To Those Who Took Offense
I didn’t give a damn.
I was feeling puckish.
Hour 13. (2019)
Yawp
To sing from the soul
To test the acoustics of the cosmos
To write with your blood and tears
To be uncontrollable in your passion
Universe unfolding
Universe can gigantic or colossal in vastness
Boundless and limitless in thousand combinations
Creating and destructing all in its avenue
Further development can be unappreciable
Seeing it on various combination
Agitating the spirit of known species
Captivating avenues seen in the eyes of astronomers
Capturing in the lens of technology
Sharing it can a mere quazar
Prompt # 16 Hour # 13
9:00 AM PHT 23/06/2019
Waiting on the Tide
It’s the second day of summer and it’s bringing everything great
Cold beer and barbecues and baseball players sliding across home plate
But while folks are at the lake on their boats and water skis
At the beach soaking up the sun and enjoying the warm sea breeze
I sit counting down the days and marking off the calendar page
Til they turn the crimson elephants loose from their Tuscaloosa cage
I just can wait to see them stampede and trample run other teams down
Bringing a rolling tide to every landlocked Southern town
They will be the envy of the nation as they build up success
The result of furious practice and a legendary Process
The volunteers and razorbacks and those blasted tigers too
Will all go under when the Crimson Tide rolls through
I know that the team is working hard through two a days
And they are sharpening their tusks on some brand new plays
But it’s still two months til the season starts and we bid summer adieu
So until then I can only shout a proud Roll Tide to you
Rainbow
poem 13
A promise,
a symbol,
a new light.
A sign that the storm is ending.
A spectrum of color,
a signal of new birth.
We marvel at its mastery,
this masterpiece
inspiring art.
-h.e.m.
No turning back
how do you go back to the old thread of life
…when there is nothing to go back to
…when everything has moved forward
and left you
ERASED The Little Prince (excerpt) by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
It was then that the king appeared
“Good morning”, said the king
“Good morning”, said the maid
Though she saw no one
“I am right here “,the king said “under the bridge”
And the king grabbed her hand
To the palace they will find
The old priest who will be
The one to wed them gladly.
#11 From the Chemo Side of Fifty
Dear Twenty-Two,
I’m only going to shout this once;
my mouth hurts,
my throat,
my teeth,
my heart and soul.
So, listen up!
I remember—
You are incredibly overwhelmed,
changing the bedpan,
keeping the sheets clean,
muting your heartache.
Your emotions are jangled.
You are a mess.
Yet, you are holding it together. Really together.
Three things I would impart
And pray they find your heart:
When she dies, she will be gone forever.
No one ever understands that until it’s done.
You think you do; you don’t.
Take time to hold her hand,
as well as change the bedpan.
Take time to smooth her sore shoulders,
as well as the sheets.
Take a breath, a deep one,
and let her scent linger,
embedded in your memory.
Take time to let her frail arms hold you;
You are going to need it later,
when there are no long hugs
to keep you from shaking,
from shattering…
When I have none, but those remembered.
Cry. It’s ok.
I remember—
you think it will make her sad,
cause her more pain,
look like you can’t handle the job.
It doesn’t matter if you can handle it;
It matters if she knows you feel the sorrow too.
II
You are going to need to recall these emotions—
How she handles it with grace,
no matter how undignified
the hair loss,
the vomit,
the over-medicated moments.
How her abilities vanish,
one by one,
and she pretends…
she doesn’t notice you noticing.
How to walk tall—
even from a wheelchair,
a scarf on your head,
a bruised vein in your arm.
You. Will. Need. To. Know. This. Later.
There is a final exam.
III Final Point
Don’t let the lessons slide:
Someday,
you will have daughters
who need to be told—
over and over again—
that your pain is…
Not. Their. Fault.
That
Every
Little
Thing
they do for your comfort,
is a gift
you receive,
welcome,
and cherish.
You will need
to build moments,
just like Mom does,
that will be engraved
on their hearts—
Moments
of joy,
of selflessness,
of unbelievable strength through tears—
because that is what she taught you.
That is your legacy,
from her,
to us,
to the next generation
of beautifully strong women.
Women of dignity.
Women of courage.
Whose glory is not their hair…but their heart.
Dear Twenty-Three,
She is gone.
You did your best. I remember—
Now, breathe.
Erased Juxtaposition (H12)
Mornning awareness
empty dark thought
beyond unexpected furniture
laughing