Reflections
The circle of lights
reflects through the window,
hovering in the yard like
a flying saucer.
Hour 10 -Goodbye My Love, and Farewell – Image Prompt
Goodbye my love, and farewell
I love you, I really do,
I rest easy knowing that’s true
But it was not meant to be
Our fates took you far from me
I love you, I really do,
But thanks to time, cruel mistress,
I am alone now without you.
You died too soon,
To save you I would need a time machine
And magic
Separated forever, before our marriage
It’s tragic.
I love you, I really do,
I could mourn you forever and a day
But you would not want it that way.
I can hear just what you’d say
If you saw me living that way
I love you, I really do,
You haunt me loudly but with grace
You hold me gently to your face
A sweet farewell, a chaste embrace
Goodbye my love, and farewell
I’ll see you in heaven where true love dwells.
DogSpeak #10 Sage Advice
DogSpeak #10 Sage Advice
Everyone loves us –
wiggle butts, lolling tongues
lapping water in all directions,
silky fur begging to be petted,
gleeful joy at meeting
a stranger because we know
how to make friends.
Everyone loves a cute puppy
with cutsie poopsies
and flippy floppy ears;
even though they don’t
understand sit/stay/come,
they know the secret
to sociable/acceptable behavior.
Humans cannot master it,
too proud to wag their tail
and not their tongue, spouting
opinions as if they weren’t like
diapers – full of crap and in need
of frequent changing.
Keep in mind cats could care less
about what you think about celebs,
current events, political manure,
even what kind of litter works best;
just attend to them like royalty.
Dogs mind everything
and everyone’s business; we want
the world to love us and if you
decide not to, we will hound you
(no pun intended) until you decide
we are to be friended.
Learn from us, we are zen.
When tempted to shout out
sharing a piece of your mind
about anything that may make
someone uncomfortable/unhappy/
ungentle, keep your muzzle shut.
~ J R Turek
A TRIAD LETTER POEM (hour 6)
My darling daughter,
When I left the house that New Years Day,
I ended up dying.
Thought I was indestructible,
but the highway got me in the end.
We never said goodbye.
I can only imagine how a loss
so abrupt made its home
inside your developing psyche.
Your mom must have been in shock,
Then she had to give birth.
Must have been awful.
I’m so very sorry.
Love Dad
Daughter,
He left me too, you know.
that New Year’s Day…
Alone with two children and
a half finished house.
I was blinded by rage so I nurtured
you and took it out on your
brother while you watched
helpless, powerless.
Then later I denied all.
Years go by and I’m very old,
You take me in and
you never outwardly
blame me – after
all your brother came out
broken-I couldn’t handle him.
What was I supposed to do?
But…I had a peaceful end.
I’m sort of sorry.
Mom
Renae,
When I died I was angry.
I blamed you- you left and
Never looked back.
They put me in the state hospital –
made me a zombie.
You tried to visit I know but
She controlled that too.
I’m with them now and I
Have peace-you should too.
There was nothing you could have done.
She was not self-aware
She couldn’t love me.
You did. I know that now.
And…You took away gifts from
this and use them to help
Others – keep doing that
And be at peace sister.
Love Paul
Eliza the Forgetful Elephant – Hour Ten
Eliza the Elephant was a strong and personable friend to many but she has one problem. She was forgetful. Being forgetful is not a good trait for elephants. Not only was Eliza ridiculed by many, especially the hyenas, for it, she also struggled in school. Be it forgotten homework or forgetting what she learned in class, she suffered and this made Eliza very sad. Her parents tried everything: working with flashcards, writing notes, tying strings around her trunk – all in an effort to help Eliza remember. Nothing worked. Being forgetful broke Eliza’s heart and her deep despair made her forget things even more.
One day, her teacher, Ms. Marsupial, had an idea:
“What if we try to teach you the piano?” Ms. Marsupial asked.
“How can I learn the piano – a whole musical instrument – when I can’t even remember my ABCs? Eliza exclaimed through tears.
“How about trying, Eliza? There’s no shame in it if you can’t and you’ll never know until you try.” the teacher pleaded.
Eliza did not believe her teacher but agreed to try. Suddenly, Eliza was seated at the piano and found that she loved the sounds that the notes made.
Within a week, Eliza lived and breathed her time at the piano. She told her family about what she learned at every lesson, finally remembering something. She even tried writing her own songs and excitedly shared each with her teacher. Eliza focused so much on the piano she simply forgot about being forgetful.
Before too long, Eliza neared her first piano recital. But, not before a familiar problem came back: she felt afraid of being forgetful.
“What if I forget the notes?”
“What if I forget my song. What if – ”
Her parents and Ms. Marsupial stopped her.
“You’ll do fine, Eliza.” they all exclaimed. “Just remember how much joy playing the piano brings you and let that be your guide.”
And that is exactly what Eliza did. As everyone predicted, everything did turn out fine. Eliza never forgot a note.
“We’re all so proud of you!” Eliza’s parents and Ms. Marsupial said, while the audience gave her a standing ovation.
“Take a bow, dear.”
Eliza happily took that bow, feeling nothing but pride for having tried and succeeded. As luck would have it, she never struggled with her memory again.
Warrior Dove
I’ve tried being peaceful
and cooing my song.
But this shit’s untenable;
it’s gone on far too long.
So I’m giving up peace and
going on the attack.
All you privileged white men
had best watch your backs!
My wingspan is strong
and will bring winds of change
my talons are sharp and can
inflict great pain.
What once was a coo,
now emits as a roar.
I’ve warned you,
I really can’t take any more.
You’d better get moving
because I’m coming for you.
And when I catch up there won’t be much
you can do.
But lie there and whimper
as you get what you deserve.
There’s no peace left in me.
I’m now a warrior bird.
Left Behind
I am still
Walking the cobbled
Streets
We walked on
I am still
Riding the choppy seas
We sailed on
I am still climbing mountains
We scaled
My spirit lingers
In the places
We have been
While yours
Have sought
Other adventures
Login in from Rocky Mountain National Park
After significant struggle, I finally have stable WiFi. Time to celebrate by posting the poems I finished so far! It is indeed a challenge to write and publish on the same day. Good luck to all!
Grief
In the meantime the cat slowly recovered. The socket of the lost eye presented, it is true, a frightful appearance, but he no longer appeared to suffer any pain. He went about the house as usual, but, as might be expected, fled in extreme terror at my approach. I had so much of my old heart left, as to be at first grieved by this evident dislike on the part of a creature which had once so loved me. But this feeling soon gave place to irritation. And then came, as if to my final and irrevocable overthrow, the spirit of PERVERSENESS. Of this spirit philosophy takes no account. Yet I am not more sure that my soul lives, than I am that perverseness is one of the primitive impulses of the human heart–one of the indivisible primary faculties, or sentiments, which give direction to the character of Man. Who has not, a hundred times, found himself committing a vile or a stupid action, for no other reason than because he knows he should not? Have we not a perpetual inclination, in the teeth of our best judgment, to violate that which is Law, merely because we understand it to be such? This spirit of perverseness, I say, came to my final overthrow.
Table for two5pm
Softly darkened room
one lone candle in the center
of the table a scene set for
romance
I didn’t expect to see you here
tonight-
It’s great seeing you
But I’m meeting someone
It’s ok- It’s been awhile since
we’ve last talked to each other
How have you been?
Please sit, you have some time
I’m sure
I’ve been good
I’ve been worse
can’t really complain
How about yourself?
I’m always good hun
There’s been a few that
I thought I loved
far more that I didn’t
I should go- I have to meet someone
But yeah, I can stay for one drink
Scotch, neat
Please
Of course- We aim to please
Waiter!
A beer for me, And the Lady’s drink
put it on my tab
I spent a lot of time thinking
about you and when you left-
Why did you leave?
Wasn’t I good enough for you?
I had to leave
I had to find others that needed me-
You understand of course.
That candle’s glowing
brighter now- Far brighter than I remember
Is that a tear in my eye?
Please; why would I cry for him?
SSShhhh-
It’s ok-
Don’t make this any more difficult
for me or you- this is how it has
to be now.
Is that candle getting further away?
it’s so so pretty-Let me have
a closer look leaning forward
What have you done to me?
I didn’t want this-
you can’t do this-
I’m meeting someone
I have to go
please
It’s ok-
I won’t leave you here
to do this alone-
I’m here-
slow, deep breaths
No, no don’t struggle
that’s not going to help
sshh, that’s it, calm calm
glancing around for the first time
It occurs to me that the entire
place is deserted.
even the waiter that served our drinks
is gone
would you like to lie down?
I can have a bed prepared
for you in a moment.
no, don’t struggle
Why?
That’s all I want to know
is why
just answer me that one question
This was the only way to get your
attention-
I’m sorry love
I truly am
Helplessly I start to cry
I feel you kneeling in front of
me, taking my hand in yours
your hand is so cold
I see you-
I see you for who you really
are-
lost,scared, hurting, broken
you made an admission that
you wanted to die-
I am here to grant that wish
though I don’t agree with it
I don’t want to die-
People say that all the time
they don’t always mean it though
I didn’t mean it!
I can freeze this moment in time
But it won’t change anything
you’re going to die tonight
How could this promising night
turn into something so dark?
How could I have been so easily trapped…
At this table for two?