Poetry, short stories, flash fiction, and other ramblings from the depths of my mind. You have been warned!
Monday, October 12, 2015
Shimmer With All Your Might
the shimmering begins at a distance
it is held at arms length
hovering
shivering
darting
just out of reach
just out of sight
it is nearly here and
then
it slips through my fingers
but then it returns
to hold my hand
clasp my arm
clap onto my knee
it is here!
Suddenly the Shimmering rushes
Full force
Envelopes me all at once
Then stands at my back
Ready to pounce again
And Again
And again
until the shimmer begins to fade
until only a dull glow remains...
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Father's Day for Fathers and Mothers
In honor of all the single parents out there who have to be switch hitters.
Sometimes I will be your mother
Sometimes I will be your father
At times I will pick you up
and kiss your boo boos
make it feel all better
and send you on your way
with a hug and a smile.
Other times I will tell you
to pick yourself up
Get off your ass
Brush yourself off
And walk it off.
Every moment
Of every day
I have
I do
I will
Love you
Unconditionally
Without end
Or reservation
Always
I will be your loving parent.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
On The Anniversary
In the passing of a year
time creeps,
trudging along
as everything changes,
completely turns around,
and comes full circle.
In the passing of a year
time rushes
racing past
moments
and events
birthdays
holidays
graduation
births
and deaths
all gone in the
blink of an eye
A year has passed,
but you only left us yesterday.
time creeps,
trudging along
as everything changes,
completely turns around,
and comes full circle.
In the passing of a year
time rushes
racing past
moments
and events
birthdays
holidays
graduation
births
and deaths
all gone in the
blink of an eye
A year has passed,
but you only left us yesterday.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Confidence is Beautiful
"A Surprise in Spring"
Have you ever been
where you don't belong
when you don't belong there
completely unwanted
perhaps even disliked?
where you don't belong
when you don't belong there
completely unwanted
perhaps even disliked?
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Thawing out from a Frozen Friday the 13th
After a frigid Friday complete with frozen fingers and toes, I've finally thawed out enough to type! Thank you to those of you who tuned in to World Poetry Open Mic last night. If you missed it, check out the archives on their website. You'll find two poems of mine on last night's program.
After participating in the show and listening to a lovely poem by the very talented Cynthia Sharp, I was inspired to write about a beautiful place I love. The poem emerged much differently than I expected; it's rather somber, but I still think it conveys the beauty of the location. It sounds more like tragic beauty, though. See for yourself.
After participating in the show and listening to a lovely poem by the very talented Cynthia Sharp, I was inspired to write about a beautiful place I love. The poem emerged much differently than I expected; it's rather somber, but I still think it conveys the beauty of the location. It sounds more like tragic beauty, though. See for yourself.
“The Pit”
the expanse of stars above
crushes the chest
breath flees
and refuses to return
must be coaxed back
haltingly
wary of the grandeur
caught up by the shimmering
sparkling sky
hanging
above the shell of rock
sharp and broken underfoot
slabs shift and slide
skittering down the slope
the clatter echoes
reverberating around the bowl
sipped up by the far tree line
and gobbled by the near
fire dances in the basin
growing and glowing
flitting up high
and diving down low
tongues wagging mightily
but only a crackle
and occasional pop
is heard
smoke slides through the air
cresting over the cusp
and settling in the hollow
permeating skin, follicle, and fabric
interweaving itself
with all involved
hitching a ride
to be inhaled at a later time
and coughed out bitterly
Monday, January 26, 2015
A Quick Monday Pick Me Up
And boy, do I mean quick! I'm responding to a visual writing prompt with my own version of the six word memoir. Here's the quick background: Hemingway was famously challenged to write a story using just six words. The famous six words? "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." I know, right?
I chose to put a more comical spin on it.
I chose to put a more comical spin on it.
"Multiple Warnings Apply; See Attached Booklet"
What would YOUR warning label say? Could you fit it into six words? Less?
Friday, January 23, 2015
Selena Gomez "The Heart Wants What It Wants" response poem: Friday Free For All
I've seen several poets in recent weeks who were writing response poems to popular American poets of the last century. I've been wanting to do something like that, but I just happened to turn on the radio the other day and heard this song. It's by Selena Gomez and it's called "The Heart Wants What It Wants." Frankly, I think it's rather foolish. You have a heart and a brain, and they should both be consulted. Mind you, this is my opinion. Feel free to make your choices however you want!
Anywho.... this song was stuck in my head and I figured I'd work on getting it out by writing a response poem. Well, the song is still stuck, rattling around in my brain, but the poem's here! I'm including the lyrics to the song for comparison. Enjoy, and happy Friday!
Anywho.... this song was stuck in my head and I figured I'd work on getting it out by writing a response poem. Well, the song is still stuck, rattling around in my brain, but the poem's here! I'm including the lyrics to the song for comparison. Enjoy, and happy Friday!
Selena Gomez "Heart Wants What It Wants" lyrics
You got me sippin' on something
I can't compare to nothing
I've ever known, I'm hoping
That after this fever I'll survive
I know I'm acting a bit crazy
Strung out, a little bit hazy
Hand over heart, I'm praying
That I'm gonna make it out alive
The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants
You got me scattered in pieces
Shining like stars and screaming
Lightening me up like Venus
But then you disappear and make me wait
And every second's like torture
Hell over trip, no more so
Finding a way to let go
Baby baby no I can't escape
The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants (x4)
This is a modern fairytale
No happy endings
No wind in our sails
But I can't imagine a life without
Breathless moments
Breaking me down down down
The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants (x4)
The heart wants what it wants baby
You got me sippin' on something
I can't compare to nothing
I've ever known, I'm hoping
That after this fever I'll survive
I know I'm acting a bit crazy
Strung out, a little bit hazy
Hand over heart, I'm praying
That I'm gonna make it out alive
The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants
You got me scattered in pieces
Shining like stars and screaming
Lightening me up like Venus
But then you disappear and make me wait
And every second's like torture
Hell over trip, no more so
Finding a way to let go
Baby baby no I can't escape
The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants (x4)
This is a modern fairytale
No happy endings
No wind in our sails
But I can't imagine a life without
Breathless moments
Breaking me down down down
The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants (x4)
The heart wants what it wants baby
In Response to “The Heart Wants What It Wants”
The heart wants what it wants
But so does the mind
It takes time to think
And then it declines
Saying, “please think about it
Please don’t just feel
I’m not over analyzing
Intuition is real
So don’t listen to me
But how ‘bout the gut?
You know something is there
You feel it—you must
The gut listens to me
And also the heart
Thinks and feels all at once
And knows from the start
What’s right and what’s wrong
Every should and should not
It’s usually spot on
In fact, quite a lot.”
So the you that is you
And must listen to all
Goes ahead with the gut
And avoids a great fall
Monday, January 19, 2015
Monday Pick Me Up: It's going Swimmingly!
"Take a Dip"
Take a dip
in my pool of thought
or a long
leisurely swim
do a lap or two
or ten
get a full work out
in the deep end
of my mind
I gladly share
the waters
and the company
as we swirl
some thoughts around
together
Saturday, January 17, 2015
The Poem from the Train Ride
I just did some editing on an old poem that I wrote while riding the train a while ago. It felt a little odd then, using borrowed emotions, but I've edited it into something that comes across more naturally than the first version.
“Lovers Separating”
Click clack
Click clack
Chuff chuff chuff
Chug chug chug chug
Each low rumble speaks
Ominously declaring
The widening separation
Parting body from body
And parting me
From that portion of my heart
That I left tucked in with yours
Laced between your fingers
Held in your embrace.
And I carry you with me
That tiny piece you gave me
Bundled up
Against my breast
Warming the heart that remains
My body remembers yours
Slow sensual scratches
Up my calves
Along the small of my back
In the palm of my hand
The chills reverberate
Within the depths of me
Rippling to my most
Sensuous core.
I bump and sway
Side to side
As I slide away
A slow dance of separation
Speeding up
As the distance grows
Picking up pace
As the miles stretch behind me
Friday, January 16, 2015
Friday Free For All: "Somewhere in America" as performed on the Queen Latifah Show
Happy happy Friday!
Sorry I missed Wednesday’s post this week, next week I’ll make it twice
as helpful (but not twice as long… unless you’d like that). I am delighted that it is a new day and that
this particular new day is a Friday.
They’re fun!
It’s been up for a while, but this week I stumbled across a
video of an amazing video of a very moving poetry performance. Several aspects of this performance caught my
attention. This was a poetry performance
on national TV! That frickin’
rocks!! Teenage girls performed it (and
they OWNED it), and the poem itself was very moving. I’ve
watched it several times now, and I still tear up a bit each time.
The girls sat down with Queen Latifah after their performance for a short interview as well:
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