Tres K. Gould

Every poet who shows up for Battle honors the holiness of words, reminding us that writing, at its core, is a sacred act.

The following Voice of Valo(U)r finalists carried each syllable with reverence, be it for love, for struggle, or for truth itself ⬇️

freeonlinesurveys.com/s/nvbB6U98

From the stars we came, to them we shall return again 💛✨

Cosmic Gem

Each star beyond man's eye
Survives in blessěd obscurity
Still safe from discovery
Unlabeled, unclaimed,
unconquered, unshamed
#Sacred in its own image
And free to exist without
A wonder sullied by humanity.

#BornBattleReady
#poetry

My Scars Are Sacred …and my wounds are holy Image courtesy of Adobe Stock My scars are sacred and my wounds are holy carved deep within my skin I still carry them everywhere the proof of my survival we all have …

#BornBattleReady Link to poem on my website; text in first comment for those who prefer not to use the link:
annieb222.com/2025/10/04/m...

I carry a "picture in my pocket",
of my life, experiences, and memories.
Securely cradled in the
poetic repository of my
heart and consciousness,
it portrays the vivid tale
of my journey.
Within this sacred space,
your narrative finds its dwelling too.

#BornBattleReady #prompt #sacred #amwriting

a man and a woman are holding cups of coffee ALT: a man and a woman are holding cups of coffee

There was a time, not too long ago, that coffee was the only thing getting me to the next morning ☕️💛

I designed the background in Canva (no AI) to be dark brown with coffee beans and a white steaming mug of coffee at the bottom of the image (stock photo). The graphic is much longer than it is wide. The text in the foreground is plain and white, other than the title, the word 'coffee', and the line 'but one ritual remains entwined', which are in a scrawled font that resembles chalk. The title has what looks at first glance like a brown shadow, but it has different text. The text reads: Something Sacred Survived (Shadow text reads: Coffee helps me survive) Life plans collapsed when health abruptly lapsed Had pined for vacation not full hibernation Appointments, injections, and painful subjections - Devoting days to healing is completely unappealing Dejected dependence unseats independence Beloved ambition seems mere apparition Though new pleasures discovered until I'm properly recovered My existence is redefined but one ritual remains entwined Sacred in solitude with memories imbued Each sip takes me back to the life I now lack Advancing my education Concealing inebriation And for every occupation arming me with motivation Sunrise sparks anticipation for routine caffeine fixation My tenebrous searing saviour teeming with warm blanket flavour My morning mug reminds me life may not be all behind me Silently, each sip I savour... is much more than flavour By Fiery Sun Song Fluxofmind.ca

SOMETHING SACRED SURVIVED:

Life plans collapsed when health abruptly lapsed...

(Click to see full graphic).

#BornBattleReady #Poetry #Rhyme #Sacred #Coffee #Disability #ChronicIllness #Loss

Your vulnerability is not lacking in courage, that’s for damn sure! 🔥💛

Nothing is sacred anymore,
everything is fair game
all my deepest pains
and secrets are yours
to torture and maim-
so use them to your
advantage!
win every battle!
but you will lose
this war-

#bornbattleready #poetry

Sacred memories
Silver bits
In an unsavory past
Clung onto like
A favorite guitar riff
Standing out like
Flickers of gold
That which made me bold
And as I grow old
Those silver linings
Are always what
Stands out
What gets me through
Silver, gold
Never old

#BornBattleReady

A black-and-white picture of flat rock in the shade next to other rocks, seen from an almost level position. © Stefanie Neumann - #KBFPhotography

SANCTUARY There was a time when I could relax into my sacred space A sanctuary all my own to be in ease and grace I shared it once it was beautiful like coming home times two That was before the grave shift before the desecration before sacred was turned to scared How to heal from such a rift I do not have a clue But I do one step one breath one iota at a time © Stefanie Neumann - @KokopelliBFree

My contribution to this week's #BornBattleReady ( #sacred ) & #BlueSkyArtShow ( #relax )

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#WritingCommunity #poetry
#KBFPhotography #MobilePhonePhotography #Photography #monochrome

⬇️

from font to blessing from muse to scribe you do not simply inspire me a sacred act flows through me as i bind you in verse and oh how i yearn to do your grace justice and oh how i yearn to make your resplendent soul glow and oh how i yearn to make you feel thirsted for and oh how i yearn to make those lips and those eyes smile and even in the profanity of conjuring thoughts of you pale skin midnight lace sighs of contentment sighs of ecstasy i am still driven by a higher need i can't make anymore beautiful than you already are to any eyes but your own but oh how i yearn to make you art

#BornBattleReady

#BornBattleReady #Poetry #Sacred @thepoetryarena.bsky.social

Sacred sugar rush mountain
In haze I eagerly climb
Feed my lust with your fountain
In my rush I feel so high

Morning cravings my delight
Thirst in a hunger raises doubt
Walls are built in fight
Need this drug to ease my flight

Sacred feelings they float home
When all is forgiven laid on my crown

#BornBattleReady #sacred #Poem #Poetry #PoetryCommunity #WritingCommunity #Ghost
The Ghost Merchants

profanations @vanres74

the journey was to revisit
the museum of barroque
and sacred art

so un
time
ly

however
the view of street sign
redirects to Other's route

a desired mismatch
with,,,

continue:
vanres1974.blogspot.com/2024/12/02e0...

or the image

@The_PoetryArena
#bornbattleready

a woman is applauding while sitting in a stadium . ALT: a woman is applauding while sitting in a stadium .

💯💛✨

Some sacred things live between the pauses in the hush before dawn or in the tremble of a voice when everything is broken no scripture taught me this but that brief moment when I looked in the mirror and for once, I didn’t flinch the acceptance of my own breaking the choice to love again call it divine, call it grace call it the soul remembering itself for not all sacred things rise some simply endure without any explanation and that too, is holy © Ann Bagnall

#BornBattleReady

Congratulations, @alicnwondland.bsky.social! You were selected to be this week’s Voice Of Valo(U)r 👑

Our next #BornBattleReady prompt word is: SACRED

Do not post your #poetry here. Battle will commence Friday at 9am EST.

The only rule is to aim for the heart — and don’t miss! 🖤⚔️🤍

Don't just be thankful for what's been given, but for the chance to give back!

When we act with courageous compassion, we leave the world brighter than we found it.

Carry your gratitude forward in action, for gratitude that moves inspires positive change 🙏

#ThankfulThursday

You guys don’t still do this?

I shook the boss’ hand after beating his balls black and blue to get him down to the preferred price point.

The salesgirl, astonished, said I was amazing in there. “That’s BDE”, I replied with a slight smile and a side-eyed wink.

Women belong in the driver’s seat.

#poetry

I’ve got a lot going on at the moment.

Now, more than ever, this world needs the guardians of generational light to step forward.

From shields of love to swords of truth, these Voice of Valo(U)r finalists reminded us what kind of courage it takes to shine through darkness ⬇️

freeonlinesurveys.com/s/PYJGmLXq

The Guardians …of my weary soul Image courtesy of Adobe Stock Your eyes were dark and veiledand your silence spoke volumes to meas you took your final breathand vanished, into the ethers of timenow alone, …

#BornBattleReady Link to poem on my website:
annieb222.com/2025/09/26/l...
Text in first comment for those who prefer not to use the link

Guide my spirit
Under wicked skies
Above my will to be
Readying to flee
Disgraced by memories
Insanity rumbles like thunder
Anger does it's lightning strike
Never giving in again

#BornBattleReady

A black-and-white picture of a bare, twisted oak tree at the end of a misty path with a person walking by next to it. © Stefanie Neumann - #KBFPhotography

GUARDIAN The road is shrouded, the view obscured The world no longer seems the same Do I let myself get lost Will I give way to paths Unseen, yet present Transitory Yet profound I walk On © Stefanie Neumann - @KokopelliBFree

Guardian

My contribution to this week's #BornBattleReady ( #guardian ) & #BlueSkyArtShow ( #TheRoad ).

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#WritingCommunity #poetry #nonet
#KBFPhotography #DSLR #Nikon #Photography

#BornBattleReady #guardian #Poem #Poetry #PoetryCommunity #WritingCommunity #Sonnet
If Fools Wrote Love Songs

It wasn’t the presence of a guardian,
It was an inner voice,
#Sonorous, but crackling too,
Like a slab of scorched meat
Stretched across a burning wheel.

DEMONIC ACROBATICS

Based on an experience as a young boy.

#vss365 #BornBattleReady

I turn to my right
I turn to my left
I see no beacon
No lighthouse

My shoulders empty hang
Darkness became my horizon
Tho’ there be a speck o’light
My #guardian
Out of the shadows

Into my chest I look
I see my heart glow
In my ribcage be their home

#BornBattleReady