Poems by Jordan A. Leturgez

I deserve better -- a small verdict I learned to say aloud,
like lighting a match in a room that taught me to whisper.

I have swallowed crumbs of affection until my hunger
became ordinary; I have made my voice polite, then thin.
No more. I am unlearning the grammar of keeping quiet
so someone else can be comfortable.

My tenderness is not rent money for a temporary bed.
My time is not a currency to be spent on excuses.
I refuse to catalog my worth by the frequency of your return.
I will not measure my days by how well I fit into your absence.

I deserve better -- not as punishment to you
but as a home I build for myself, brick by reclaimed breath.
I will plant mornings where my name blooms first,
where promises are not fossils but living trees.

If love is a map, I will redraw the borders.
If patience is a seed, I will choose where it is sown.
I will set my feet where my heart is not apologizing,
where my laugh is full, where my wounds are tended.

I deserve better -- this is not anger, it is stewardship.
It is the quiet revolution of learning to keep my own light,
to walk out of rooms that dim me and into days that match me.
I deserve better -- and finally, I will answer to that.

If I could, I would gather the scattered pieces
of your laughter--those splintered, quiet ones--
and sew them back into the seams of your days,
soft as tongue against the inside of a cup,
so heat returns and hands remember how to hold.

If I could, I would unlearn the clock's sharp teeth,
loosen its jaw and set the hours adrift,
so mornings could be slow, forgiving things
and yesterday might lean back into your shoulder
without asking for a reason.

If I could, I would press my palms to the map of your sorrow
and trace rivers backward until they forgot their course,
turning floods into streams that find green,
making room for wildflowers to gossip with the wind
about small, unremarked miracles.

If I could, I would bottle quiet for you--
a translucent thing smelling of rain on hot pavement,
a lantern you could carry in a pocket
to find your feet on nights that taste of doubt,
to read by when the world forgets your name.

If I could, I would teach the stars new words
so they might spell your truth across the velvet,
but even constellations would need time to learn,
and I am only one mouth, one set of hands,
full of good intentions and less than miracles.

So I cannot pluck grief from your throat like a thorn,
nor stitch the past into something painless.
But if I could not mend the sky for you,
I will stand beneath it--arms open as a small harbor--
and keep a light on until your harbor remembers how to come home.

Everybody dance now --
not as escape but as answer,
feet translating grief into rhythm,
shoulders learning how to hold light.

We gather like scattered sparks
along cracked sidewalks and subway turns,
ancient and newborn moves colliding
until the pavement remembers how to sing.
A child teaches a weathered pair of hands
a step that melts the years away;
an old dancer shows a shy body
how to let its edges blur.

Hands split the air into constellations,
hips become small rebellions,
and laughter, sudden and furious,
wakes the corners that had given up hope.
The city exhales in syncopated breaths;
lamplight taps a steady beat on wet asphalt.
Neighbors inch closer, then closer still,
and language shrinks to the size of a smile.

Every stumble is forgiven by the music of feet,
every breath a tiny revolution.
We are a hundred different kinds of brave
learning, mid-spin, how to begin again.
So move -- wildly, gently, anything true --
until sorrow folds like paper and becomes warmth.
Everybody dance now:
let the world forget for one perfect song
that it was ever anything but this communal pulse.

In the tapestry of existence, life dances on,
A symphony of moments, where grace is drawn.
With every beat of time, a new verse unfurls,
As the universe sings, and our stories swirl.

Life goes on, in relentless pursuit,
Through the highs and lows, it remains resolute.
Like a river's flow, it twists and turns,
Birthing joy and sorrow, as the flame of life burns.

In morning's embrace, the sun gently rises,
Painting the sky with hues of golden surprises.
A new day dawning, a canvas to create,
Opportunities abound, if we embrace fate.

Yet shadows may fall, casting doubt and despair,
Testing the strength within, calling us to bear.
But life goes on, like a phoenix unbound,
Rising from ashes, with courage profound.

Through love's tender touch, we find solace anew,
Healing scars of the past, embracing what is true.
In laughter and tears, we weave the tapestry,
Writing our stories, shaping our destiny.

Each breath we inhale, a precious melody,
Every heartbeat a reminder of mortality.
So, let us seize the hours, embrace the unknown,
For life goes on, in whispers, in cyclones.

In the silence of night, as the stars shimmer bright,
In the trials we face, and the moments of light,
May we find purpose in each step we take,
Navigating this journey, our souls wide awake.

For life goes on, an everlasting dance,
In its fragile beauty, we find our chance,
To love, to learn, to grow beyond what we've known,
A poetic reminder, that life's melody is sown.

So, let us cherish every moment we share,
Embrace the unknown, for life's wonders declare.
That though time may pass, and seasons may change,
Life goes on, a story forever arranged.

In the face of daunting trials, we stand tall,
Like mighty oak trees, weathering the squall.
Life's challenges, they come in many forms,
Testing our strength, resilience it transforms.

When the storms of despair threaten to consume,
We find the light, dispelling darkness' gloom.
For within us dwells a flame, burning bright,
A spirit unyielding, ready to take flight.

Like a phoenix, we rise from ashes anew,
Unyielding, unbroken, in all that we pursue.
Each obstacle is but a chance to grow,
A stepping stone, teaching lessons we must know.

As mountains tower, we conquer our fears,
Guided by hope and determination, our dearest spears.
We gather strength from within and from each other,
For united, we triumph, sisters and brothers.

In every setback, a lesson is revealed,
Opportunity hides in wounds yet unhealed.
Through tears shed, we find the strength to mend,
To piece together shattered dreams, our hearts to tend.

With every step forward, we leave the past behind,
Embracing the present, a path to joy we find.
For life's challenges shape us into who we are,
Transforming us into warriors, shining like a star.

So let us face each hurdle with unwavering grace,
Knowing that together, we conquer the vast space,
Overcoming life's challenges, we shall prevail,
For within us lies a fire, that will never fail.

In this digital age, where screens consume our days,
A poetry I write, to rediscover life's vibrant ways.
For in this sea of technology, we often wander astray,
But fear not, dear souls, for a digital detox will lead the way.
Turn off the phones, unplug the wires,
Let nature's symphony ignite your inner fires.
Detach from the screens, reclaim your time,
Rediscover the beauty of a world so sublime.
Find solace in silence, embrace the reprieve,
Unburden your mind, let your soul receive.
Leave behind the notifications, the constant noise,
Embrace the grace of stillness and find your voice.
To reset the relationship with tech, seek balance and connect,
Engage in conversations, meaningful and direct.
Immerse yourself in passions that make your heart race,
Release the shackles of screens, let creativity embrace.
Discover the wonders of the analog world,
Be captivated by stories, unfold and unfurl.
Rekindle human connection, bask in togetherness,
For it is in these cherished moments, true joy we possess.
Engage your senses, let your imagination soar,
Reignite the flame of wonder you may have ignored.
Feel the warmth of sunsets, breathe in the scent of earth,
Let nature's healing touch guide your rebirth.
Reflect on moments far from screens' allure,
Seek mindfulness, find solace in the pure.
In solitude and reflection, your spirit shall mend,
Rediscovering yourself, your essence, my dear friend.
So, let us detach from the chains we have worn,
Reset our relationship with tech, let it be reborn.
Embrace the digital detox, let your soul be restored,
Find harmony amidst the chaos, life's blessings fully explored.

In twilight's embrace where the horizon bleeds,

A caravan dances, where the wild heart leads.

With laughter like fire, and footsteps like dreams,

They weave through the shadows with vibrant moonbeams.

With skirts made of sunbeams and crowns made of stars,

They travel the night with both hope and with scars.

The wind in their hair, like poems unsaid,

Each breath is a story, a path they have tread.

Oh, gypsy, oh wanderer, what secrets you keep?

In whispers of freedom, in the nights when you weep.

Your spirit, a river that cannot be tamed,

In the language of wanderlust, you have named.

With eyes deep as loam, burdened yet bright,

You carry the echoes of ancient delight.

For love is your compass, and the world is your kin,

In the rhythm of life, you let the wild in.

You gather the moments like fireflies caught,

In the nets of your laughter, the lessons you've taught.

Each campfire the cradle of tales to be spun,

Of shadows and moonlight, of hearths yet undone.

So dance, O free spirit, let your saga unfurl,

In the tapestry woven of this vibrant world.

For the gypsy, dear heart, is a melody clear,

A hymn for the wanderers, a song without fear.

Through deserts and mountains, through rivers that sigh,

Your journey is endless as stars in the sky.

In the whispers of twilight, we hear your sweet song,

A promise of belonging, where each heart finds its home.

In shadows deep where shadows blend,
A whispered pact, a silent mend,
Where dreams take flight on tethered wings,
A commission to the heart that sings.

With ink like stardust, the quill takes flight,
Tracing paths through the long, dark night.
Words, like fireflies, dance and dart,
Each flicker igniting a yearning heart.

Oh, noble task, to carve out meaning,
From chaos stirred, to find the gleaning.
In the echo of silence, we seek the song,
As whispered hopes, both fragile and strong.

Gather the fragments, the world's sweet pain,
In verses woven, like drops of rain.
Each line a fulcrum, a bridge to cross,
Turning despair into joyous gloss.

Speak for the voiceless, the lost and the shamed,
For in every soul, deserving, unnamed,
A story is waiting, a cavern of light,
To break through the darkness, to ignite the night.

The commission, dear poet, is more than a role,
It's the art of connecting, the stitching of soul.
So pen down your truths, let the ink spill wide,
For in every heart's tale, the universe hides.

Let every stanza be a lighthouse flame,
A guiding light through the shadows of shame.
For when the world whispers, "You cannot, you shan't,"
In the flicker of verses, we dream and we chant.

So gather your courage, let your heart take flight,
In the service of beauty, let us unite.
For the commission of poetry is never in vain--
It's a spark of the cosmos, a balm for the pain.

n the hush of dawn, where whispers dwell,
And the sky blushes pink, weaving stories to tell,
I lace up my dreams, let the heartbeat ignite,
With each breath I take, I embrace the soft light.

The pavement beneath is a canvas, unspooled,
As my feet kiss the ground, where the world's whispered rules
Fade into the rhythm, a symphony sweet,
Each step a reminder, each heartbeat a beat.

The air stirs with whispers of wild, free delight,
As the sun casts its fingers, painting shadows in flight.
Breath after breath, I shed yesterday's weight,
With every good run, I dance with my fate.

The trees nod their heads, in a gentle accord,
Their leaves flutter secrets, I feel my soul stored
In the laughter of miles, cascading like streams,
Where hope intertwines with the fabric of dreams.

A rush of adrenaline flows through my veins,
An elixir of freedom that courses through pain.
Oh, how the world shifts, when my spirit takes flight,
In a cascade of motion, I glide into night.

And the finish line beckons, a shimmer ahead,
With the fires of passion burning brightly instead.
For it's not just the distance, nor medals of speed,
But the journey's sweet whispers -- they nurture my need.

So here on this path, I find pieces of me,
In the echo of footsteps, in the love that is free.
Each run is a heartbeat, each mile a soft hymn,
In the tender illumination, where my spirit can swim.

Let the world hold its breaths, as I celebrate grace,
For a good run is life, and with each stride, I embrace
The laughter of joy and the sweet, tender ache,
In this rhythm of motion, my heart cannot break.

In a world where silence speaks the loudest,
Where moments flit and fade like fleeting shadows,
We interrupt this program, dear hearts, to pause--
A gentle call to notice, to ponder, to cause.

The hum of routine, a relentless parade,
Daydreams and deadlines, in twilight they wade,
But halt! Let the air be filled with still delight--
For beauty blooms softly in the depth of night.

We interrupt this program to savor the day,
To grasp at the whispers where soft wishes play,
Look closely, dear wanderers, at the petals' embrace--
In the mundane's allure, we find magical space.

Snapshots of laughter unfurl in the light--
The way shadows dance when day kisses night,
Here lies our story, a tapestry spun,
Each thread woven tenderly--hearts beating as one.

A pause for the weary, the lost and the brave,
To breathe in the silence, to cradle the wave--
For life is the canvas, a palette of grace,
We interrupt this program to find our true place.

So rise, gentle spirits, to write your own script,
In the theater of moments, let not your heart slip,
Together we gather, our voices entwine--
In this brief interruption, let your light brightly shine.