Under 25 Poetry Magazine

Under 25 Poetry Magazine –

"Hushes" by Keely O'Brien

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September 15th, 2026

Under 25 Poetry Magazine Contest #3 – First Place

Hushes

by Keely O'Brien

There were hushes, 
in the bushes  
the song of sweet freedom   
let me out of this this long,  
song of sweet freedom   
the freedom in the suffering,  
gone on for eternity   
being free is never free  
just a temporary suppressed feeling of joy 
 
there were smiles on the people’s faces   
the echoes of how the days are long  
you could see the satisfaction   
as I tell myself to breath for life is all to real, for me  
even the little things hurt to feel   
there is sweet history to tell,  
but it was hushed by the bushes  
only the psychics like me know it well 
 
once nothing was right and everything was wrong  
you would suppress guilt to breathe air   
the images of earth were so beautiful,  
but it would sting to see   
so, people would resort to darkness   
a change of conscience came so we would be lifted from the bed of darkness   
a prophecy was revealed and the person whom it was told to is alive today 
 
the wrong began to drift back in   
the wrong began to drift back in   
to cover the world with the blanket of darkness that pinned the psychics down   
the metaphors of the beginnings,  
as the melody of the love songs ran out of time   
the air went cold 
 
there were no longer hushes in the bushes, but noise  
out came a man in the form of a boy   
he was delicate   
he had an ominous look in his eyes   
so, he spoke...

About the Poet
Keely O'Brien resides in Wanless, Manitoba, Canada.
Read the poet's biography and Under 25 Poetry publications on Keely O'Brien's Artist Page.

Under 25 Poetry Collection
This poem is also featured in Under 25 Poetry Collection #3, published in the Under 25 Poetry Library.

Previously published in Under 25 Poetry Magazine:
When I Can't Scream
by Madison Stout

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