The Queen and the Wolf

The Queen and the Wolf

One morning when the queen woke up in her chamber
opposite her was a charming, well-dressed wolf.

 The wolf said to the queen in his most alluring voice,
" Excuse me, your dear majesty, I visited when you were asleep
 hoping that when you woke up you would kindly use your powers
to transform me into your king.  We could live happily ever after."

"Dear wolf, "said the queen (clutching her pearls), the transformation
ceremony would make me uneasy, and actually I can only do it twice. 
The first time I transformed a frog into a calf, which we ate for dinner. 
If I transformed you to anything, it would be to a cat. 
There are mice in the palace kitchen that need to be killed."

Written just for fun for Shay's Word Garden - Classic Fairy Tales Word List
(13 words used)

The Arrival of Spring

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The Arrival of Spring

How I love arrival of spring
everyday a bit more light
as I celebrate each sunrise
after bleak long winter days

When the warming sun shines
I look to the glowing sky
walk with a bounce to my stride
and feel much more alive

To observe rebirth one more time
is a wonderful glorious thing.
with inner and outer light aglow
how I love the arrival of spring.

Written for Sherry's prompt at What's GoingOn? -"The Coming of the Light"

The Spice of Life

The Spice of Life 

Some days I rage about how life is
the more I think the madder I get

I speak in my fake British accent
mixing my metaphors with spice

which is not nice, with glowing eyes
I pant angrily, my body a furnace

and wish to stalk the whole world
in my aromatic (ewww) mania

but before utter chaos encircles me
I flee into my portfolio of poems.

Written for Shay's Word Garden (March 18)
(I used 12 of the words)

The Blessing

 

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The Blessing

As a child he shot his young brother in a hunting accident
his last view of his brother was with his face down in the snow
a small body with blood seeping slowly through his coat

and all his life asked himself why he was spared.

And he wanted his mother to hold him, but he couldn't say that,
and he wanted his mother to forgive him, and he couldn't ask
and the state trooper made him relay aloud the painful story

and all his life he asked himself why he was spared.

And he thought of Cain who killed his brother Abel, and  he
bore the mark of Cain.  Just as God would not let Cain die,
God did not let him die, his self hatred being a more terrible fate

and all his life he asked himself why he was spared.

And he tried to understand 'accident' and wondered if it was God's plan
in a benevolent way humans couldn't understand, or if God was Accident
and all was random and Accident ripped lives apart for no reason

and all his life he asked himself why he was spared.

And it is in the human stories where human meanings begin,  and
the boy grows into manhood and pain  becomes blessing, blessing
becomes poetry, and beauty arises again despite the pain, but

still all his life he asked himself why he was spared.

For Susan's prompt at What's Going On? -- Character(s) in Action

(Based on Gregory Orr's Memoir "The Blessing")

A Visionary's Wish

 A Visionary's Wish

Oh how I wish I were a visionary,
a genius who could see a way out of madness,
who could find a way to achieve what is unfinished

I would first make a memorial to the good times,
then without any pomp or pretense try to turn
earth's wayward engines to protect its creatures again

Written for Shay's Wordlist,   (I used 8 words)

Turning Ten

 

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Turning Ten

I don't want to turn ten
because two digit ages sound SO old
I want to be young forever
and never become a teen because
teen years really scare me
I am too shy to face them 
know I will fade into the wall
and will feel so very very alone.

I don't want to turn ten
don't want to be too old for dolls
don't want my body to change.
What I want is a pogo stick
and cowboy boots and jeans
a western shirt and cowboy hat
a bow and arrow to shoot
and a pair of new roller skates.

I don't want to turn ten
don't want to think about junior high
know that the school is too big
and that I won't make any friends
know that I will hate gym class
because there is much I cannot do
and I will always be last one chosen
and will hate taking group showers

I don't want to turn ten
I want to always be young
and sit on the couch Friday night
watching werewolf movies
eating M & M's and peanuts
with a blanket to cover my face
during all of the scary parts.
I want to hold that blanket forever.

This is from Sumana's prompt at "What's Going On?"  She asked us to write a poem from a child's perspective.

Fifteen Reasons to Remain Silent

 

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Fifteen Reasons to Remain Silent

1.  Because I have nothing to say.
2.  Because what I would say would not interest you.
3.  Because what I would say would offend you.
4.  Because what I would say would bore me.
5.  Because I am afraid of what I would say if I would speak.

6.  Because I can learn by listening.
7.  Because I don't want to share my thoughts.
8.  Because I prefer silence.
9.  Because words are useless.
10. Because no one listens.

11. Because I am afraid to speak.
12, Because I can't find the words.
13. Because I have already said it all.
14. Because I am listening to the thunder.
15. Because talking interrupts my solitude.

Written for "What's Going On?"