Check Mate

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Check Mate by Valerie Parente

These men have checkered pasts
so these women have to play chess
strategic in who they let in their space
using gut feelings, but from the chest.

A queen maneuvering across the world
going up, down, right and left
so much power in her movements
yet they still call her second best.

And when it’s time to choose a mate
she must do more than glance or check
because it’s not just a game at the end of the day
and sliding away is better than cornered to death.

– Valerie Parente (7-2-2025)


Value

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Value by Valerie Parente

People should not be worshipped…
but ideas, stories, art
should be.
Separating the art from the artist
is an act of necessity.

Two things can be true:
A creators can go against your values
but their creations can have value to you.
Where you draw that line
between the artist and the muse
you and only you
are the one who gets to choose.

– Valerie Parente (6-30-2025)

Blood Diamonds

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Blood Diamonds by Valerie Parente

They all look so glamorous,
the diamond encrusted
but if you knew how they got there
you’d be disgusted
mined by the egos
primed for corruption
and we are the fools
with the naive assumption
that idols larger than life
will be well adjusted
but how can you know wrong from right
without a moral compass
how dare you call for peace
when you’re drowning in conflict.

Call it what it is
a network of blood diamonds
but you can’t see the blood on their hands
when the sparkles are so blinding.

Maybe one day we’ll learn
not to idolize the elites
dressed too fancy for practice
befit to only preach.

Night Terrors

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Night Terrors by Valerie Parente

You only feel afraid
in the nighttime
when the darkness spreads
across your eyes
but you may be mistaken
in your nightly fright
because without this contrast
you would not recognize the light.

The stars
the moon
the planets
the sky.
Rest assured
that you can rest tonight.
You should be anything
but terrified.

– Valerie Parente (6-26-2025)

One Woman

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One Woman
by Valerie Parente

One woman’s empowerment
is another woman’s degradation
and if you’re wondering who gets to decide
the answer is one woman,
one woman at a time.

– Valerie Parente (6-23-2025)

Trigger

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Trigger by Valerie Parente

How many people
roam around the world
trying not to be triggered
because the everyday man in the everyday trance
doesn’t understand
that the recovery phase
isn’t the same as unfazed.

It creeps up on you
these triggers
in the middle of a good day with a smile on your face
but you’re not okay
and the others don’t have a clue
that there’s a weapon inside of you
in the shape of a thought
waiting to be set off.

Therein lies the trickiness
of mental illness;
it’s invisible to everyone else
so we never know when we trigger it.

But there’s a beauty in you
that should be mentioned;
that you don’t go around the world
being unaffected.

Your triggers make you human
through and through
because what is a flawless mind
but a lesser version of me and you.

– Valerie Parente (6-22-2025)

What A Pretty Hill To Die On

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What A Pretty Hill To Die On
by Valerie Parente

What a pretty hill that is
you chose to die on
climbed all that way
just to watch your town burn
took so much commitment
and sold your soul
using your last breaths
to cough up smoke.

Tell me, was the grass greener
on the other side?
Were you happier
being part of the lie?
Did you die as you lived,
succumbing to hate?
Did you use your influence
to fan the flames?

No that’s not a pretty hill
you chose as your cemetery
beneath the surface
you were once exemplary
but you used your good fortune
to cash into the institute
that never would have thought
to die for pretty little you.

– Valerie Parente (6-15-2025)

Everything Becomes Art

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Everything Becomes Art by Valerie Parente

Everything she touches
turns to art.
Every challenge
a writing prompt.
Every dream
a metaphor.
Every breath
a lesson learned.

– Valerie Parente (6-14-2025)

Rhyme & Reason

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Rhyme & Reason by Valerie Parente

I give the world meaning
applying rhyme and reason
because I can’t bring myself to believe in
thoughts without feelings.

For it all to be worth it
I write it down in verses
externalizing the imperfect
into patterns on the surface.

When I break down the rhythm
like flashing colors in a prism
the nonsensical drivel
starts to sound like wisdom.

I give the world depth
making beauty from the mess.
What is creation if not a breath?
To wipe away the fear of death.

– Valerie Parente (6–12-2025)

Voices

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Voices by Valerie Parente

Your mind was still your mind
when you were too young for words.
You were someone before you could define
anything in this world.
That’s how I know when your thoughts are unkind
it is something separate that creates the hurt.
You are the thing behind
the whispers that float forth.

You are not the voices in your head,
you are the choices you make
after hearing them.

– Valerie Parente (6-10-2025)