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The Win, Fantastic

sweet is victory

tasted first

at its capture,

in heart's memory

forever savored.

 

My submission for this week's photo prompt by Laura Salas.  Join us, won't you?

 

Rememberies

he wore roach-stompin' cowboy boots

black and patched in skins,

out of fashion more than in,

neither

his concern,

but sometimes...

mine.

skin sandpaper

in shadows after five,

and

grizzly-sized hugs

still felt

in empty places. 

he loved mirrors, and until twilight,

they loved him back.

his voice was gravel and boss

and "I'm sorry" was rare

but "I love you" was often

which is better, anyway,

i think.

haunted by

the unspoken,

weighted and broken

but stubborn

or weary

or proud...

the way of many

but not mine.

i hope.

i pray.

sharing

blood

and legacy

sometimes

i miss him more than others.

today.

 

 

 

Wintery mix 15 Words or Less Poems

Ruby lips

spill toxic words,

thorny kiss,

frosty daggers, 

piercing heart and marrow.

Looks deceive.

 

Winter's preview:

breaths' swirling smoke,

frosty kisses,

trees stripped bare--

Hot chocolate & sweaters, 

necessary.

 

* * * * * * *

Two...two for the price of one!  This week's photo prompt for Laura's "15 Words or Less Poems" could hold me hostage a while, it's gorgeous!  It's funny to me how photographs inspire me, though...these poems came fast and furious, but I couldn't quite manage a child-like voice (which Laura encouraged this week, at least for herself).  

Your turn:  Wanna try your own "15 Words"?  DO share in comments or let me know your thoughts about mine!  

Photo credit:  Laura Salas

 

 

 

 

It woulda been a WHOLE 'nother thing had I gone for a literal interpretation

 

Wisdom

sight,

obscured

by circumstance

and

poor decision's consequence,

restored by

Light.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

My week's entry for Laura Salas' "15 Words or Less Poems."  Her photo, my words.  Feel free to scribe your own in comments or at your blog spot (just be sure to tell me!).

 

 

Morning inspiration

Morning inspires me.  I don't know why, but there's something about quiet and sunrise and the birth of new day that delights and enlivens me.  Maybe that's explanation enough.

In any event, before I write anything else, I often write a few lines of verse to welcome the day.  Though I often share them on Twitter, I haven't recorded them elsewhere.  Thump on the head for ME!  To remedy that, my plan du jour is to stockpile 'em in a drafted post, and I'll publish it weekly (or more likely, when I remember :) ).  

Here's the first batch...and I'd love to hear your thoughts or verses in response!

 

Silence of morning

The sounds of sleep & early

Music to my ears.

* * * * *

Morning is breaking

Slowly I'm waking. Son to

school, I am taking.

{I can't decide whether to celebrate or revile the rhyme... :)}

 * * * * * * *

First thought of morning

Grateful, heart-felt praise:  thank you!

Each day is a gift

* * * * * * *

Morning's cup in hand

This day yet to be written

Brimming with promise

* * * * * * *

Stormy morning rain

Strobed lights, percussive music

a splashy tap dance

 

"Beware Walmart Shoppers" ~ a social commentary in 15 words or less

Her photo prompt, my 15 Words of Less Poem. Quite possibly the oddest combination of words & pictures I've posted to date; I think I shall title this one ~ 

 

Beware Walmart Shoppers

the absurd

demands attention.

a trainwreck

amuses, entertains, disgusts,

helpless to look away.

retinas blistered.

 

This week was a stretch for me; I knew what I wanted to say, but a 15-word-limited can be challenging!  Hopefully, you'll get the gist of it....

Be sure to visit Laura for more "15 words or less poems" or to enter your own!  It's a fast, fun, creative exercise.

Your turn:  As I said, this was a creative, POETIC stretch for me; I kept wanting to CAPTION this.  If any fun(ny) (or otherwise) captions came to your mind, DO SHARE in comments!  Your humorous and/or poignant thoughts will be a delight to all!

 

 

Self reflection

 

i reach for

scattered memories

elusive or captured,

joy and haunt,

life's measure in moments.

 

 

*   *   *   *   *

My entry for this week's "15 Words or Less Poems"; visit Laura for more information and to enter your own.  (See Laura's blog for photo credit.)

Broken minds and perspective

Chronicled fours years ago as my siblings and I watched my father's slow-motion, heart-breaking end-of-life, this poem stands as one of the most important pieces I've ever penned.  As my heart bleeds words in witness of painful circumstance, I never let go of hope.  

Be encouraged.  For those struggling with parent-child role reversal and the indignity, difficulty and grief it brings...you can trust in the hope Christ offers.  

Bookend

 

 

 

Flesh and bone
Heart still beating
Only motion
Breathing, eating.
Prison cruel
A living dead
Mocking laughter
Fill my head.

Revolving faces
Known or not.
Doesn’t matter:
Cold or hot.
Day or week or month or year
Time suspended.
Left, much fear.

Coherent thought
Now eluding.
Takes its place
Thought deluding
Monsters lurk at every door.
Mind held captive, wanting more.

Always looping, endless reel
Flashbacks true? Are they real?
Footing, sure or steady—Either!
Mind or body, I have neither
Sons and daughters
Are they mine?
Once familiar, now benign.

Time for bed or time for tea
DOES NOT MATTER, can’t you see?
Broken bones one day will mend
Broken minds do not end.
Paranoia. Panic. Dreams.
Nothing ever as it seems.

Holding pattern. Purgatory.
Agonizing end of story.
Regret and sin, confession weeps.
Forgiveness…please? My soul to keep.
Child-like prayers, can You hear?
Silent screams in Spirit’s ear.

Tender Peace
Invade his soul.
Loving God, make him whole.
Glory’s touch. Eternal light.
Radiance, diffuse this night

Balm the heart. Salve the pain
Lose this world and You he'll gain.
Forever healed, end of strife 
Truth, a person, kiss of life. 

Every mom should earn a million dollars

The Malodorous Plight of Mother and Son

 

"The foulest stench is in the air

The funk of forty thousand years*"

I hold my breath, near despair

Wicked boys, give way to cheers.

Confined within too small a space

Putrid, vile, scent-clouds descend

I cover nose, wipe tears from face

I beg, "Dear God, please let this end!"

It makes them laugh, it swells their pride

To hear my protests, helpless cry.

Did two skunks crawl deep inside

These boys, and then proceed to die???

"Roll the windows down!" I squeal

Their feet now out, but flowers wilt

This smell much worse than rotting veal

The boys, laugh, not a shred of guilt.

Consequence of Summer's heat,

What on earth could be more splendid?

No more sweaty, stinky feet--

Soccer camp has finally ended!

Your turn:  Can you relate?  CAN I GET A WITNESS?  Please, help me--do you have any remedies for rillyRILLY smelly feet?  We've tried Sneaker Balls in his cleats, but that doesn't help the parts attached to his body.  Help a mother out???

 * This is what I was thinking when driving home, and in my mind's ear I could hear Vincent Price chanting these words in Michael Jackson's "Thriller".

The most insane sonnet you'll ever read

Pollen

Fairy dust sprinkles in yellows and gold

Powdery rain leaves its Spring tell-tale sign

Microgametophytes soon will be bold

New life will come forth, a touch of Divine.

Before proud timbers can dress in their green,

Preceding the show of floral delight,

Teary eyes, drippy nose; insistent, obscene--

Grab tissues and Zyrtec, armed for the fight!

Requisite evil, makes me furious!

Can't go outside and not feel its effect.  

Why'd God create it?  Aren't you curious?

Here's one idea (feel free to object):

Sometimes life's bothers are means to the ends.

Beauty from ashes is all He intends.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I wrote this for National Poetry Month in conjunction with (in)courage's April Creative Challenge; after beginning several "serious" Spring-themed sonnets, and then reading many of the wonderful submissions, it sounded like that's what several had in mind.  I started over, obviously going in a VERY different Spring/Sonnet direction.

How 'bout we make this a challenge for Pensieve's Poetic License, too?  Try your hand at a Spring-themed sonnet, let me know in comments, then link up here to share your poem with a broader audience!  If you don't have a blog, don't be shy--leave your submission in comments.

If you complete it by 10:00 p.m. EST on April 17th, you'll be eligible to win a $25 giftcard to the darlin', DARLIN' (in)courage shop!  {Click their badge in my right sidebar to see all you can buy whether or not you win! :) }

Photo Credit