Magician

Magician

She was a magician
a real life magician
put her in charge
she'd make it happen
someone to rely on
someone to trust
her word was gold
she said it she did it
achieved it to perfection
no sleight of hand
Harry Houdini couldn't
have done it better!

Written for Poetry Jam, where the prompt that Dani presented this week was magic.

Short Vice/Versa Poem

Short Vice/Versa Poem

We all must allow ourselves time to play
and not deny how important to the day
is a bit of gentle laughter thereafter,
a means  to keep harsh words at bay.

Just a very short one today in response to the Poets United Vice/Versa words, which are allow, deny, harsh, and gentle.  One has to write a poem (even a short one!) which uses ALL of those words.  It's just kind of fun to see what one can come up with, and sometimes it feels good to be light.....

The Battle

The Battle

Dry here, everything dies
grass dies, trees die,
plants die, friendships die,
but wasps survive
and thrive and build nests
and dive from above
my front door and connive
to get me.

I try the long handle
of the roof rake - failure,
I try a full force stream
of water - failure,
And then at last
wasp spray
(the best for last):
powerful annihilator,
super weapon.

I'm prepared for battle!
So I stand outside
below the stubborn wasps
with protective eye glasses
and a blanket to protect skin
(quite a sight on a warm night)

I aim, then spray without mercy;
and as they drop down
on the sidewalk dead
I  hose their remains away,
thinking they should have left
when they could. Stupid wasps!

Dry here, everything dies
grass dies, trees die
plants die, friendships die,
but wasps survive
and thrive and build nests;
and I know that in a few days
battle will be waged again.


This was written for dVerse Poetics: In Schiller's Footsteps.  Claudia asked us to observe something and write about it.  I observed myself doing battle with wasps!!!  I think I was quite a spectacle last night.

Also linked to Poetry Pantry #107

Ancestors

My mother and her four siblings!
My mother is second from left, the youngest.

Ancestors

They were smiling once,
my mother and her siblings
before things changed
before they got old
before they got sick
before, one by one, they died

so after you look at this photo
look at your own photos
remind yourself today will pass

tomorrow will come
and the photos you look at
will one day be those of
someone's ancestors...so
be sure to label yourself
so you will be remembered.

And THIS was me!
I still have the dress.  My mom saved all picture dresses.

This was written for Ella's mini-challenge at Imaginary Frog With Real Toads.  She asked us to 'adopt an ancestor' from old photos she shared.  Instead I used a picture of my real ancestors to inspire my poem....and added one of myself as well, so I will be remembered.    It does indeed break my heart when I see old photos being sold somewhere, and nobody knows the people's names, and no one cares about the people.....

Devil

Devil 

The worst devil
is the human kind
with tricks up his sleeve
the ability to deceive
the gullible or naive
to make the unsuspecting believe
and then leave
the shattered behind
with injured body or mind
devastated and undermined.

This was written for Fireblossom's prompt at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads.    The prompt was "devil."  I chose not to use a picture for this poem, as we can each create our own mental image.

Carnival

Carnival

Throw your dollars to chance
win a teddy bear for your girl
or how about a goldfish for your kid
let him guess your weight or age
see the bearded lady
the fattest man
the smallest horse
two-headed snake
you'll have to
come in come in
put down your money
and see there's so much more
illusion you want to believe
smoke and mirrors
shadow fingers reaching
into your pocket and taking
the money you give willingly
to the man in black
with the bad teeth
and musty smell
and greased hair
at the carnival.

Written for Poets United Thursday Think Tank where the prompt is Carnival

The River #2

The River

The river carries away
the junk of your life
trash collected for decades
useless stuff accumulated
clutter that took up space
boxes of useless nothings
kept too long to throw away
(feels good to be unshackled)

The river carries away
the treasures of your life
the things  long searched for
the ring or the bowl or the key
the picture you knew you had
along with lost friends
and all who have died
and there are dreams too
those that got away somehow
when you weren't looking
and forevers that weren't
and laughter and tears
and you as a child so young
before your life happened
The river holds all, keeps all,
tells nothing, carries things along
somewhere out of sight
everything is there in the river
flowing to the distant sea.

Written for Poetry Jam.   Prompt was "Rivers of Life."
Also linked to Real Toads Bonus Open Link.  Happy First Anniversary to Real Toads.

River #1

River #1

Sometimes I fantasize myself a river
free, making my way to my ocean home
twisting, churning, laughing as I go,
my crystalline memories carried by current
that continues to move ever forward.

My essence is an invisible force
that twists and turns
forms new channels
then deepens them.

Rocks, rubble, branches in my path
are no barriers to my journey, and
I flow wild and free, ever widening my path
as my companion wind whistles my words:
     Look out world, I'm passing through.
     I'm on my long journey home.

Written for Poetry Jam where the theme was "Rivers of Life."

I Believe

I Believe

I believe in myself
my words sing to me,
if to no other,
as I read them.
I am happy with them.

Wisdom will no doubt
triumph over nonsense.

My words will live for me,
and if for me alone,
I will be satisfied;
my writing will thrive
and after me survive.

This short poem was written for Poets United Vice/Versa, where the four words to use in your writing were the antonyms doubt & believe and the antonyms wisdom & nonsense.  Take a look, and join in!  We would love to have you there!    Also linked for dVersePoets Open Link Night.  Happy anniversary, dVerse!

As for my poem:  I do believe each of us must write first and foremost for ourselves.  Some of our writing may not be top form, but among our pedestrian poetry there will be gems as well.....which we would NOT have written had we not tried.  I personally find that I MUST write; and it is definitely true that my written words will live beyond my lifetime.  Write on, Poets!

No More Dreams

Jack Vettriano - Yesterday's Dream

No More Dreams
She stands and waits for nothing
smokes her cigarette obliviously,
dressed so fine with nowhere to go.

She peers out her window
at nothing in particular,
contemplates her shallow life

from behind flimsy curtains,
wonders who would miss her
if she were gone

and how long it would be
before they would notice.
She takes her last  drag.

Written for The Mag #126.  Check the site for other entries using the same Vettriano painting for inspiration..

Sunday Whirl #65

Fame

Plant feet
gravity is strong
flick the trigger
proclaim blame
aim

mind swells
broken chain
crack the refrain
humility the claim
grittle sprays
fame


The above poem was written for    The Sunday Whirl #65 .  The words were:  flicks, swells, spray, grittle, gravity, plant, trigger, relishes (<-- not used), chain, crack, humility, refrain, claim.

Paris Remembered

Sacre Coeur
(The Church of the Sacred Heart)

Paris Remembered

I will return to Paris
when the season turns to spring
and go at first to Montmartre
to drink a breath of dreams.

I'll stand with arms outstretched
upon the holy hill
hail the city far below
and kiss the nearby stars.

I'll gaze once more at the Sacre Coeur
with its purity and grace
then turn away and drown myself
in the crowds of tertre Place.

I will return to Paris
when the season turns to spring
to drink of life at Montmartre
and breathe and be and dream.

This is contributed to  dVerse Poetics where Karin / ManicDDaily gave a "French twist" prompt, where we were challenged to write a poem which celebrated the French.       Here in my hometown today Bastille Days is going on.  It's quite an event, with a miniature Eiffel Tower, etc., though we are far from France.    I was in Paris one time for 3 days half a lifetime ago.  It did happen to be on Bastille Day as well, and how exciting this was.  I was on an American Express tour and became a friend of the Dutch bus driver, and he and I walked Paris on Bastille Day Eve and had a few drinks in outdoor cafes along the way.  Firecrackers being thrown all around. Crowds so excited.  It is a special memory of mine.  I have not returned to Paris since, but someday..................................

Blissful Dreams

Blissful Dreams

Blissful dreams shimmer above the willow
as butterflies and sparrows flit on by;
Clouds transform and delicately billow
as they careen across the azure sky.

On pine cone forest floor I calmly lie
and contemplate the meaning of my days;
leaves rustle in a gentle lullaby
as  weighty branch above me gently sways.

This was written for Kerry's  Mini Challenge for Sunday over at Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads.  The challenge was to write a Huitain.  The rhyme scheme is   ababbcbc and each line has 10 syllables.

However,  I am also entering it at Poetry Jam, where the theme is 'daydreams,' and I think this fits.
Also very belatedly am submitting it to Poets United Thursday Think Tank where the theme is 'bliss.'

Friday the 13th Rondeau

Friday the 13th Rondeau

I try so hard to do my best
In many ways I have been blest
but in so many ways I fail
I hope that my love will prevail

Caring is always a welcome guest
That I know, that I attest
It isn't always manifest
but eventually it will prevail
I try so hard

I hope I always pass the test
I pray I always live with zest
as mountains I try to scale
even though I often fail
I hope that others will attest
I try so hard.


It is Friday the 13th.  Over at   Imaginary Garden With Real Toads I was in charge of presenting the "Mary's Mixed Bag" challenge.  I actually presented four ideas.  One of them was to write a Rondaeu.  A Rondeau has 13 lines plus a four syllable refrain—the first half of the first line—used twice, arranged in three unequal stanzas; usually two main he rhymes, plus third rhyme in refrain; iambic lines with four stresses.
a a b b a
a a b c
a a b b a c

For much more information and  a few more writing ideas for the day, head back to Real Toads.

Daydreams

Daydreams

Her life was primarily  daydreams
real accomplishments were trite
but in her mind she scaled Mount Ararat
while she rationalized her plight
and her inactive body sat, grew fat

but she smiled

while her home went to heck
and her grass went to seed
and all in her life was wild indeed
she had good reason she decreed -
the handsome prince with magnficent steed.

She was beguiled.

This was a bit of fun written for the 'daydream believers' prompt Mary Mansfield gave over at Poetry Jam.

Trivial Times

Trivial Times

Sometimes trivial memories
become the most significant:

     Our early morning cups of coffee
     listening to birds together at sunset
     the colors she chose to wear
     her special way of preparing food
     the ways she made people smile
 
     the unpretentious way she gave
     when people didn't even know
     and there was her laugh and
     the way she looked at me
     with that mischievous grin.

     The stories that she told
     were hard to ignore.
     She rose to every occasion,
     with humility and class.

I loved to observe her
when she didn't know I was watching,
and today I'd give anything to live
those trivial times once again.

--For Diane who left this world way too soon on July 6, 2011

Written for Poets United Vice / Versa where the antonyms to be used are trivial/significant and observe/ignore.    Also submitted for dVerse Poets Open Link 52.

After Days of Heat and Drought

After Days of Heat and Drought


After days of heat and drought he said
Let's stop talking about the weather,
I just can't take it anymore.

What? The talk or the weather? she said.
Both, he said.

What should we talk about then? she said
I don't know, he said

Economy? she said
No, he said.

Elections? she said
No, he said.

Healthcare? he said.
No, he said

Work? she said
No, he said

Then what? she said?
I hear they predicted rain.

This was written for dVerse Poets Pub, where Stu's prompt today was "Whatever the Weather."  Please excuse my bit of 'tongue in cheek'  & a bit of fun here in regard to our very real and difficult situation for farmers, etc.  However, they really have NOT yet predicted rain.  Sigh.

Untitled Wordle #64

Untitled Wordle #64

When  I open drawers
that hold memories from the past
I find myself subtracting days
that lead summer into fall

while I spurn rinds of the past,
of times when I was ignorant
and willfully disregarded
the painful  sting of the knowledge
I recognize and conclude now:

that years will pass fast, and
all months will lead to a winter
so dense that no balls of light,
no sun, moon, or star can penetrate.

Eternity always seems closer
when I accept that everyone...

     from housewives to bankers...
     from poets to painters...
     from penniless to millionaires...
            ........will die.

This poem was written for The Sunday Whirl #64.  The words to be used were  ignorant, spurn, eternity, drawers, balls, year, rind, sting, months, housewives, subtracting, fall. 

Demarcation

North Korean soldiers watching the South....

Demarcation

I like demarcation lines that are visible;
the 38th parallel stands for something.
Troops stand at alert on both sides;
the message is clear: everyone gets it.
Cross, and be shot by watchful soldiers
who stand guard on the other side.

An invisible demarcation line is hard,
cannot be seen, has no structure in space.
You can't  know when you'll cross it
or who has lain their subtle trap,
then watches as you move close,
unknowingly cross, then explode!

This was written for  Real Toads: A Word With Laurie.  The word Laurie gave us to use was "demarcation."

Uncertainties

Ocean Greyness - Jackson Pollock - 1953

Uncertainties

You may not understand perfectly
what the painting portrays for me
nor what the words in my poem mean
but I leave it up to you to decipher
my paintings and my words as you wish.

If you find your truth, I am gratified
even though it does not coincide with mine.
and if you ask me what I really meant
forgive me if I merely smile and walk away;

as you are compelled to  add  more things
to your long list of life's uncertainties.

At Poets United Thursday Think Tank #104 Ella's prompt used the work of artist Jackson Pollock.   As I looked at Pollock's work that Ella included admittedly I wouldn't have an idea what Pollock was trying to depict unless the title gave a 'clue' and even then his work is obscure.  Each person may find his/her own meaning in Pollock's paintings.

Many times when people read one another's poetry they find different meanings than the poet intended.  This happened to me once today (that I was made aware of anyway - probably more times I was NOT made aware of), but with poetry as well the reader may find meaning different than the poet intended; so much is left up to our interpretation of the words, based on our own experience.  Thus this poem above is also written for the prompt over at Theme Thursday where Mrsupole's prompt is "life's uncertainties."

Forgiveness

Forgiveness

Actions happen
words are said
hearts are wounded
tears are shed
but it only takes one
to say I'm sorry
and one to say
I understand, I forgive,
for all to be better again.

But when it happens
again and again
neither blameless
and it is always
the same one person
who says I'm sorry
and the same other who says
I understand, I forgive,
what is the meaning then?

This poem was written for Poetry Jam, where the prompt I gave this week was all about forgiveness.  There is more to it than that....so head on over  and take a look (and perhaps join in).  It is also linked to Poets United Poetry Pantry #105.

Inheritance

Inheritance

Extreme abundance was sure to
overwhelm the humble man

who was proud of his simple life
and his lack of material things,

so when he received his great inheritance
he said quietly with sincerity

Whatever will I do with five hundred dollars?

This was written for  Poets United Vice / Versa  where the antonyms to use were humble / proud & abundance / lack.   I wrote this 'tongue in cheek,' in case anyone wonders. LOL.

Silence

Silence

I listen to the silence
unless it is interrupted by
the barking of dogs

and then I look to see
what it is  they hear
that is worth barking at

and often I see nothing
but if I do see something
it is a man walking a dog

but then silence returns
and hangs heavy for hours
but I am used to it.

Silence is the norm
unless I turn on TV
just to have noise

though I pay little attention
to what moves on screen;
it is just noise, but

I don't really mind silence
except at night when
TV stays on until morn, and

the dogs don't care
one way or another:
they sleep deep.

This was written for Carry On Tuesday #162.  Keith challenged us to use as much as we wanted of the title and ending of a poem by David Whalen:  "I listen to the silence .... as you do also."  I used only "I listen to the silence."

Click!

Click!

They stand beside each other
his skin is pale
her lips thin and expressionless
their arms hang by their sides
they do not hug, nor even touch
utter boredom, no gesture of love.

I wonder why they sent this photo
Is it fact or act?
Snapshot of life.

Click!

Written for the Sunday Whirl #63.  The words to be used were:  skin, lips, thin, snapshots, touch, other, act, hanging, gesture, stand, sent, utter