Author: toridreamer

Into the mirror I stare
Craving confirmation I’m still here…
There?

In my loudest inside voice I say
I SEE YOU!!

I fear this voice I use,
Even when delivered at an ear piercing decibel,
Sounds like a mere whisper to others

However, if I’m not really here
Then it’s easy to understand
Perhaps trapped in a simulation

The avoidance
The over talk
The lack of recognition of this single being
This person who gives and tries
Works and cries
Shows up
Shuts up
And somehow goes back for more…
Or rather, to give more

This voice…
So loud in the head
Loud in the heart
Loud in the gut
Does it disappear once off the lips?
Or does it survive right up until
the ear door is slammed in its face?

Not much is needed really
No grand celebration required
Just a laugh
A nod
A word or two
Something that recognizes one’s existence 
Something other
than another ask
Another task
Another sigh

Just something to prove that reflection is real

Tori Burris Inkley
7/1/25

Teetering on the edge…
Of where?
Beware
No care
Deep despair
Caught in the lair
Of the great brown bear
Golden hair
Red atop
Will not stop
First flip
Then flop
Across the barren crop
Fields
No yields
He wields 
That mighty pen…
Has been
Double chin
Flag pin 
Twisted grin
No fear
They cheer
You steer
Unclear
Under a year

Is it flight
Or fright
Or fight
That will right
The sight
Of those who bow
To the golden cow
Kiss the hand
On demand
Wear the cross
Hug the flag
Mistake for humble
Those who brag

Choices
Voices
Meant to be used
Not abused
Sit confused

Breathe it in
Hold it there
Burns the lungs
Stings the nose
Breathe it out
Let it go
Calms the tongue
Stills the woes

Tori Burris Inkley
5/31/25

In a minute
We’re all in it
Black and white
Dark as night
Screaming loudly
Packing proudly
We want control
of this black hole

They come for them
They come for us
Fill a plane
or fill a bus
Got no time to discuss
There is no THEY
There’s only US

Can’t you see
Safe is gone
Was a joke 
All along
Shut your door
Try to lock it
All that matters
is your pocket

Priorities crooked
Morals bent
Think of all 
the dollars spent
Neither bad guys
Nor the good
Have ever
truly understood
That equality is determined
by the aging wealthy vermin

Hands up if you disagree
Or shrink away, silently
But we know
You know it’s true
And you pray it won’t be you
They come for next…

Tori Burris Inkley

3/23/25

Fight
or flight
Lift up the light
The power comes
not from might

But those who care
for another’s plight
will always fall
on the side of right

On the side of good
We understood
What others should
What others could… not

Every woman, man, child
heard the call of the wild
No attempt to be mild
Purportedly self-styled

“The evil within”
Spoken with a grin
as he plots his next sin
under the guise of a win…

Hatred 
and slurs
Until bad and worst blur
The country pot stirs…
and it stirs…
and it stirs…

Stay strong
You belong
Choose right over wrong
The road will be long
“Forward”… our song

Speak peace
Teach peace
Breathe peace
Stay peace-ful

Hard indeed
Time of need
Different breed
Godspeed…

Tori Burris Inkley
11/9/24

Is it
Sacrifice or salvation
That’s ruining our nation
Choosing one over another
Pitting sister against brother

Skin toning
Hate cloning
Too much pride to reside
Next to those who won’t hide

Want love
Look above
Want hate
Pick a state

We all choose
Our own shoes
Never looking within
Never seeing the friend
That could be

Out of touch with those
Living in tattered clothes
Sporting the red
Because he said
Marching the street
On tired feet

Who are you
Where are you
Full of lies
Open eyes
Helping hand
What’s your stand

And in the end
What will win
Holy pages
Rally stages
Others’ rights
Wealthy sights

Money is money is money
Unless you don’t have it
But if you’ve got it
You can grab it
Boast about your
Nasty habits
While the forgotten die
And the wealthy ride high

Our children are shot
As if part of a plot
To convince certain groups
To call in the troops
To tame those whose voices
Cry out for the choices
That should be given freely
While all we want really
Is compassion and fairness
And yes, an awareness
Of those on the edge
Of the proverbial ledge 

Think fast
Will you choose 
To be part of the ruse
Will you whitewash our planet
Carve idols in granite
Or see all the people
Beyond that grand steeple
No different than you
Neither red, nor blue
Think fast
What’ll you do?

Tori Burris Inkley
6/26/24

“Old as the hills”
or so they say,
the Tremble Tree stands.
Upright and proud,
at least at first glance
Branch arms stretched down
Lacey fingers gently brushing the ground 
Ready to envelope the next
Passerby in need of Her embrace

Unlike the sad story of the tree 
that gave everything,
even life,
Old Tremble Tree never gives,
only takes.
She absorbs the sadness,
the tears,
the trembles,
and fears

Now Tremble has witnessed generations
come and go.
Very different each,
yet much the same.
In my youth
I rested against Her trunk.
Tears streaming,
words lost.
She wrapped me in those wooden arms
and held tight until
I could breathe again.
When the tears poured
and the cries rose
and the trembles took over,
She was there.

Nothing beautiful to
look at really.
No flowers
No fruit
No birds nesting high.
Old Tremble knows her purpose,
knows Her place.
But only those in Her care
know Her value.

She asks no questions
when one pours out her heart,
Or husband speaks of dying wife,
Or young man begs for
relief from his demons.
She listens as stories are told,
very few with moments of joy,
and She bends even closer to
those below
and She takes.

Left at Her feet are the sorrows,
The sadness,
The loss,
and the tears.
Travelers in life come to
trust Her.
They’ve seen Her power
Her strength to hold more than
Her share.
No magic tricks,
No wizardry,
Just roots planted firmly,
Arms outstretched,
and open…
Waiting until
She’s needed.

Once She’s taken and
the travelers are on their way,
again She stands upright,
appearing strong… to most.
Waiting for the next story,
The next heartbreak,
The next uncontrollable tearfall.
They speak of Her strength,
Her ability to withstand much pain
and sorrow,
Her ability to weather all storms,
real or imagined.
But if one watches closely
Over time
You will see.

For Old Tremble Tree,
even with roots long and wide,
is only that…
A tree.
She grew as high as
She could,
Stands as tall as
She can,
and holds as much as
Her body will allow.
And if you’re watching
during the next storm…
As the rain pours down,
She cries for those crying.
As the winds whip 
Through the countryside,
She trembles for those trembling.
And if the burdens are too great,
She breaks for those broken.

Will you be watching?
Will you notice?

Tori Burris Inkley
5/19/24

creeping through the window
he knew that
he didn’t belong
he didn’t deserve
all that he witnessed
knocking over plants of peace
heirlooms passed from
grandmother to
mother to
daughter
these held no meaning for him
so their destruction
came and went
with no remorse
no second thoughts
no haunting emotion

he was above that…
or so he thought

once inside
his step was neither gentle nor
light, neither cautious
nor with empathy
instead he marched
steadfastly
without care
without knowledge 
without sensitivity 
or understanding
destroying that
which wasn’t his
pushing aside that
which didn’t serve him
stomping out that
which others held dear

these had no purpose…
or so he thought

he proclaimed
to no one
yet everyone
that this moment was his
his actions
above all others
his glorious destruction
that would claim the innocence
the safety
the hours and hours of 
thoughtful attention 
others must now right his wrongs
put the pieces back together
reclaim the safety
but never the innocence

his actions were just…
or so he thought

he departed almost
as quickly as he had entered
leaving memories
and beliefs
and items
so precious
they were invisible
to his blind eyes
he no longer crept
nor did he march
instead his gait
was one of unearned pride
for he had accomplished his mission
had upended his target
had done his damage

he had earned respect…
or so he thought

Tori Burris Inkley
5/17/24

Here it is, and I’m
indifferent, I suppose
A little sad maybe
but relieved

I saw it coming
a month ago
maybe more
Already thinking ahead

And now I sit
struggling with words
Thoughts flitting
about my head

Should I be brief
or does this call for more?
It’s the end of the day
and I’m tired

As I look back
I smile
My work was good
At least I think so

My mind wanders again
I’ve gotten good at that
And I remember fondly
The beginning…

Tori Burris Inkley
4/30/24

did you believe

… all poems must rhyme?
… there’s plenty of time?
… life is a breeze?
… you’re here to please?
… men will fight fair?
… everyone will share?
… there’s only one way?
… it’s bad to go gray?
… good guys will win?
… girls must be thin?
… right will beat wrong?
… you must stay strong?
… cursing is bad?
… you must never be sad?

I sit and ponder
Let my mind wander
Maybe venture a guess
For a minute… or less
Yes, beliefs can change
For some, that’s strange
When presented with facts
We can’t remain lax
So, again I will ask…

Until when did you believe…?

Tori Burris Inkley
4/29/24