One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise.

Shadow Infested Room

Himani Goel

Closing the door on the shadow infested room?

I say no

I pull the curtains open.

Shaky hands

Windows stuck

Strain harder

pushed open with a rattle

Sudden breeze

hair swept away

Curtains blown

The wind takes the lead to start a dance with the mossy curtains

Up they fly

saying hello to the

particles

sparkling like pixie dust

a magic in new ray of shine

The wind pulls back with a whisper

the curtains flow down

caught

in a thorn,

grown unknown

between the floorboards

the dance turns into a tug of war

tug tug, oh the struggle

the wind wins,

thorn rips

wind tries to dance again

but the mark left the curtains fluttering

broken, healing

Wind settles down

the curtains rest.

Pitter patter

near my toes

up I look

the ceiling leaks

I let it pour.

Wet floor

Hidden tears

Taken first steps to wash away the sorrows past

Wish to forget the shadows cast

More from Himani Goel ↓

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Write After with One Poem Only

Write After is a way to encourage poets to listen and write, and use National Poetry Month to highlight how listening to poetry makes us better poets. I know I write the best when I’m surrounded by beautiful poetry–it’s part of the reason I created this podcast, and I want to encourage others to share this practice. If you want to join: Listen to a poem from the month of April on One Poem Only, then write your own in response. I will pick one for each day to read in June for a special series: One Poem After 🍎🍏 Submissions close May 15.

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