By @RWhiteAuthor
Today’s prompt was to try writing a ghazal, a traditional poetic form often used for love poems. Each couplet must stand on its own while repeating a refrain—and in true ghazal style, the poet includes their name in the final stanza.
I dove deep into the stillness of night, where longing hums low and memory lingers like the scent of someone who left too soon. Here’s my ghazal, “A Song Beneath the Silence.”
A Song Beneath the Silence
The stars don’t speak, but they shimmer with your name tonight.
Even the wind forgets to wander without your name tonight.
The coffee’s grown cold beside me, untouched and still—
the cup, like my hands, stays warm with your name tonight.
I’ve lit no candles, no songs play soft in the dark,
but every quiet thing hums low with your name tonight.
The moon stares through the blinds like an old friend—
it knows what I bury and glow with your name tonight.
Each kiss I’ve dreamed but never dared to steal
falls from my breath in snow with your name tonight.
They say poets are always half-mad and alone—
but Richard finds peace and woe with your name tonight.
April is National Poetry Month, a time to celebrate the power of language and the music of the soul. Poetry, like music, offers a space for reflection, discord, and catharsis. 
You can discover a wide array of poetic voices taking part in National Poetry Writing Month by exploring the hashtag #NaPoWriMo across social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. You’ll find writers of all backgrounds sharing their daily verses, prompts, and reflections throughout April. For a more curated experience, visit www.napowrimo.net, the official hub for the NaPoWriMo community, where a new prompt is posted daily along with featured poems from participants around the world. It’s a beautiful way to connect with fellow poets, spark creativity, and immerse yourself in a month-long celebration of poetry in motion.
Read more poems from National Poetry Month #NaPoWriMo