71 Comments
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Mark Crutchfield's avatar

Andrea, this feels carefully held.

What stays with me is how you let survival arrive without spectacle. The restraint matters β€” the way you protect innocence while still naming what was taken. The emergence is quiet, bodily, and earned.

β€œForged in fire” could have tipped into clichΓ©, but here it doesn’t β€” because the poem stays with breath and presence rather than triumph, and you've done that so well.

Thank you for trusting this piece to be both gentle and strong at the same time.

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! I really appreciate it! HI hope you have a great day

Maria Matheou's avatar

You show exceptional restraint. A powerful poem.

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much Maria <3

Rafa Joseph's avatar

No pun intended?

Maria Matheou's avatar

πŸ˜… maybe it slipped

Casey Murphy's avatar

I really liked the opening in this:

"Here she is again today,

lonely in un-lonely ways."

Lonely in un-lonely ways. It's interesting and unique.

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much <3 This line is one of my favorites.

Una Rouquine's avatar

What a strong resilient voice, reflecting a fiery soul. Thank you for your heart dear AndreaπŸ’—πŸ’Œ

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much for reading and commenting <3

Una Rouquine's avatar

My pleasure !

Pae's avatar

This piece speaks volumes about resilience and the human spirit. The imagery of being "forged in fire; forged in flame" is incredibly powerful, capturing the pain of a past while celebrating the strength found in emergence. A beautiful and inspiring read! Andrea, I want you to know that you were, are and always will be brave πŸ’ͺ🏻πŸ₯Ή

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much for your insightful comments Pae! It means so much!

VedJournal βœοΈπŸ“œ's avatar

That's really a intense situational poem.

I really love how you depicted the girl's situation when she is bounded and her struggles too.

Thanks for sharing and keep writing πŸ’«

Just highlighting this part

She emerges from the coals.

Forged in fire; forged in flame;

She is found;

Unbound.

Β©2018 Andrea

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much for your comments and thank you for reading!

Stephanie Macisco's avatar

This is so lovely, which is so impressive with such heavy material. The words protect an innocence within the forge that really reaches in… and that is so powerful.

Thank you so much for sharing 🩡

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments Stephanie! <3 <3

Dorie Snow/ι›ͺ倚丽's avatar

Very well written. I very much like the way it flows. Each stanza works in tandem with the other.

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much for your awesome feedback Dorie! <3

Bradgamegym's avatar

Wow. I really felt this one. Vain not rhyming with anything in its stanza was particularly strong. Thanks for sharing.

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you for feedback! I think that vain line really acts as a break point. From there the emotion hangs in the air and acts as a strong pivot.

Shay Morgendorffer πŸ‘Ύ's avatar

πŸ’œπŸ’œπŸ’œ

Also, I'm the 100th lucky person to receive this powerful piece. Thank you for sharing.

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

That’s amazing! <3 <3

Rafa Joseph's avatar

Sounds like coming back to life! The rhymes and assonance hit hard, in a way the voiceover can't do justice to. "A lien against her innocence" is a clever way indeed to describe what she is breaking free from. Kudos!

Hannah Torkelson's avatar

Andrea, you are my favorite poet! 🩷

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️❀️

Silent Words with Cynthia Wong's avatar

HI Andrea! So painful and so beautiful at the same time. Felt accessible. Thank you.

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much for your comments <3

Silent Words with Cynthia Wong's avatar

of course!

Fiona Bridges's avatar

Thank you for sharing this Andrea!

Lani Nieu's avatar

Beautiful, and very suited to the Year of the Fire Horse <3

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you so much Lani!

Lady Mad's avatar

I love the rhyme scheme and form!

Andrea (Andy) Curran πŸŒ„'s avatar

Thank you for reading and enjoying!