24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
Hi all! My name is Antoinette Le Roux (legally still Keyser, but I have divorced my abusive husband, and am in the process of becoming Le Roux again), and I live in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa. I have been writing poetry since forever, but have never really published anything except on Facebook, Wattpad and my WordPress blog… and more recently on one or two websites as gigs that I’ve done on Fiverr. My main reason for entering this Marathon is to get my butt in gear: I have known since my elementary school days that I am a writer deep down inside, but received nothing but ridicule from my school peers, teachers… and even my father who has tried to push me into becoming an architect. He used to ridicule me when I tried to express myself singing and he used to tell me that writing is for the “less intelligent”; he made me believe that a woman “cannot make it as a singer or as an author”. Both my husbands simply made me believe that I am “good for nothing”, the second one even going as far as to call me a “good for nothing mad ‘effing’ bitch”! Needless to say, when one gets told the same nonsense so perpetually one really actually believes all the verbal crap that gets flung at one… Now, with my dad, peers and abusive husbands long gone… and with the internet as an awesome resource telling me to my face that all those people were actually liars, I have now decided that it’s better late than never. I am getting into the world of authors, come what may… I know that I can do it, and this Marathon is a great opportunity to show myself that I can because what I really need is the motivation and self-confidence to step out and DO IT! And here I am then, at age 60, breaking into the world where I know that I belong! I’m coming home so to speak! Good luck to everyone who will participate, and may we all survive! © 2015 Antoinette LeRoux
Image Courtesy of “DimitrisVetsikas” at Pixabay
Dog’s have a special kind of magic.
What lies captive in the eyes of a dog
Is worth wondering about,
Since the thoughts of a dog
Are pure and true.
The stare of a dog capivates,
And holds one captive at the same time.
Once a dog has assessed a human
It never changes its perspective.
The words “First impressions last”
Is truest with a dog. Their instinct never fails
For that reason, I will always be a dog person
Antoinette LeRoux © 2019
Image courtesy of Soorelis at Pixabay
I am happy, then I am sad;
I am young but feel so old
Then I am old but feel so young;
Sometimes, I am “just me”
Other times, I am everyone
I could possibly think to be
When I’m awake, I am “just me”
But in my dreams, I am “real me”
In my dreams I am Elven Princess
When I’m awake I just pretend to be…
I am chrysalis waiting to come into being
Soon, I’ll be able to say: “I am Butterfly”
Antoinette LeRoux © 2019
My kitchen is small and warm
Just big enough for me and my Sasha.
She’s all that I need in my little kitchen
She is my dog, I don’t people around
She’s all that I need:
My Sasha…
Antoinette LeRoux © 2016
My Sasha, now 10 months old
Storm that rumbles loud
Waves that fall on rocks beneath
Tears that stain the sand
Blue clouds that keep on coming
To break and shatter my dreams
Antoinette LeRoux © 2016
Images courtesy of Google Images
Dear Loved One,
I cannot express myself too clearly
When I vocalise the words
So I have decided
To write you this poem:
King of your castle, the world at your feet…
That’s how I prefer to see you my Sweet;
But the smile on your face seems different, today
As it touches your eyes in down tones of Gray.
The tone in your voice spells the fear in your heart,
Revealing a lifetime of bruises and scars.
Action speaks louder than words as you try
To disguise your wounded soul
While you silently cry
For moments and years that were twisted by fate,
And for time that was wasted through senseless debate.
But with me, dear Beloved, you don’t have to pretend –
Just relax in my presence – let me help you to mend
All that terrible brokenness – conquer all strife
As you slowly, but surely, step back into life.
Antoinette LeRoux © 2016
Image courtesy of Google Images
Pardon me, old fellow
Don’t you think that’s a bit harsh?
Telling her off like that
And then leaving with a mere:
“Have a nice day”?
Guess you’ve never heard
That you could hurt your wife’s feelings?
Guess not! Well it’s time for me to leave now
And I leave you with this:
Saying “Welcome home” to her
Would not have taken anything from you.
It’s called “common courtesy…”
Have a nice day!
Antoinette LeRoux © 2016
Image courtesy of Google Images
You never won any titles, but you irrevocably won my heart.
You ruled your Canine peers like a Queen-
Your authority was absolute and uncontested,
Your doggy bark-talk was soft but firm…
Your deeply seated unwavering maternal instinct
Ensured the safety of your babies with utter confidence…
“Siegerin”, “Grand Victrix” or “Champion”
Would never form a part of you pedigree
But in my heart that seat always belongs to you.
You will always be “Riska” – My OWN little “Siegerin”
Riska – uncontestably “Champion…
When you walked into the ring you were proud –
Self-confident, like an Africa Princess
Blue blood flowed warm through your veins
Your muscles were supple and perfect
A burning fire glowed in your eyes
And inner strength showed off
Your noble character that flashed from your being
With open pride and skilfully toned beauty
Nobody and nothing could ever extinguish
The flame within you…
Nothing…
…except that which was latent in your genes
Even before you were born…
…which lay cold and evil,
Waiting to steal exactly that which you exalted
With each breath, sound and movement…
…your life…
Had I but known but beforehand…
Perhaps then you would have stood a chance…
Who would have thought that this hour of hellish brokenness,
This moment of brutal separation,
Would come so quick and sudden,
So black and oh so lonely?
Why did the cruel cancer had to choose you?
You were but 8 years old…
Why did it have to be your clear brown eyes,
Always burning with fire and self-confidence,
That so suddenly turned dull and lifeless?
Why your beautiful head that suddenly
Came to rest against my shoulder?
Why did I, whom you have trusted above all else
Have to be the one that ultimately betrayed you?
Why me? Why you… my Riska?
Antoinette LeRoux © 2016
My Riska (1990 – 1998)
I bid you farewell, dear Friend
I just came from a meeting
Found out about betrayal
With “friends” like you
I don’t need any enemies
You’re a crappy example
Of the meaning of “friend”
Don’t ask any questions
And you’ll hear no lies
Just know that I do not consider you
To be my best friend anymore
When I walk through this door
My back will be turned…
I bid you farewell, dear “friend”…
Antoinette LeRoux © 2016
Image courtesy of Google Images
Heart sends blood to brain
Brain sends message to body
Body runs away
Antoinette LeRoux © 2016
Image courtesy of TheAtlantic.com
Next to the river
On the path through the mountains
I have lost my heart…
Antoinette LeRoux © 2016
