On a Dare

Universal Studios Lot, Instagram by sessepien, The Mag207

Robert once lived
in an apartment
one story below
his bicycle shop,
walked up and
down steep stairs
three times a day.
As the story goes,
he died on a dare
while riding his bike
up the slope, backward
flipped through the air
and landed head first
in a garbage truck,
his derriere a moon
ripping him buff.

What do you see...

unkempt beds
filled with weeds
cruel and obtrusive,
ghastly eyesores
in need of upkeep

or

flowerbeds over-
flowing with dandelions
as hearts to pick
and make a wish
for Valentine's Day?


**

Poetry Jam~ Dandelion
PU Midweek Motif~ Heart
3WW~ cruel, ghastly, unkempt

Backwards Time

Mother's Day 2013

Through my years of rogue-like wandering
a circuitous path, the ins and outs and ups and downs
at times defiant as a two-year-old,
you remained passive with undying love.

And now you're dying.

I wonder if you know    I know
you stood beside me, a whisper in my heart?
That as a mother you excelled?

I'd like to accelerate backwards time, go back 
and send daily praises to your side, thank you
for mothering me, for instilling family values--

blood a thread of life forever tied to piano keys,
your tender melody woven in my mind.

Today I'll sing your lively tune.

~

Today's Inspiration:
Poetry Jam~ Tribute
3WW~ accelerate, passive, rogue
PU Mid-Week Motif~ Love (in 14 lines)

Siesta Beneath the Clouds

A honeybee flits among a grove of trees
carelessly and free         from oak to elm
the trail it leaves behind a steady stream
of white. Close by, a bear sits on stump,
its arms wide open as if to hug the next
one willing. You grab my hand, stroke
my skin and tell me that you love me as
I roll over in the grass and kiss your lips.

~

Prompt Inspiration:
Poetry Jam~ Look to the Clouds

The Wife

Musician in the Rain by Robert Doisneau
courtesy of The Mag 203

 

Some called him wacky, and rightfully so,

a wife he created from his cello

 

which wasn't that bad, as he played very well

and counted aloud to his dear Annabelle.

 

At times he displayed this musical twist,

a mannerly man in the gray mist

 

but still some thought his mind seemed delayed

when off-key he hummed while looking away.

 

Withdrawal

Refrigerate 

your anxious need

to sugarcoat the situation;

 I'm devoted to helping you
through this phase of life.

I sleep on ice

while you sweat,

watch your weakened body

melt away as scrawny legs

freeze up, refuse to move

without assistance.

I'm here.

 

*

 

Prompt Inspiration:

Poetry Jam~ Refrigerator

Poetic Asides- Stress

3WW~ anxious, devoted, scrawny

A New Attitude & An Announcement

quell the hellish fire within,

burning ire laced with sin

 

scrutinize the lies

you tell yourself,

like
that
you're
nothing

 

don't isolate

or scathe your need

for others

 

instead, be faithful--

burn evil thoughts,
turn toward the light

let it wave
tranquility
throughout your body

 

 

*

 

Prompt Inspiration:

Poetry Jam~ Fire

PU Mid-Week Motif~ Newness

3WW~ faithful, isolate, scrutinize

 

 

*

Good News Announcement:

The cover of my first poetry collection, Upon the Blue Couch, has just been revealed. For more information, please visit my author page at Winter Goose Publishing.

Happy New Year

Bridge into the new year
filled with opportunity,
a chance to clean the slate.

Wonderment~ what’s in store
on the other side. Hang tight
to railing during storms.

*

Give Me You

We'll discuss gifts
if you insist,

but I must expose
how my intentions arose--

a brief moment of clarity
when time became a mystery

and all the stuff I could touch
didn't matter that much.

What's more meaningful to me
is you beside the Christmas tree.


*
Prompt Inspiration~
Poetry Jam: Gifts
3WW: brief, expose, insist
Poetic Bloomings: The Nasher

Always Right

Manipulate
the sheets,
tuck them in
just right.

Not a wrinkle
to be seen--
feet covered,
blanket tight.

A bitter
(sweet) ritual
you go over
each night

          (again and again and again)

that I know
to follow,
or lightning
might strike.


*

Poetic Inspiration~
Poetry Jam: Lightning
3WW: bitter, manipulate, tight
Poetic Asides PAD, Day 20: Always ___ (as title)

The Syrofoam Cup

limited: caffeine intake
from this Styrofoam cup
where the last gulp is my second
and the first a wake-up

call, aggressive
when you're down all night
trying to get comfortable
in that cold bed of white

noise, I'm a fetus
trying to stay warm
with heightened awareness
each move an alarm

clock, sleep's a dream
weak coffee, last hope
as sterile as this room
a Styrofoam cup



**
Poetic Inspiration~
Poetry Jam- The Last
PU Verse First- The Ordinary
3WW- aggressive, heighten, limited

The Nurse

Desert of Backs by Carl Warner

amplify your moan,

a sigh

you criticize

how I

make you sit up in bed

and try to stand,

demand

you push your limits

while you can

(I know you can)

move back

to where you were

 

*

 

Poetic Inspiration~

 

Poetry Jam- What Do You Know For Sure?

Poetic Asides PAD, Day 6- Perspective

3WW- amplify, criticize, moan

PU Verse First- The Body Becomes the Landscape