3 Poems by Melyssa G. Sprott

Havoc


Dusk blossoming

from lonely seeds,


through gentle moonlight,

wandering roots thrive.


Stone-weighted soul,

withering at the bottom of the river—


the surface looks so calm.



Bloom

You love my petals and my stem,

but can’t see my roots or dark within.


My stretching leaves and twisting vine,

shielding me from what’s outside.


I hide my pain and petals torn—

I’ve been destroyed by my own thorns.


My pallor gives way to deeper hues,

like my thoughts turning to you.


I will stay here, as I will be—

growing wildly, but never free.



The Lot

Each leaf on the tree
every branch a trusted friend
I know this lot well

Every little squirrel
chipper morning companions
frolicking joyful

All of the creatures,
the trees, the leaves, the branches—
I belong right here


Bionote 

Melyssa G. Sprott was in born Pittsburgh and lives in Ashtabula Harbor of Northeastern Ohio, United States; she is a writer, artist, and award-winning photographer, using many different means and mediums of self-expression.

Melyssa had an early desire for writing, having begun composing poems and songs and spinning tales from before she was old enough to hold a pencil. Her mother would transcribe her words for her. This young love for poetry would grow into a burning wild fire. Poetry became a survival skill to get her through hardships and a reminder that when the world—or even home, wasn’t a safe place—she could escape to the comfort of her pens and notebooks.

Though known as a “dark poet,” or one whose subjects are generally more morose topics, her works should be viewed as more of a survival guide—if she can make it through the hard times, so can you. Creativity is catharsis.

She has written and published over 10,000 poems so far over the course of her life, in thirteen poetry collections and eleven children’s books in thirteen years, and has contributed to numerous collaborative short horror collections, and countless poetry anthologies.

She spent several years as senior moderator at one of the world’s largest online poetry forums as well as teaching poetry forms. She found it quite a privilege to help instruct others on some of the many forms of poetry, whether they had been novice or experienced poets, English speaking or from outside the United States. Other credits included: Co-Managing Editor and Staff Writer of the VoicesNet.com Literary Journal, Poet-in-Residence, and the VoicesNet Hall of Fame.

Physical art, cutting and manipulating paper and texture is a current favorite activity—especially regarding paper roses, woven paper art, and children’s book illustrating. When acting as photographer, she enjoys capturing flora, fauna, insects, architecture, nature, and anything else that might be of interest at that moment.

She is employed as an Administrative Assistant and the entire Art Department at a small non-profit. She and her family volunteer at a local food pantry every week and very much enjoy helping others.