These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

A Very Shaking

This tremor came at very night anon.
My core, it shook. "I pray thee, thus begone."

"Whence 'mid my bliss did this white terror kiss,
corrupting peace to see my soul amiss?"

Such vicious dream to spy thy blade a-gleam,
above my trembling soul doth fully seem.

The cliff begins to shake as Earth to quake.
Great crack upon my rock this life to take.

As fall through air no bottom may be known.
The time of hope hath lately all now flown.

The blade, the cliff, such tremor all now gone.
My life, one piece, my bed I lie upon.

But trembling shakes my room as vainly wake.
The marriage of my hopes and life at stake.

Is tremor real or 'magination rent?
How dost thee feel with unknown to thee sent?

I breathe me slow to find the heart I chase.
Experience grows, rest upon Thy Grace.

Thus, tremor, real or no, thy heart hath taught.
The feeling's all the same the body bought.

line count: 20
poetry form: iambic pentameter couplets
prompt number: 20 (February 20th, 2026)

by Jay O’Toole
on February 20th, 2026