THE OTHER
Too confusing to be advertised
as desirable
This world is no less
inhabitable than yours
Chemistry enables the crossing
Books direct to traverse
bridges over strained
personalities
born to this realm
this other dimension
#Prompt 23 – 2023
Lost Escape
Deep in the ocean
Under the seabed
Is a path to adventure
Only the brave will tread
Through an invisible portal
In a rock that’s not there
Is a world like no other
Let me take you there …
The land is purple
The sun darkened blue
Creatures with wings fly
And those without them do to
The air feels like honey
The sea foams like wine
Trees grow sweet treats
That taste so divine
Morning is night
Daytime is cold
When stars want to play
It’s a wonder to behold
Bats smell like liquorish
Puppies meow
Kitten have horns and forked tails
Their feet planted in hell
Some vaguely remember
An escape now long for
But when you’re all grown-up
You won’t find the door
Concrete jungle
Hour 11
Monotonous grey buildings everywhere
Can’t walk without bumping into others
Living our same mechanical lives
Same routine, same ugly views
Yearning for some green views
For the glimpse of a flowing river
To walk under tall trees
Here even the plants are artificial
Lungs filled with polluted air
Stomach filled with junk food
Mind filled with insecurities
This concrete jungle is eating us inside out
True Story
She walked toward me
up a dark staircase,
as I put away boxes
of too many things to own.
I saw her dark hair in my periphery
wearing a blue skirt,
white shirt, short sleeve,
and a vest of Aztec design.
She was tall and thin,
like Sharon, the woman
in the room down the hall
who hated me for eating meat.
Strange bird, Sharon –
Gray with two faces.
Still, I tried, as I always do
to change her heart.
Then, just as I was about to say
“Sharon, you changed your hair!”
she disappeared. Yes, just vanished
into thin air.
It wasn’t Sharon.
Hour 23: Barbieland – A Distant Dream
As I watched the Barbie movie,
I couldn’t help thinking about what our world would be if it was more like it.
A world where every woman could truly dream to be whatever she wanted.
Unfettered by glass ceilings or skeptics, or, in more extreme cases,
Threats of violence.
On the contrary, a world in which all men admired, and supported,
the aspirations of their daughters, sisters, or wives.
A world where women would support, rather than compete with each other,
because there is space for more than one at the table.
Where each woman treats her sister with the respect and kindness
that she would want for herself, even if she isn’t currently afforded any.
And together, we can shape a better world each day.
A world where every woman is considered beautiful, in their unique way.
Be it Stereotypical Barbie, Mermaid Barbie, or Weird Barbie.
Where men are not chasing a body fat number or skin color,
but rather a person, flawed, complex, but whole.
Where women are more than just their looks.
A world that ours strives to be like, no doubt.
But like Barbie discovered when she entered our world,
this is a distant dream.
Hour 23
Almost there! Going to double check again that I haven’t missed any other hours. Can’t believe I had missed hour three. But I caught it.
Hour 23
Tired body
Wandering mind
Lack of focus
Missing energy
Too much walking
Not enough sleep
Hoping that words flow
Pleading for lines to make sense
Hour 23
chilly flakes
a sprinkle of my native land
on the pizza
Dark Before Dawn
It’s been a long road,
upon which I’ve scraped raw the pads of my feet
over rough stone and potholed streets
The roads’ end is still tucked determinedly in the horizon
I don’t know how much farther is left to go
But I suppose I ought to keep moving
(Hour 23)
Hour 11. Nether worlds of Hinduism
Scary is the inferno of Dante so you fear to sin
but the nether worlds of Hinduism denote not hell
Seven are they in number, verily known as
Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala
The lowest level is Patala the abode of great serpents
Too deep for the Sun to extend his rays down there
Jewels of every kind, known and unknown, abound
Casting lights of various shades.
home for Beautiful groves, lakes and demon maidens
Palaces dot the world designed by Maya the demon architect
Death dares not cast his long shadows therein.
Sweet fragrance hangs in the air and superb music pervades
Soil is white, black, purple, sandy, yellow, stony and also of gold.
Positive energy resonates all around
Why then hanker for heaven?
Prompt 23
Architecture is Art
structured without
caricatures and flower beds
it is the nonverbal attempt to explore
with the mind power and wealth