Weeds as Flowers and Homes as Castles

Holly picked flowers for her mum
from the backyard bed unattended

only to watch as her mother
made a wish for a bigger house
blew, then threw the stems away

only to approach the scarlet rosebush
and proclaim them a better choice
pick, then prick her middle finger

Holly gathered flowers for herself
and ran inside her safe castle.

@laurie kolp

Poetry inspiration: One Single Impression (Weeds), Carry on Tuesday (No place like home)

The Taproot

If I should die think only this of me;
a bird's eye view brings life serenity.
Attach an open mind and loving heart
to do God's will a prayer each morning start
(with forgiveness as the taproot is the key).


@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration: Carry on Tuesday (*first line from Rupert Brooke's poem The Soldier- "If I should die, think only this of me"), also linked to Poetry Potluck

Coloring Outside the Lines

In my head I paint a picture*
of how my life should be
who says what in this or that
situation... which never happens.

Anxiety forms a playground
where doubt and fear can spin
colors twirl and splash everywhere
a blob... no one understands.

Why worry about tomorrow
they say with nonchalance
you don't have to color
in the lines... let it go.

*from Amy Winehouse's "Valerie"

@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration: d'Verse, Carry On Tuesday

This Debt-Crisis Melee

Neither a borrower nor a lender be
lest you get stuck in this debt-crisis melee
where all the world's a vaudeville stage,
and though this be madness acting in rage,
jaws drop like flies worried eyes open wide
as the audience awaits the winning side.


@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration: Carry on Tuesday

Stealing Time for Love

Little I ask

my wants are few*

no money do I beg for

only time with you.

Is that enough

our love to feed anew?

Thy breath I feel upon my skin

let’s steal an hour or two.

@laurie kolp

Prompt Inspiration: Carry On Tuesday

*Little I ask, my wants are few: the first line of Oliver Wendell Holmes’ poem Contentment

Butterfly or Bee?

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. ~ Muhammad Ali

Float like a butterfly…

Intricate patterns

a stained-glass window

 bright and bold colors

yellows, blues, purples

reds, oranges and blacks

truly nature’s collage.

Each wing a mirror image

symmetry no man can match

immaculately reproduced

exactly perfect each time,

fluttering by with class

light, airy and dainty

a gentle breeze that stirs the air

each fragrant blossom floats

barely noticed, blatantly beautiful

the miraculous butterfly.

*

  …sting like a bee

She lives her Stepford-wife life

putting on quite the facade

to make herself look better

than all the rest. She reels

in those five-inch heels like

she’s the queen of the world,

the best. Chilling eyes ski down

a deep steep nose as if you

were a wee little bee. To tell

you the truth, that’s what I’d

like to be-- a bee buzzing around

her fake cake face, fancy hair

scaring her half to death

stinging her just right there!

*

@laurie Kolp

Prompt inspiration: Carry On Tuesday

Cheery Cherry Thought

Beware thoughts that come in the night
of homemade cherry pie ice cream delight
from the darkened void a brief respite;
these cravings camouflage unspoken fright.

@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration~ Poetry Jam: picture & Carry On Tuesday: “Beware thoughts that come in the night,” (opening lines of William Least Heat-Moon’s novel Blue Highways)

Cosmic Phoenix

At the end of every poem
space fills the begging page,
a void in this poet’s mind
whirling in a growing cage.

“So little done, so much to do,”
echoes doubtful muse of mine.
“Why can’t I set you free
Cosmic Phoenix so divine?”

@laurie kolp


*Prompt inspiration: Carry On Tuesday, “So little done, so much to do.” ~Cecil Rhodes

The Bus from Nowhere

A deserted road dusty
barbecue in the summer sky,
alone she frets and paces
growing fears petrify

until the old school bus,
a mirage, does appear
old and frail the driver
an invitation full of cheer.

Bombarded when she climbs aboard
fragrant pleasures titillate,
a sense of peace encompasses
as warming vibes stimulate.

From the empty depths magnetic
an unkempt stranger does allure
in a second, she’s beside him
no longer lost, she is sure.

The dream, the trip, the memories
a greyhound on the run--
when at last she landed home
she knew He’d sent his son.

@laurie kolp

Prompt inspiration: Carry on Tuesday

Carry On Tuesday

Say No to Hate, Yes to Love

*

everyone, everywhere

pointing fingers, cursing names

who did what when where how why

full of hatred, full of blame

I see it in the schoolyard

shopping malls and county seats

he said she said we said they

blah blah blah- it’s grave deceit

each day we have a brand new choice

to live this way or not

after all tomorrow is another day*

it may be all we’ve got

so try, just try this once

compassion, love and grace

in every new endeavor

let’s put a smile on each face
*

@laurie kolp

Carry on Tuesday prompt this week was to use the famous line (or part of it) from Gone With the Wind in a poem.