Instructions for Feeling Small on Purpose
for the "Instructions for a feeling" challenge
When life grows tall as walls around you,
your thoughts pace, trapped and stone-heavy—
come with me.
.
Take my hands,
and follow me
into the lands of silken grass.
.
I'll show you how to become small.
.
This exercise requires night,
all artificial world left behind.
.
Lay beside me,
let the dew trickle down your back.
.
Look up at the cosmic lights,
older than the lives around.
Some already gone but still arriving—
Fossils of fire.
.
The stars tremble for those
who dare remove their names,
and arrive without titles
where time itself comes late.
.
Come—
Count the lights until your eyes fail.
Measure your worry in light-years.
Where's your deadline in the sky?
.
Our faults are thick, thicker than blood,
but never thicker than the Milky Way.
.
The universe does not need panic.
It does not hurry or judge.
It was busy before language.
.
Let your heart beat louder than distance,
stay until eras fill the hours,
until you feel small as dust
slipping through fingers.
.
The sky might not be lit at night,
rain might interrupt the lesson.
Do not worry, sister dear—
the stars still work for you remotely.
.
And when you rise
there will be grass stuck on your neck,
cold air in your lungs,
and enough space inside you
to walk away.
.
Come, sister — I’ll take your hand.
About the Creator
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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Comments (31)
Back to say Congrats!!! It had winner written all over it! 🤩
Congrats mate! Really well deserved win!!!!
Such a peaceful escape. The introvert in me is totally convinced and transported. Congratulations on your win! 🥰
This made me feel small in the most beautiful way 💕 Congratulations!
Beautiful, and I needed that last stanza.💖
Thank you so much for everyone ❤️I never know what's going to win - when I think I wrote a masterpiece often the reaction is crickets, while others I consider not to submit often end up winning prizes... who knows what does best. With this one, I thought the idea was on the good line but I didn't find it half as good as it was in my head. But that's the thing with words... they usually fail to justice to the feelings and thoughts inside us.
Congratulations - the poem is deserving a win! I love how you connect the very small individual to the universe in such a fanciful manner as a dream come true.
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
What a great voice you have. Soft language, beautifully wrought. Such a well-deserved win. Congratulations.
Truly an outstanding piece! Congratulations!
Congratulations, Imola! Coming back to read when my head is clear.🍾🥂💖
Back to congratulate you AGAIN!! Way to go!! 😃😃
My heart still yearns to do that after reading your poem. What a release that is! Heart beyond any sentiment and simply beautiful Imola. Congratulations on your win!
Returning, Imola, to congratulate you on your win❣🌹
Yay fucking yay. Proud and pleased my friend. Congrats on your win!
Exquisite poetry, Imola; congratulations on your leadershipboard placement ❣ So many quotable lines, but this part really drew me in: "The stars tremble for those who dare remove their names, and arrive without titles where time itself comes late." 💖
💙💗💗 .💗💗.💗💗💗 💙💗🌹 LOVE🌹💛💗 💙❤🌹 THIS 🌹💛💗 💙💗🌹 LOVE🌹💛💗 💚💚💚 .💗💚 💚💚💛
Wooohooooo congratulations on your Leaderboard placement! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Filled to the brim with wisdom. Beautiful.✨🌌
This is beautiful, Imola. Congrats!
I love this! It felt so peaceful to read :-)
I loved this!! It's such a strong entry. The tone and voice in this are gorgeous and your descriptions are top shelf! It's soft in a way that lingers. Great poem!
So peaceful and full of truth :) loved this
Beautiful
Oooo, my favourite was the universe being busy before language. Loved your poem!