Free Verse

Please
No aa bb cc's
Nor ee dd's
My eyes will glaze
I'll maybe drool
With flashbacks
Of Algebra, high school
Not visions of
Lovely poetry
And that's why
I gotta keep my
Verses free

A quick ditty for the prompt at Poetic Asides to write a poem with the title "Free ____."  I was reading a book on writing poetry by Mary Oliver and she was talking about patterns of aa bb cc--never been able to wrap my brain around that--an old Algebra injury...also shared with an early thankful toast at the bar for OLN with dversepoetry.com-- Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

A Lasting Memory

A Beautiful photo of Canyon De Chelly (pronounced Day Shay) by Peggy Goetz

Cottonwood flurries
Settled in drifts
Sunrise glow
Shimmered on cliffs
Canyon wren trill
The magic still
Makes me smile

This is offered for Peggy's prompt at Poetry Jam poetryjaam.blogspot.com to write a poem 20 words or less, about "last." Her beautiful photo of Canyon De Chelly reminded me of a wonderful childhood memory..the last time that I was there, couldn't squeeze in how amazing it smelled, fresh stream, green willow...and the old Native American who stopped by our campsite selling hand beaded juniper seed necklaces, I still have it :-). Happy Weekend everyone!

Sometimes It Takes A Hammer

On a back road singing
Windows down
Breeze blowing
Broken by siren
Flashing lights, tears
Late to work
Almost fired
Woke and couldn't
Open mouth
Teeth impacted, pulled
Came home and fell
Into a dark hole
With no ladder
All boxes for
Perfect, happy life checked
But
Not happy
Divorce
Nearly hospitalized
With bronchitis
Two car accidents
One botched burglary
Before
She saw the light
Through the cracks
Shoved Perfect to the curb
Disappointed her parents
Quit her job
Started law school
Met her soul mate
And realized she'd rather go naked than
Wear the coat the world made for her*

This is written for the prompt from Mary at Poetry Jam poetryjaam.blogspot.com with quotes from the book Two or Three things I Know for Sure by Dorothy Allison-- Dorothy's quotes spoke to me so strongly that I used one of them for the last two lines of my poem.  The other quote that spoke to me (and made me laugh) is "that change, when it comes cracks everything open."   Yes, it does...and sometimes you have to have cracks to see the light.. That was quite a year :-)  So here's to cracks and wearing what makes us happy ;-)  

Well Armed

Just two
Will do
Size "Me"
Please
A chest press
Squeeze
Out with sad
Air
In with glad
A warm shoulder
Too
Marked
"You...
belong here"
Just firm enough to
Hold the weight of my
Day
And let it fly
Away on a sigh
With a heart
That beats
Peace
Against my cheek

This was for Laurie's prompt at Poetry Jam poetryjaam.blogspot.com to write about what brings us comfort. However, due to mobile posting--technical difficulties, it didn't post and so I decided to share it with my friends at Poets United--Poetry Pantry poetryblogroll.blogspot.com-- I love hugs they are always comforting--however my husband's hugs are healing--he can squeeze the sad right out of me :-)   I've missed everyone these past two weeks.  Hugs to everyone!

When You Least Expect It

Its easy to miss
The steady hiss
Of gases poison-
Us
Grief, Anger, Helplessness
Fill the skin
Till it becomes thin-
ner
Explosion sudden potent
Creates a vacuum
Sucks the air out of
The room,
Her lungs and heart
Escaping barely in-
tact
Return to darkness
And confusion
Shun of reconciliation
Moving through the day
Fragments of soul shattered
Clatter re-
Mind her of sorrow
Another night
Collapsing on her pillow
Yet, familiar fingers seek
And find
Intertwine
With cheek pressed to cheek
Warm breath whispers
Love, Apology
Tears soften broken edges
Allow her to
Stitch together the pieces
With a thread of hope

This is written for Poetry Pantry at Poets United, poetryblogrollblogspot.com. A bit of the dark side this week, but as MLK said  "Everything that is done in the world is done by hope" and as the Beatles say "All you need is love" :-). Wishing everyone a healthy dose of both this week.

A Week of Stumbles

Little toes press to tippy toe walk
Moving before we can talk
Never seeing those dangers that stalk
Our steps, making us stumble
Falter, yet keep us humble
Years, tears, we reach and fumble
Seek joy, make sense of life's jumble

This is offered for Mary's prompt about steps--poetry jam--poetryjaam.blogspot.com; and for Poetic Bloomings form challenge to write a Saraband--really how could I resist that? And for dversepoets.com who are honoring fellow poet Dave King, who passed away this week and I'm honoring my friend's son who at 19,  passed away last week after an inspirational life--he was born with a defect in his liver and survived 5 liver transplants.  Sigh.  Cherish the days and the people you love--I cherish all of you :-)

It Remains To Be Seen

My hands wished to
Draw a leaf
Not words, with a pencil
No color, just graphite
Like a "B" or "2B"
Soft, to smudge
And glide
Not scratch the paper
I was striving for lush
Instead shadows eluded me
And I got bones
A leaf skeleton
It's not really finished
But I am
Finished
With the drawing
For now

For now
The drawing is finished
But, I am not really finished
It's a leaf skeleton
I got bones
Instead of shadows
That eluded me
I was striving for lush
Not to scratch the paper
And glide, soft to smudge
Like a "B" or "2B"
No color just graphite
A pencil, not words
To draw a leaf
Like my hands wished

This is offered for Laurie's intriguing prompt at poetry jam, poetryjaam.blogspot.com, to write a poems and then rewrite it "backwards". I love cycles and refrains so I really wanted to do this.  I think I like the backwards version better (figures...).  Based on a true story, happened today....