89 Comments
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Sara da Encarnação's avatar

For The Stranger:

Your words did not arrive.

They opened.

They carried ash in their pockets

and light in their teeth.

I read them slowly,

as one touches old scars

to remember where the fire once lived.

If my work is a shelter,

yours is the door

that reminds us we were never alone

outside the storm.

Thank you for the flame.

I will keep it breathing.

*Sara da Encarnação*

The stranger's avatar

Okay don't make a stranger cry on the street alone 😭😭 thank you ❤️♥️♥️

Sara da Encarnação's avatar

Thank you for being here 🤍

Una Rouquine's avatar

That one time the poets became the muse!!🤧

I’m so touched my emotions are spilling from eyes, if only I could carve out my heart and put it between your hands to show you my gratitude. I wasn’t expecting such words, such poetical grace! This is so gorgeously written, so beautifully done, so sublime ! The amount of efffort and thought you’ve put into this is incredible. I sincerely thank you for your unique presence, I feel so gently seen and appreciated. Seeing how the poem reflects perfectly my world feels like you uncovered all the mysteries of my words. Stranger you are such a wonderful person, connecting with you was delightful, your artistry and kindness shined through these lines so majestically. You are a gift to the community, to us. I am so grateful for you my dear, you made my soul dance to the rhythm of your brilliant poetry. Thank you💌❣️

The stranger's avatar

Omg, your comment brought me so much joy, especially as I am going through difficult times. I am really glad this humble poem rose to your high level. From the deepest bits of my heart, I thank you and appreciate you. You are the muse of the muse! You deserve all that and more. I feel the same towards you. I'm glad we connected in this humble space.

Thank you!

Side note: both you and @lishyx used the word "muse", clearly youre sisters <3

Una Rouquine's avatar

Oh I am so sorry to hear this, I wish you kinder seas from now on. This shows how big of a heart you’ve got, giving to others when you should be the one receiving. I see you, I feel you, and I appreciate you. So much respect and love to you.

Ps: We are one big happy family🤭

The stranger's avatar

The storm will pass, sis. And such beautiful words from you can lift me up high <3

Una Rouquine's avatar

I truly hope so💌

Una Rouquine's avatar

I’m seeing so many members of Mayhem, this makes me so happy ! Hey everyone🙌 The Stranger painted you all at your best image, he’s one kind of artist🤌✨

The stranger's avatar

They all deserve this and more.

I wish I had the time and energy to dedicate poems to my lovely family of subscribers. And I will :)

Una Rouquine's avatar

This is such a brilliant idea and such a kind gesture to do💌

The stranger's avatar

Thank you alot darling :)

B Philippe's avatar

It’s such a lovely collection 😍 beautifully written

The stranger's avatar

Thank you B ♥️ appreciate you always 🙏🏾

Andrea 🌄's avatar

This is a fun compilation! I love carrying each others words as torches!

The stranger's avatar

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Echoes From The Fire's avatar

Grateful for your tribute and your work. Thank you.

The stranger's avatar

You’re always welcome!

The Girl Who Caught Up ♡'s avatar

Love this poetry collection!!! So many of my wonderful substacker friends are on here 🫶🫶🫶 Thank you again for your beautiful words and such thoughtfulness 🫶

The stranger's avatar

💙💙💙

Gary L Taylor's avatar

This is a wonderful piece and I love what you did here with it. Beautifully done. I appreciate being included here.

The stranger's avatar

Thank you Gary, justed to let how I appreciate you being here 💙🙏🏾

Gary L Taylor's avatar

Thank you. It was a really nice thing to do and it means a lot.

Fiona Bridges's avatar

I didn't know most of the writers on here towards the end. I subbed them all. This is probably one of the coolest things I've ever seen on Substack. Your words are so beautiful. I hope your out here winning all sorts of awards for your poetry.

The stranger's avatar

Thank you Fiona ❤️ your presence and the others is the biggest reward I could wish for ❤️‍🔥

Regolith's avatar

You are so wonderful Stranger 🫶🏽

The one person who understood the word Regolith 😉

You are a talented writer and have quickly become a little brother to me. Talking to you and talking things through with you honestly makes life feel that much lighter. Grateful to have connected with my brother from another mother.

The stranger's avatar

You're the wonderful one Regolith ❤️‍🔥

Christy's avatar

I'd totally collab with you guys!

The stranger's avatar

Appreciate you

Christy's avatar

Keep on keeping on

The stranger's avatar

Loved this motto 👌🏾

A Writer’s Voice's avatar

Thank you so much for your dedication! Your poetry is wonderful. And I appreciate your kind words! You are awesome!

The stranger's avatar

You're welcome Chris ❤️ thank you alot for your kind words appreciate it 💕

Aham Bharatham's avatar

Woww, this reads like a gathering, not a collection.

Each poem feels less like display and more like offering, voices meeting without trying to outshine one another. There’s a shared humility here, a sense that writing is not conquest but listening, not performance but remembrance.

As Aham Bharatham, this resonates deeply. Creation as gratitude. Language as a place where many breaths pass through and none are owned. What you’ve held open here is rare: a room where words arrive wounded, luminous, unfinished, and are allowed to stay.

The stranger's avatar

Such a beautiful praise and reflection. Gratitude is the key 🙏🏾

Wildwood Writer's avatar

Beautifully penned 🩶

The stranger's avatar

Thank you 😊

All the muses around here made this happen ❤️‍🔥

Wildwood Writer's avatar

🩶

Aaliya's avatar

I am deeply moved and almost emotional by your beautiful words.

Memories passed by in flashbacks and this time they didn’t hurt, but I felt a strange comfort of being held and not alone.

You have so beautifully captured the core essence of who I am and want to be and why I am here.

You see me through, your words paint my soul with soft strokes of gentle words.

I am reading this, speechless and deeply moved.

Thank you for this great honor, your heart shines, you are a brightening light in this beautiful corner.

You never fail to enlighten my friend. Your heart shines like gold ♥️🙏🏼

The stranger's avatar

Im glad that my words had eased the pain of bad memories. This brings so much delight to me that knowing someone I care about is more in peace ❤️

Your presence here carved a beautiful place in my heart and soul habibti ❤️ I just wrote what my intuition felt. I'm in tears from your kind and genuine words 💙

The kind of beautiful way of articulating your written work and personally the deep sitting with my work and paying attention to it soothes my soul. To the extent that now just seeing your name in the screen puts a smile in my face, and I feel a cool breeze going my way, saying that everythings going to be alright.

You're also a bright light in a shadow corner, bless you my dearest

And know always that you have a friend, a companion in me. I will forever cherish your existence and even if destiny decided to make us go seperate paths, know that I will always remember you, fir your fingerprint in our community is eternal

ربنا يحفظك، علياء 🫶🏾

The stranger's avatar

I'm in tears reading your kind words 😭

Thank you for saying this🫶🏾

I can't reply to this now, it's difficult for me to write when I get this emotional ❤️

imi's avatar
Feb 16Edited

In a world full of nameless strangers,

The Stranger became someone I came to know

and grew very fond of.

You write from the heart,

with a piercing presence

that settles into each word you offer.

You are no stranger to me.

I came to know you by heart.

This week was a tough one.

I found myself questioning everything,

caught in an existential spiral

that kept circling back

to the same ache

of not being chosen.

Yet your words reminded me who I am.

They reminded me who my people are.

And those people mean the world to me.

The Stranger gave the world to me.

You are a kind soul

that brushes the skin

like a gentle wind warmed by the sun.

Sharp like an owl’s gaze,

able to see through the dark

and make it feel less heavy.

After long days in the world outside,

you feel like coming home.

You are one of my truest friends.

It takes a lot to leave me speechless,

yet you did.

And that rarely happens.

You say I make you feel seen.

I say beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

I simply point toward something

and offer my presence.

Thank you for taking my hand

and walking this journey with me.

I see you.

And I carry so much appreciation in my heart for you.

My wish is that you see yourself

through my lens too.

You are enough.

Thank you for being you. 💌

Terod Naej's avatar

Thank you for trusting each other🔥🔥🔥

The stranger's avatar

These poems I wrote just to show that a community is build by our arms together 🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Robert's avatar

Your pilot name as The Stranger brings a smile to my mind. Sara has mentioned and introduced me to her group and I am touched by their feedback. I wanted to introduce myself here and give you two reflections:

I dont see a stranger here. I see such an endearing soul that can make friends so effortlessly. I can see why they see you as a brother.

For saying pilot, you fly into the hearts of men and women with such sensitively and compassion. People love you back as a thank you. As a community they watch your back as I have started today. You need anything brother. Just ask me