24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
after a lifetime of wearing
the clichéd compliments I tore to tatty clothes
and lying awake over the taxes
you paid for trying to love me
and hiding under the bed
each cent of your evaporated dignity
I will suddenly believe
and start collecting mists and rain
to shower down on your shoulders strained
and water each thirsty furrow around your eyes
till they flower into withering relief
2 people 3 eggs 4 pieces of toast
2 glasses 2 juices 1 coffee I hope
3 bowls of Iams 2 waters for folks
to wake up and smell injustice
to wake up and wipe it clean
to wake up to change tomorrow
and lose your fragility
Alice has seven sons,
but six are actually hers.
I just include myself,
seeing that I am the one
she calls whenever she needs
something “important” done.
Number 1 in her heart;
number 1 on her speed dial.
Master of nothing, I’m a jack of all trades.
“Just Google it and get me a hammer.”
Doctor, gardener, poet, psychologist,
pool boy, chauffeur, secretary, chef,
friend, personal trainer, greeter, host,
beach buddy, delivery man, lifeguard.
The list goes on
like a rollercoaster without an end.
We often finish each other’s sentences,
and we accept the never-ending salad bowl at
Olive Garden as a challenge.
She loves Shakespeare, lasagna, and
“It’s to die for,”
is uttered after almost every desert.
I hope I have her energy when I hit 80.
Just talking with her can make me exhausted.
Everyone needs an Alice,
because she makes life go on
with laughter and love.
How beautiful you are
If only you could see
This yellow picture
This sweet pure portrait hung on my mind
Which I took of you
Of you in your yellow dress and scarf
And the sunset setting
On your sweet yellow smile…
ii.Oh Dear May
Oh Dear May, let me take with you.
Oh dear Lavaana, why should I?
Oh Dear May, I want to reap the harvest
Oh Dear Lavaana, that’ll be hard for soft hand of thy.
Oh Dear May, I need to be with the rest.
Oh Dear Lavaana, That’s unlikely a princess’s deeds.
Oh Dear May, It’s an order from the princess.
Your Majesty, as you wish.
The recipe for recovery
is to first, please admit
that your world is simply shit
life is a shambles
with its choking vines and brambles
and powerless you are
can’t do food sanely anymore.
Second, you need a gallon of faith
belief in a higher power
or something, anything
that gets you through the hour
a shoulder to lean on
a helpful book to make you strong.
Third, a sprinkle of trust
turn life over, you must
into God’s loving care
he’ll have lots
of help to spare.
And fourth, most importantly
write down all that ails thee
every little bitty sin
to wipe your old slate
clean again
to heal those things
that once had you pinned.
Fifth, a smidge of confidentially
take it all and give it away
admit each wrong before the nighty
to yourself, a friend and almighty
and life will soon be quite alrighty.
Ingredients six through twelve, see
be entirely and fully ready
a pinch of humility
admitting harm to others quickly
log continuing inventory
meditate, and pray daily
and share this blessing
so others be free.
– Sandra Johnson
Thin foil falls flanel, fostering faster from feast
freeze fury after framing it with focus fist,
far East away, furthest idea falling fringe,
Fiercely for fantasy feathered on fan,
finally some good news fintech from flashing
false advance related to trust fullfill faster.
Felling familiar first, if I fail this with silver
everything false from it, perhaps floating
efs fest same in advance by Pharr
Ingredients :
1. TRUCKLOAD OF HOPE
2. AMPLE AMOUNT OF OPTIMISM
3. MUCH NEEDED FOCUS (KEEP SOME ASIDE FOR GARNISHING)
4. PLENTY OF GRATITUDE
5. TINCH OF PATIENCE
Preparation Time :
From feeling hopeless to becoming resourceful
Cook Time :
From a frown till a smile
Total Time :
Indefinite
Servings :
Unlimited
Level Of Cooking :
High Priority
Author :
Anshu
Course :
Spending Time – Self Quarantine
Cuisine :
Lessons Of Life
Method :
Step 1 –
Prick your heart and fill it full with hope, and deep fry till it turns golden.
Step 2 –
Drain and remove all the pessimism. Heat your emotions in a non-tear pan, add smiles, friends and family paste, dreams, plans, activities, love, and laughter. Saute till the fragrance of optimism comes fresh and strong.
Step 3 –
Add chopped games, sing and dance paste, and little art. Mix well and allow the mixture to sink in your heart. Add books, knowledge, and goals. Additionally, add a pinch of patience. Toss well add ½ cup focus and plenty of gratitude. Cook till the feeling thickens.
Step 4 –
Garnish with focus. Serve hot.
Shall I compare thee to a nuclear bomb?
Atomic explosion, within your smile,
But no pink glow, just “Boom!” and then it’s gone,
The effect outlasts You by a long while.
Destroyed by heat, 10 million tonnes TNT,
Contained in your kisses, e’en through the phone,
Indiscriminately violent, your love for me.
Though my health improved, I’m still vomiting
Pools of blood, soak the floor, begin to seep,
Cast permanent stains on me, positing
Questions about my presence – I can’t sleep.
On the horizon, the glow, miles away,
Meaning one thing – you are “in love” again.
That night after the commotion
I found my moon imprisoned
behind a chin-link fence
thanks to neighbors
who had money for such things
from my bed confined
That one window my only
the moon my recurring
companion
my visitor in the dark
if clouds showed mercy
so immediate
so full of sensibles
of my youth
Granted the view was
imperfect already
through salted pane
corroded screen
and eyeglass smudges
(when I bothered the fumbling)
but
this shiny new fence
mocked my simple need
adding a new layer between
me and her face
the one I remembered tucked
under a warm coat on a chill evening
in the autumn behind the dorm
back when autumn held
possibilities