing in present tense words into a past tense scenario. 🛑Trigger warning for anyone that may have lost someone close, proceed with caution this poem is dark and meant to heal. But only when you are ready to explore such topics. **** Looking forward to your feedback Here it is; Youngest of Kin There was a window, It overlooked the ocean, trees first, then busy clouds in motion. You were in your nightgown. Tubes and machines. You weren’t breathing. Not without forced air in and out. I stayed strong, through three months of grime Because I knew it would be me who’d walk him through this time. We searched for something on the radio, a song A background sound that could ease this wrong I wanted to vomit — everything all at once, anything but this, moment that I just can’t trust. I breathe out anger and vile disgust, disdain for this heartache that I will never triumph I don’t care about hunger, details, or despair, My concern is for him, your youngest, standing there. Your youngest of kin, And I search for the strength To be what he needs while you shed this place It was hard, but I kept myself talking through it, Filling the moment with sounds that you knew. Songs that felt like home filling the room, Our voices adrift through all of the gloom. You left us then, the air heavy and numb, Your last breath came when the tubes were undone. By Nicole Jordan (Nikki) Ink & Alchemy - Community on Skool

Whenever you read this, please complete Level 1 in the classroom ⏰✍️ This is the introduction to Ink & Alchemy Community 🖤🖤🌈😎🌙😻🍀🎵🙌🙌🙌 There are 9 Classroom Levels. Each level is a creative prompt designed to spark your imagination, open your mind, and set your ideas flowing like magic through ink and paper 🎨🔮✨. And on each level you will unlock more engagement in the community. As you unlock more levels, you’ll continue receiving exclusive invites to deeper exercises and secret challenges 🔑🔥. ✨ Keep the walls alive — please continue to post your poems, dreams, song lyrics, or even journal entries in free format whenever inspiration strikes. Always sign your work and include your Skool community info so your creations are celebrated 🌟💖. 🖤 Ink & Alchemy is your space — a place to experiment, create, and post any subject you care to explore. Every word, doodle, or idea adds to the story we’re building together. 👉 Begin your journey here: https://www.skool.com/ink-alchemy-2100/classroom/8b3a35ad

🌙 We are proud to announce Ink & Alchemy will be teaming up with The Art of Poetry, Alive Poets Society and Skool for something very exciting…. 🌙 As some of you may know, April happens to be National Poetry Month — And We’re Celebrating TOGETHER! These Skool communities happen to be some of the best poetry communities on the platform, and they are coming together for a month-long celebration of poetry, creativity, and connection. And we will be collaborating with poets from all around the world directly through this collaboration. Poetry Skool Communities: • Alive Poets Society • The Art of Poetry • Ink & Alchemy All throughout the month of April, these communities will be hosting: • Poetry contests • Daily writing prompts • Shared poetry from members • Supportive community feedback 🌙🖤🍀🎵For all of you Alchemists out there this is your invitation.🎵🍀🖤🌙 • Come write with us. • Come share your voice. • Come meet poets who care deeply about the craft. 👇 Join ALL of the communities and be part of National Poetry Month: Alive Poets Societyhttps://www.skool.com/dead-poets-society-5071/about The Art of Poetryhttps://www.skool.com/the-art-of-poetry-1080/about Ink & Alchemyhttps://www.skool.com/ink-alchemy-2100/about And if you’d like to explore mote visit:www.artofpoetry2026.com Hosted by Art of Poetry’s @Jason Strickland Because poetry was never meant to be written alone. 🖤🍀🌈😻🎵