I\u2019ve walked through shadows where love once lived,
Through halls echoing with laughter that\u2019s now just a whisper,
Fingers once intertwined, now just memories slipping through my grasp.
I\u2019ve been there\u2014
In the places where promises were made,
Where hearts were laid bare,
Where the walls were supposed to keep out the storms,
But ended up trapping the rain inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve built castles in the sand with the idea of love,
Watched them get washed away by waves of reality,
Leaving me stranded on shores of \u201cwhat could have been.\u201d
And now, every time love knocks,
I hesitate,
Holding the doorknob with sweaty palms,
Heart racing, but not from excitement,
From fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I crave it\u2014
The warmth, the connection, the feeling of being known,
Of being seen, truly seen,
Not just for my smile or the way I laugh at all the right jokes,
But for the way my heart stutters at the thought of being left behind,
For the way my mind races with doubts and insecurities,
For the way I build walls so high,
Not to keep love out,
But to see if anyone cares enough to climb over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I\u2019m scared\u2014
Scared that if I let someone in,
They\u2019ll find the cracks in my foundation,
The parts of me that are still healing,
The wounds that have scarred over but still ache on rainy days.
Scared that if I give my heart again,
It\u2019ll be too fragile,
Too bruised from past loves that promised forever
But left before the sun even set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I want love\u2014
I want it in all its messy, beautiful chaos,
In the late-night talks and the early-morning silences,
In the arguments that test us and the makeup that binds us.
I want to fall,
But I\u2019m scared of the landing,
Of the ground that rushes up to meet me,
Of the crash that comes when I least expect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve been here before,
Standing on the edge,
Looking down at the love that waits for me,
Arms wide open,
But my feet are glued to the ground,
Because I remember the times I jumped,
And how the landing broke me into pieces I\u2019m still trying to put back together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, I stand here,
Caught between craving and fear,
Between wanting to love with all I have,
And fearing I\u2019ll lose all I\u2019ve left.
I want to dive in,
To feel the rush of love coursing through my veins,
But I\u2019m scared my heart won\u2019t survive another plunge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, I wait\u2014
For a love that will see the fear in my eyes,
But still hold out their hand,
For someone who won\u2019t just climb my walls,
But help me tear them down,
Brick by brick,
Until we\u2019re standing in the open,
Vulnerable,
Yet unafraid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wait for the day my heart will say,
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, we\u2019re ready,\u201d
And I\u2019ll finally take that leap,
Not into the unknown,
But into the arms of someone who\u2019s ready to catch me,
Who\u2019s ready to love me,
Even with all my broken pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And until then,
I\u2019ll keep craving,
I\u2019ll keep fearing,
But I\u2019ll also keep hoping,
Because maybe, just maybe,
Love is waiting for me too,
Just as scared,
Just as ready,
To finally be found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walking shadow poetry Kenya.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I\u2019ve walked through shadows where love once lived,Through halls echoing with laughter that\u2019s now just a whisper,Fingers once intertwined, now just memories slipping through my grasp.I\u2019ve been there\u2014In the places where promises were made,Where hearts were laid bare,Where the walls were supposed to keep out the storms,But ended up trapping the rain inside. I\u2019ve built […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2423,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/cHJpdmF0ZS9zdGF0aWMvaW1hZ2Uvd2Vic2l0ZS8yMDIyLTA0L2xyL3B4ODgxMDM4LWltYWdlLWt3dnV1YnY2LmpwZw.webp?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2533,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/special-human-dad-of-the-year-poem\/","url_meta":{"origin":2422,"position":0},"title":"SPECIAL HUMAN, DAD OF THE YEAR POEM.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"August 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"From the very start, you\u2019ve been my guide,With you beside me, I\u2019ve never had to hide.Through every twist and every turn,Your love\u2019s a fire that continues to burn. When I was young and full of dreams,You cheered me on, or so it seems.In every step I took, every stumble and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"father and son hugging","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-4260097.jpeg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-4260097.jpeg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-4260097.jpeg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-4260097.jpeg?fit=801%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2718,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/i-am-more-than-this-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2422,"position":1},"title":"I Am More Than This by walking shadow poetry","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I never thought I\u2019d be here,In the shadows, filled with fear.The love I once knew turned cold,And now I feel I'm growing old. It didn\u2019t start with a heavy hand,Just words, control, and silent demands.Little by little, you tore me apart,Until I no longer knew my own heart. You said\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"human fist","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fist-blow-power-wrestling-163431.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fist-blow-power-wrestling-163431.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fist-blow-power-wrestling-163431.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fist-blow-power-wrestling-163431.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/fist-blow-power-wrestling-163431.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2489,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/the-distance-spoken-word\/","url_meta":{"origin":2422,"position":2},"title":"The Distance Spoken Word.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"August 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"We\u2019ve never met in person,But our words bridge the gap,A connection forged in messages,Where time seems to lapse. We talk about our days,The little things, the big,I\u2019ve learned the way you think,And the songs that make you sing. Your voice is just text on a screen,But it\u2019s music to my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"one black chess piece separated from red pawn chess pieces","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-1679618.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-1679618.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-1679618.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-1679618.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pexels-photo-1679618.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3238,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/when-they-only-call-you-when-they-need-you-thats-not-love\/","url_meta":{"origin":2422,"position":3},"title":"“When They Only Call You When They Need You, That\u2019s Not Love.”","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"April 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I used to think that giving was love.That showing up for everyone,Even when I was barely standing,Was a badge of honor. At first, it felt good.They smiled.They called me reliable, dependable, selfless.And yes, I believed them. But as time went on,I started noticing things,Subtle at first, but then loud enough\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "poem"","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2bdf2e09128dc2b2299f096909ad8689.jpg?fit=236%2C354&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2600,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/a-life-of-closed-doors\/","url_meta":{"origin":2422,"position":4},"title":"A Life of Closed Doors","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 7, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I grew up with the word \"No\"Echoing through my life like a broken song,Each time I tried to reach for something,The world reminded me I didn\u2019t belong. As a child, I learned how to hide my heart,Burying it beneath layers of quiet pain,Rejection wasn't just a moment, it was a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "POETRY"","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"diverse young men bullying crying ethnic lady","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-6147126.jpeg?fit=1200%2C779&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2798,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/embracing-me-by-walking-shadow-poetry-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":2422,"position":5},"title":"Embracing Me by walking shadow poetry.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"October 24, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I\u2019ve been scared for so long,Afraid of being alone,So I clung to friendshipsThat felt more like chains than home.In the name of company,I settled for less,In relationships that broke me,In bonds that caused stress. 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