tell me about the quiet people
the good deeds gone unnoticed
I’m drowning in political hubris
smothered in bloodshed
tell me about the do-gooders
the selfless, help me shed
this perpetual bombardment
of negativity and hate
jealousy and rage
tell me about kindness
about gentle spirits
help me dig out from under
this pile of sensationalism
so I can see that beauty survives
tell me about the workers,
creators, inventors
I’m torn down by destruction
worn down by erosion
show me the sun and moon
the stars twinkling hope
whisper to me of love
Month: October 2015
A Day of Promise
(The prompt today at OctPoWriMo was to imagine a day where you could do anything you want)
no alarms
no phone calls
no appointments
no promises to keep
this day is a blank
to be filled with surprises
or to leave empty
——-
Day 15 at http://octpowrimo.com
here i stand
i stand alone on a single plank
the ones behind dissolved
the ones ahead like gossamer
not yet formed
i must not grieve for
what was behind or
reach too soon for
the next step
there is much to
discover on this single
plank if i but look
and listen
touch and taste
The Album
A neighbor
Boy who
Cherished her,
Devotedly
Enchanted
Followed her as if a shadow
Gave her gifts
Homemade offerings
Ink stained poetry
Jewelry crafted from stones
Keepsakes in a box
Long ago secrets
Made sweeter as they aged
Not intended for prying eyes
Or curious minds
Precious only to her, a lover’s
Quest denied
Remain only in her dreams
Silent images
Taped into an album
Undying desire now fading
Vows never spoken
War killed their passion
Xtinguished the flame
Young hearts now beat only in a
Zone of sepia remembrance
——
What About the Pumpkins
Does anyone ask the pumpkins
if they want a silly grin or
mouth wide open in some ghoulish
hoooowl
And do they enjoy sitting on
scratchy cement porches
while children run past
in search of the best treats,
candy not apples
What of the candle
burning deep in its inner-most
parts – does the flame
warm it or remind that pumpkin
of friends lost to baking
What about the pumpkins
Who will speak for them
——–
written for the prompt on Phoenix Rising Poetry Guild
I Hear the World
(George Tooker – self portrait)
i listened
and i could hear
the whole world
singing
some were songs
of peace, some of war
songs of laughter
of pain
delight
anguish
love
heartbreak
lightness
mourning
and all these voices
in their dissonance
became part of me
my song
part of the universal
chorus
lifted up to the unknown
——
Wild Music
come dance with me
we don’t need moonlight
or orchestras
untie your hair and let
down your inhibitions
take off your soft shoes
tap your toes on the
ancient earth
come sing with me
with no conductor we
will howl until our notes
float away in harmony
an opus to the muses
———-
Deep in the Night
Sometimes when I’m all alone
When light has surrendered
Darkness blurs the lines
Then fantasy rules the night
When light has surrendered
I quickly take to my bed
Pull the covers over my head
Darkness blurs the lines
Right and wrong are blended
Into imaginary possibilities
Then fantasy rules the night
I peek from my hiding place
Watching as dreams perform
——
At dVerse Poets Pub we are challenged to use the Trimeric form
hanami
Today at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai we’ve learned about Hanami – the blossom viewing ceremonies
viewing festival
standing amid pink blossoms
woman’s beauty fades
——
Second Grade Trauma
you made me cry when
I didn’t finish my lunch
I was shy and only eight
I was afraid to speak up
even though I knew the answer
I yearned for recess and smiled
only at the end of the day
did you know?
why are you the teacher
I remember?
——
written for Poets United Midweek Motif – teacher
rhymeswithbug 