Prompt Nine: (food) Cracked it
Jacob’s cream crackers
with tomatoes and cheese
both sliced and layered
atop one another
The first time
I truly appreciated
Salt and Pepper
12th Hour; The Gathering
I do not believe in god; then Corona visited home
Claimed my most precious gem; my little one with her golden smile
I now became that tree, that lived even after lightning struck
But no longer bore leaves or fruits; just a souless living dead
Her angelic face oft floats upto me, in my sleep
I wake up, screaming; was she real or just a waking dream?
And then one day, when the sky shone like sun-ripened hay,
I joined a gathering, a prayer group, hoping to run away from her, her memories…
The chanting, the meditation and their kindness
Created electricity in my body that sent shockwaves all over me
Renewing and breathing new life into the broken tree
I meet them every day; we gather under the temple’s sacred peepal tree
Every time, I close my eyes and chant, “Om”,
A life- force breezes through me; I see her face
Prancing and laughing; I am no longer distressed
Realised she will always be a part of me, in another dimension
The tempest is over; the birds have flown home
There is forever peace all around…
Packing Away
Packing up a life
is not an easy thing to do.
You have to clean out
every drawer;
you may learn things you
never knew.
The finality of knowing
that they aren’t coming back
can pierce you like a dagger
causing a sudden grief attack.
With reverence for a history
that wasn’t yours to hold
you reflect upon your own life
and how you’ll soon be getting old.
And in that moment of awareness
you see the mortal end
when your dearest friends and family
will be packing away again.
Gathering
Hour 12
How strange is this connection,
not by blood but met by fate,
your friends make it live a heaven
Unknowingly, if you meet your mates,
No matter how long the period
those gathering with loving friends,
You Found someone in the hostel team,
Some friends met with notes
some got glued with sips of tea
Many together wandered the streets
Gradually friendship got new depth
and brought them new colors
Some became best of friends
and some were secret partners
The hearts of some have met
and somewhere the threads of protection have been tied
To clear the misunderstandings
sometimes crying, sometimes celebrating,
Sometimes explaining
Is it part of my memories too.
Now that it was time to part ways,
Gatherings a gain will bring everyone together.
There will be nostalgia, there will again be laughter.
The Elders
My Elders on my mother side were very close kin.
Close enough for me to write this poem about them.
As a child we gathered for all types of occasions.
Aunt Bertha was the eldest, she would shush us to go away.
she’d shout, “go sit down yonder,” was her favorite phase.
Off my sister, Karen and I would go into the den.
We were waiting for that Sunday dinner with all the great recipes,
There was speckled butter beans, roast and a pie that made my eyes glow.
My grandma usually made a homemade coconut cake that was the talk of the town.
When those sister sang in the choir at Wadsworth, Church of God. Heaven came down.
I look at pictures of the family that I never seen before, I remember them talking about.
There grandma Nin.
I have one picture of grandma Nin, papa Wm Bryant’s mother.
She was born in 1855 form South Carolina, on into Mississippi, by covered wagon.
That’s where the first seven or eight children were born.
Now, that I am older. I am the elder and I gather with the elders.
We worship together and create our community’s haven.
We must affirm our heritage and edify our people.
We have come a long way, but have so far to grow and go.
That’s ok because instilled in me is a faith that I must follow.
Amira Baraka, bids us to come, men women, child.
The elders always sit in a special seat.
They gave permission for us to speak.
I understand the importance of carrying on our traditions.
Prompt 7 (Ocean photo)
I snap pictures
and spend my time on the sand
where the land greets the ocean
its mystery silences me
It has taught me it’s beauty in being unknown
there are few certain answers
nothing wrong should ever overstay a welcome
either way it is bound to leave debris behind
allow the waves to tell you a story of calm
the serene will transport you to a understanding
of you rarely being truly honest with yourself
The ocean whispers
permission for me to let others admire from afar
and tell themselves stories
It’s crashing waves send indirect reminders
that what you see in it, is a reflection of all the things you are.
A Poem?
Write a poem
thats what they said
now I am laying here
half dead
longing for food
I cannot eat
it takes too long
and might put me to sleep.
Write a poem
and then many more
it’s still early
I have to stay awake
way past four.
I can do it
I know I can
Think of a rhyme
maybe two
keep on going
until I’m through.
Well, how about you?
Hour 11
Delicious
There is a Feeling that all people
Can relate to,
An expression we have
Usually of joy and merriment
It’s mostly universal
And often contagious.
When viewing it from afar
You know it. You can see
The mouth open, then a smile
Will flood the face.
Some will clap or clutch their
Face or chest… some even
Double up or slap their knee.
BabIes can evoke it;
Other humans too with words
Or outright tom foolery
Will often bring forth
From other humans a lovely
often lyrical
Many times involuntary
Vocal emission…
The tell tale sign that
They are joyfully amused
And then miraculously
So are you.
Heartless -Haiku Poem 10/Hour 10
Heartless -Haiku
By: LuvMiFreely
I really loved you
He took my love for granted
Heart has turned to stone
Fire Burning
The keep fire of desire burning,
refuel it day and night
and never let it run out of fire.
When there is will
there will surely be way.
Let your passion grow everyday
and keep moving with determination
When these are kept in place.
be ready to be welcomed to hall of fame.
Focus like an eagle
purse your dream as a lion does,
And run after it like a cheetah.