Two Poems by Andrew Cyr

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Bio

AC is a writer and U.S. Army veteran. His work, including the featured poem “Wealthy Lesson,” has been published in (among other publications) Literary Odyssey. AC’s writing focuses on spiritual growth and finding light in the shadows of the past.

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Poems

Where Battles End, We Begin

At a bookstore, I flipped through
a book about peace—but war had plans.
Foreign soldiers stormed the beach;
our troops fired back
death claimed the fallen.

Jets scrambled,
carpet bombs raged,
backstabbers betrayed
while captives waved white flags.

I stepped out of the bookstore
and crouched beside a machine gunner.
Bombs exploded, casting darkness,
crimson washed ashore.
The city fought on the northern front.

I sipped the last of my coffee—
might as well die caffeinated.
God knows I have much to repent.
I left the bloodstained book;
peace comes when you die.

I headed to Mia’s house.
I’d never had the guts to ask her out,
but thoughts of death
brought me life.

I’d take her hand—
find peace before death;
conflict, never-ending—
a noble fight to engage.

Tangled Release

Clover’s indecision—
a noose—
footsteps,
a crowded room,
an empty stare,
a life to repair.

Porcelain facades cracked,
she pulled me close, drifted away;
guilt dripped from her lips.

“If for no reason but me,”
I whispered,
“Stay.”
My voice cracked.

A glance—
her sob, her nod.
“I’ll stay.”

I cut the rope,
she shed her past,
learned from pain,
fell into my arms.

We were tangled—
trust rekindled.

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Gabriela Marie Milton
Author, Editor-in-Chief, Founder

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OUR BOOKS – BUY ON AMAZON

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1. Haiku and Tanka: Lull, Harmony and Power in Japanese Art
2. Fine art Photography: Lullscapes in Light and Shadow
3. Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku 
4. Celebrating Poetry by Cindy Georgakas 
5. Full Moon Confessions: Poetry by Tracey Anne
6. Petals of Haiku: An Anthology 
7. Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology
8. Echoes Lost in Stars: Poems by PS Conway
9. Love, Stars, and Paradigms: Poems by Swarn Gill
10. Building Sandcastles by C.X. Turner and James Welsh  
11. Greenlandos by Virginia Witch

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Announcement: We are still going through the submissions to Haiku for Soulmates. Once the selection is ready, we will send an email to everyone who submitted. We appreciate your patience.

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