New Lola Pics!

Chicago gets pretty cold in the winter so Lola has added this fleece hoodie to her wardrobe collection. I think she has a whopping five items now. LOL! Anyway, I couldn't resist posting these pics of my beautiful girl.

January is Foretelling

Whoo! I made it.
I went out to an early birthday celebration with co-workers and still made it home in time to get in my final poem for the December Mini-Poetry Challenge. Writing is definitely one way to make it through the holidays.

January is Foretelling

The first person you kiss
Is the person you’ll spend
The rest of the year with

And it could end something tragic
But there’s magic in that moment

The fortune cookie of the calendar
The bearer of new beginnings

All things in place
And determined to do things differently
The next time around

It’s going to be a good year

December is Forgetting

Poem Number 2 for the Read Write Poem for the December Mini-Poetry Challenge. This one came easier than yesterday's poem. Perhaps because December is my favorite month.

December is Forgetting

I’ll get lost in the hustle
And frenzy
Holiday storefronts
Will offer some form of relief

From lovesickness

There will be moments
When I won’t even think of you
Moments when I struggle
For the memories

Moments when I feel no pain

No one ever says
How easy it can be to forget
But if you ask me
Time heals nothing

It’s December that washes the slate clean

November is Forgiving

I've missed the last few Poetry Mini-Challenges from Read Write Poem, but I was determined to get back into the swing of things when the month of December rolled around. December is my favorite month. I love spending time with my family and shopping, two things December is notorious for. Plus by birthday is in December. How can I go wrong? Unfortunately December is a hectic month and I never find much time to write. Lucky for me RWP went easy on me as this mini-challenge only requires three poems. Here is the first:

November is Forgiving

Boys always go for the same things
My bottom lip
And something I can’t mention
In polite company

He was no different
When I thought I had lost him forever
November brought him back to me
Giving me something to be thankful for

Truths and Lies at 4 a.m.

A Read Write Poem Essay Prompt! Part of the Games Poets Play series; one of these essays is true, the other is false. Can you guess which one?

Essay 1:

At 4 a.m. he held me captive. Well not so much captive as against my will. Well not so much my will, but against my better judgment. This is not to say I didn’t want to be with him. I just didn’t think this is where I would end up when the night was over; though I had hoped for it.

He took a seat on the couch and urged me to sit down next to him. So much closer than the last time we were in this situation. It didn’t take long for him to press his lips against mine and I didn’t fight. I was thankful for this second chance.

We shifted for hours; me on top of him, him on top of me, our lips barely parting, but our bodies barely crossing the line past PG-13. He fell asleep with his arms around me.

***

Essay 2:

At 4 a.m. I left his house and headed to my own home. As I walked through the door I was immediately overcome with loneliness; wishing I had stayed with him longer. All night I told myself I wouldn’t go home with him. I wouldn’t let myself fall back into his trap. Last time didn’t end well; a truth I have had to remind myself of often.

I took off my makeup, changed into sleeping clothes, and curled up on the couch with my dog. I fell sleep imagining him with his arms around me and had the sweetest dreams. His lips pressed against mine, his hands shifting to experience every curve of my body, my hands running from his head to his shoulders to his chest.

In the morning I wondered why reality couldn’t be as gentle as this, but this was pure fiction and only in my head.

A Moment of Truth about You...

Talk is cheap.
Don't waste your words on me unless you have something important to say.

Apparently I'm on a bit of an honesty kick! I really wish I could say that to someone specific right now. I don't have the courage. Instead I say it here and get it out into the world. I love my blog, my paper dreams, and all those other things.

A Moment of Truth: Work

No one ever told me that work is a lot like high school. Someone should have told me. So here I am telling you.

What do you know about eels?

I completed this poem last Friday, the 13th, but have only now gotten around to posting it.

What Do You Know About Eels?

We were electric
Like eels, swimming
Through the water
Sending shocks to one another

I will remember you
Absorbing the energy

You can remember me
Leaving a trail of sparks
And a path of destruction

There's something in the water...

More Botanic Garden Pics!

No one notices...

We don't talk
We just give up
It's easier in the long run

Halloween!

My costume didn't turn out as I had hoped. My original concept was to be Alex from A Clockwork Orange if the movie had been made today and Alex was a girl. My makeup turned out great, though I don't have any pictures to prove it, but my outfit looked more like an 80's version of Madonna. I had tried to find a party dress because I wanted my Alex to be very girly; instead I settled on this tutu skirt from Forever 21 and cut up an old plain white t-shirt to use as the top. It was a fun costume, mostly because of the skirt, I just wish I would have been able to execute my vision. Oh well; there's always next year!

Sometimes the road leads to an unexpected destination.

I was working on Read Write Poem Prompt #99 when I came up with this. I thought I would share.

Insomnia

My body is restless.
I can’t sleep.
My hands are fidgety.
I feel around.
My fingers trace folds
in the blankets
until I get to your side.
The journey is long
and when I get there
you’re nowhere to be found.

Because the world doesn't always revolve around me.

A poem inspired by Read Write Poem Prompt #98, the photograph Fair Fireworks by auburnnewyork, and by him; though if I were to right this poem today I can honestly say that I don't think he would offer much inspiration. And that my friends is a good thing. I know the world doesn't revolve around me, now he knows it doesn't revolve around him either. Regardless, it was a wild ride. And fun at times too.


Revolves

We moved too fast
The universe rotating around us

We were performers
The world, our circus

The moon still our witness
As wheels still spin the secrets

I hate to admit...

I like when you call me your dear, but I'm not your dear.

Cutting Up! RWP Prompt #97

For this week's Read Write Poem prompt I wrote two poems. I struggled all week and tried many variations; first an email, then a song, before finally deciding on using a short poem. Feeling horrible for cutting up Slyvia Plath's Metaphors I decided to seal my spot in hell by cutting up Emily Dickinson's I Never Lost As Much But Twice. I don't think these poems make any sense and they're kind of creepy. Maybe I chose the wrong material.

Metaphors No More

Loaf’s nine means
Fruit train, big timber house
Yeasty tendrils rising, strolling
New-minted apples
Bag getting elephant
Melon red stage syllables
Money’s ivory fat cow
Two fine eaten green calf
Ponderous boarded riddle

************************************

I Lost It All

Poor reimbursed banker
God
Burglar
Father never stood much

Sod
Beggar
Lost door store
Angels descending twice

Just catching up...

My poor neglected blog! With all the preparation for my brother's wedding and then getting sick out of the blue I haven't had much time to write or to read many of the blogs I subscribe to. But I'm starting to feel better and getting back into the swing of things.

I got sick right before the wedding and managed to stay well enough to have a great time through all the festivities. After the wedding however, the cold or flu, I'm not really sure what it was, completely took over.

Here's a picture of one of the bouqets that I thought I would share just for fun.

I didn't get to take as many pictures as I would have liked; I was too busy being involved in the wedding and trying to take in as much as possible. I still can't believe my little brother is married, but he couldn't have picked a better wife. I'm so happy for both of them. I know they will have an amazing life together and I hope they get started on those babies soon because I can't wait to be Aunt Jessica!

I'm working on my Read Write Poem prompt for this week and I hope to have it completed by Thursday. My original idea for the prompt didn't work out so I had to start over. Wish me luck!

I think that's about all for now.

Six Word Saturday

I love Six Word Saturdays over at the One-Minute Writer, but I rarely get to participate.

There's only you.
There's only me.

Read Fiona Robyn's new book Thaw for FREE!!!

Fiona Robyn is making her new book Thaw available online for free. Pretty exciting huh? You can be a part of the fun by joining Friends of Thaw and participating in her Blogsplash by using your blog to make others aware of the book.

More details can be found on Fiona's website. You can also read the first page of the book here.

The fun officially begins on March 1st, 2010, but it's never too early to start spreading the word. I think I'll blog a few more times about the book as a reminder and I hope you'll decide to join the Blogsplash too!

The Botanic Garden. Time well spent.

Erick and I went to the Botanic Garden today. It was a great time. I took almost 200 pictures and while I won't be posting them all here, I thought I would share a few of my favorites. It's been a while since I posted random pics on this site and I miss discovering new and beautiful things and sharing them with those who visit my blog.

We both decided that we need to make a conscious effort to get back to the BG a few times a year. It's a great place to go for inspiration and a great way to spend a day off. If you're in the Chicago area and haven't been to the Botanic Garden in a while, or ever, I suggest you get out there soon. It was a little chilly today and it started raining toward the end, but it was still a wonderful visit.

I finished early - A massive artillery.

Tomorrow is when I can officially get my poem on, but seeing as how I finished my poem for Read Write Poem's Prompt #94 early I thought I would share. This poem was inspired by a photograph by Thomas Hawk. I wrote this poem in about five minutes and changed very little about it to acheive the finished product. I decided to keep the prose form that I originally wrote it in. Not sure if that takes away from the piece. As always comments and constructive criticism are welcome and appreciated. Thanks for stopping by!

Artillery

Don’t ask me what I see when I look at you. It saddens me to admit my feelings have changed. I’m fighting hard to push you away, but you won’t take the bait. Let me make this very clear so there’s no miscommunication. When I say don’t make this so hard on yourself what I really mean is don’t make this so hard on me. I’ve already moved on. I don’t mind saying it out loud if that’s what you need. My gun is drawn. My ammunition is ready.



My Angel and My Devil by Thomas Hawk

Destined

I wrote this poem a few days ago, but haven't gotten around to posting it. I could have posted from my phone, but I've been very busy and the computer is so much easier to work with these days. My living room, dining room, and home-office have been without electricity for almost a month. It's a long story. The Cliffs Notes version is that it has to do with bad wiring.

Destined

We fought fate
The powers that be
The cosmic balance of things

Whatever that means
Your words; not mine
Not exactly

Just So You Know

It is what it is
But what it's becoming
I don't want to be a part of it

What I Want To Remember

This two-poem prompt from Read Write Poem took a lot out of me and I only have one poem to show for it. This is literally what I want to remember, so that's what I've titled this poem. Its evil twin is the already titled, but yet to be complete What I Want To Forget. Unfortunately all of the things that I want to forget are very tough to write about so hopefully by giving myself a little more time I will come up with something usable.

What I Want To Remember

If I think hard enough
I can will myself back
Into my grandmother’s kitchen

Sitting at the table
Coffee and Ritz crackers for breakfast
Waiting for my mother to come home

Today 9.9.09

Today
The fog that covers the city
Also covers my soul

Listen Up!

Poem #5 and the last in the Eavesdropping series. I really enjoyed this Read Write Poem Poetry Mini-Challenge prompt, but I wish I would have had more time to devote to it. Perhaps at some point I will come back to these five poems and try to revise them into things I can be more proud of. In the end I completed the challenge so I'm still proud :)

Eavesdropping 5

You said many things
Over the course of our relationship

Three amazing weeks
That I will never forget

But in the end all I really heard was this:
It’s not you, it’s me

My 100th post and listen closely...

This is my 100th posting on my blog! Oh I am so excited!

This is also my fourth poem for the Read Write Poem Poetry Mini-Challenge.

Drip
Drip
Drip

The coffee make
The leaky ceiling
The tears falling from this face
Onto college-ruled paper

Drip
Drip
Drip

And disappearing into nothingness

Do you hear what I hear?

Day/Poem 3 of the Read Write Poem Poetry Mini-Challenge. I'm tired and my leg hurts for no reason; none of which is relevant to the poem, but I thought I would share. Also, tomorrow is Friday and for that I am very grateful.


Eavesdropping 3

Two girls sit behind me
Whispering
Swapping secrets like there’s no
Tomorrow

I can’t see their faces
And I’m too afraid to turn around
For fear they will stop speaking

I wait patiently
Ignoring the whiz of cars flying past
And the woman two seats over yelling
Obscenities into her cell phone

Slowly I hear the words
Begin to seep from her mouth
I know they were once my own

You can’t tell anyone but technically
She pauses for a moment
Technically
I never said no

Still listening...

Poem #2 for the Read Write Poem Poetry Mini-Challenge. I have no doubt that I will make it the whole way through, I'm just not sure if I'm going to actually create anything worth reading. Here is today's offering:

Eavesdropping 2

There’s a buzz
And a flickering of the lights above us
They’re about to go out

I was deep in the desperation
Of other people’s confessions
Comparing them to my own

Almost certain what I was hearing
Should never be repeated in a public forum
When she took the seat next to me

Then the satisfying and familiar slide of the zipper
As she pushed it further along
Sliding items into her bag

Back
Then further back
And back some more until it reached the end

I could tell from the look in her eyes that she
Wished she could throw herself into that bag
And hide forever

Listen...

Another Poetry Mini-Challenge from Read Write Poem. I really love this prompt, but I'm not so sure I'm going to do it justice. At least I can say I tried!

Eavesdropping 1

We get tossed around
But these wheels they keep on turning

A mechanical voice comes
Over the airwaves
Next Stop: Wellington

We listen for further instructions
Doors open on the left at Wellington
Transfer to purple line trains at Wellington

Doors open, doors close
Squeaking, in desperate in of oil

Kings of Leon drowns it all out for me
I hope it’s gonna make you notice
I hope it’s gonna make you notice
Someone like me…

I get lost in the lyrics
Then shaken back to reality

Next stop: Fullerton

Next stop…
That’s me

I Won't Write About You

I Won’t Write About You

I won’t write about you
Until you’re out of my system

In the meantime
I’ll use someone else’s words

I wanted to make this longer. To list all of the reasons I won't write about you, but then I realized that I would be going against my word; so this is all you get. Take it or leave it. You'll probably leave it.

89

In a bit of a rush; heading out the door to see some friends' gig, but wanted to make sure I posted this my Read Write Poem prompt poem for the week. The title is from one headline and the poem is from another. I enjoyed this prompt and actually worked on a few others, but this one is my favorite and the only one that I feel is complete at this time. It's short, but powerful, at least to me. Enjoy!

Prolonging the Life of Berries

Eat.
Pray.
Love.

Then what?

Get married.

Here are the links to the two articles that I got the headlines from:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/books/20book.html?ref=books

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/dining/26curi.html?ref=style

88

I only used four of the words supplied by Read Write Poem, which is disappointing because there were many good ones that I wanted to incorporate. In the end the poem rejected my many attempts at including more of the words. Who am I to argue?

In dreams this has the potential
To be more than a fling

In reality I’m too afraid to be the
Outer spoon

I don’t even like spooning
So I push you away
Press stop on the recorder

But not before coarse words
Fly out of busy mouths
In a bustle of lust

Making their way
Out of windows
And onto busy streets

Floating to where you first
Put your arm around me

I didn’t look back to see
If anyone was watching

The Word List: Spoon, fling, bustle, coarse, elocution, homeward, froth, salacious, hitch, rancid, 8-track, coagulate, diode, rant.

The Chosen Few: Spoon, fling, bustle, coarse.

Prompt Details

I don't know what I'm waiting for...

Untitled

I can still feel your lips on my neck as
your hands struggle with the guilty straps
of my dress

Fingers surveying my body

I love this quick heartbeat
This lump in my throat
I only hope you’ll come back for more

Ooh la la or calling number 87

I'm not sure if I did this right, but at least I tried. This is my poem for Read Write Poem's weekly writing prompt. Happy Thursday!

You want me to drape myself
in your absence.
Discuss politics and make you
lasagna for breakfast

You want me to allow myself
to enter into an abscess
of the air you breathe

You want to become an
extension of me

You want apostrophes
And angels and apologies
You want arsenal to launch
You want too much

You want to get off at Addison,
Armitage or Belmont
I want to keep going

See the anatomy of an
aerial view

The Harvest Series comes to an end.

Poem #3 also represents the final installment of the Harvest Series...at least for now. Details on this prompt and many other amazing poetry related things can be found over at Read Write Poem.

Dinner isn’t the meal in front of us
It’s the conversation we consume
Without regret
Without fear of getting caught

This is wrong
And we’re in the thick of it

We walk down the street
There’s no shame in our faces
My hand brushes your arm
Our legs touch

We have yet to consider
the consequences


Read Write Poem Poetry Mini-Challenge Details

RWP Poetry Mini-Challenge Day Two.

The Harvest Series
Poem #2

There was a time
When the news arrived
On my doorstep in pieces

I got the leftovers
The bits no one else seemed to care for
The ink would stain my hands

I trace the frayed edges newspaper clippings
With my fingertips
And whisper there’s no place like home


Read Write Poem Poetry Mini-Challenge Details

RWP has done it again!

How in the world does Read Write Poem keep sucking me into poetry challenges? First NaPoWriMo, now Poetry Mini-Challenges. And a better question yet is why in the world do I keep letting them? I guess the simple answer would be because I love writing and I they offer great inspirtation. A more realistic answer might be that I'm crazy.

Here's a link to the challenge details because time is precious and I'm too lazy to write it all out. Besides, I'm trying to pump out three poems in three days here people...I'm sure you can understand.

I'm calling my series for this first Poetry Mini-Challenge Harvest; which is a synonym of the word Cull. I chose the word harvest because when I wrote down the synonyms for the three words suggested it was the first one to jump out at me. This first poem for the series is of course untitled because as we all know I'm terrible at coming up with titles.

Thanks as always for stopping by, reading, commenting, and being a part of my support system. Also, if you haven't already visiting the new Read Write Poem site please do so soon. It's even more amazing then before. Now for the goods:

I remember trekking in leaves
Tokens of the day’s journey
Mom called it reckless

Packing leaves into garbage bags
The faces of jack ‘o lanterns printed on them
I called it festive

Trips in cars to visit long-time friends
Before I understood what stabbed in the back meant
Mom called them lessons

Packing cars with blankets and pillows and snacks
To visit Auntie in the hospital
I called those our last goodbyes

Perusing sales racks and window-shopping
Taking shelter in separate rooms
Mom called it survival

Packing boxes and driving away
A form of escape
I called it self-preservation



Poetry Mini-Challenge Details

Great prompt. Great picture. Not-so-great poem.

I'm not very happy with this poem, but something is always better than nothing so I won't complain too much. The prompt is courtesy of Read Write Poem and the image is from Doug Shaver. I am sorry to have done neither of them justice.


Cemetery in Malvern by Doug Shaver


In Cemeteries with Ghosts

Sitting in the grass we grasp at
handfuls of Spring blades
(Or is it Fall; I can’t keep track)

Hold them in the palms of our hands
Let the wind float them to another dimension

We used to be afraid of the dark and ghosts
Now we’re all grown up and afraid of death
It feels silly to admit, but I’m still afraid of spiders

We have hidden agendas
We have heads full of hopes

And dreams
And disappointments
We’ll bury them tonight is this warehouse of strangers

We don’t know these people
Who they were; who they wanted to be

We trace the names carved with such precision
Make up stories about the lives they lived and share them
Via telepathy

Lucky to have the kind of friendship
that doesn’t need words

Dear RWP and getting my poem on with words, words, words!

Dear Read Write Poem,
We became such good friends during NaPoWriMo, now we hardly see each other. You were amazing, offering inspiration when I needed it the most. It's not that I don't need you anymore, time just isn't on our side. Still, I want you to know that I think of you often and fondly. Please accept this small poem as a token of my affection, inspired by your wonderful Wordle prompt:

Love Slump

Hearts loiter in the sky
Flaming
Lost

Calling for a séance
Caught in a love slump

The words in this prompt were fantastic. I used almost all of them. Words used from the prompt are as follows: hearts, loiter, sky, flaming, lost, séance, slump.

Life in a time capsule.

Here is the list of items I would place in a time capsule to memorialize my life thus far. The prompt is courtesy of the always fabulous One-Minute Writer I cheated because this took me longer than one minute to write...it was more like ten.

Pictures (family, friends, and my dog Lola): because I love them.

Charlotte’s Web and To Kill a Mockingbird: because they are my favorite books.

Fiona Apple CDs: because she is my favorite musician.

An old journal: so the person who finds my capsule can read about my life.

Copies of some of the poems I’ve written: because I like to pretend I’m a poet!

Mark, my stuffed bear: because Piglet is too important to me.

Tarot cards: because they remind me of high school.

A pen and blank notebook: because I always have a pen and paper on me.

Mardi Gras beads: because they are fun!

Hair ties: because I always wear them around my wrists.

Stargazer lilies and red roses: because they are my favorite flowers.

Vanilla scented candles: because I love vanilla scented things.

Copy of my birth certificate: proof that I existed.

My Dwight bobblehead doll: because The Office is my all-time favorite show.

An empty Starbucks cup: because I love coffee!

H2O; Ten Years Later

This morning my landlord's family decided to turn their sprinkler on and in the process soaked our living room. The couch, the chair, the table, everything was soaked. Our fault I guess for leaving the window open. We should have known it would come to this at some point; they love that stupid sprinkler and the little patch of grass that they water even on days when it rains. Oh...just venting.

As a treat for letting me vent, here is a poem:

Ten Years Later

I collect reasons to love you
Place them in drawers
Hide them in corners

Wherever I turn I’m forced
to remember, when what I really want
is to forget

For you. A day late. Next week/last week.

Years ago I wrote a lot of "letters" starting with Dear You. I revisited that time in my life for the prompt over at The One-Minute Writer. Next Week/Last Week was actually yesterday's prompt, but I didn't get around to trying it until today. Here's what I came up with:

Dear You,

Last week I gave in to someone else’s touch. He reached for me and I was too lonely to resist. I thought about you the whole time.

Next week I’ll pretend it didn’t happen. And if you ask me, I’ll deny it. We'll both know the truth.

XOXO,
Me

Sprouting Up Roots

I wrote a little while back that my poem Sprouting Up Roots had been accepted for publication on the website of The Cynic Online Magazine. I was notified that they would feature my poem in their July 1st edition, but they posted it early, in their June 1st edition. I've been so busy that I didn't think to look for it before the July 1st date, so I actualy missed the debut of it's online publication, but it is still available in their archives. I'm also posting it here.

Sprouting Up Roots

I'm a meat and potatoes lovin' kind of girl
What could be more American than that?

Baseball
Apple pie
I adore those things too

To some
I'm just another foreigner
Sprouting up roots
In the soil that belonged
To their forefathers

Theirs,
Not mine

After all,
I have no ties to George Washington
No link to Thomas Jefferson

I listen to excuse after excuse
And bite my tongue
I play along
Pretend it doesn't matter what others think
Try to ignore the fact that it really does matter to me

Push myself further along
Toward the American Dream

All the while
Longing
To sink my hands into the dirt

Plant the seeds
That my grandmother
Gave me as a little girl,
Grow a history
To make my ancestors proud

Lola in a dress.

Aunt Brenda bought Lola this dress last week so I had to put it on her. I don't usually put her in clothes; she has a winter jacket and dresses up for Halloween, but that's about it. I think this dress makes her look like a little lady, but she's really one tough cookie.

Concrete Love

I took this picture on a trip to the park last weekend.

Six Word Tuesday?

I originally wrote this for the Six Word Saturday prompt over at The One-Minute Writer, but have only now gotten around to posting it.

6.20.2009
Heavy artillery unpreparedness, forgotten bulletproof vest

I had the One-Minute Writing of the Day!!!

I am honored to have my piece Stage Fright chosen as the One-Minute Writing of the Day for the Friday Fiction prompt over at The One-Minute Writer. Honestly, words cannot describe how proud I am right now. I have been following this blog for a few months and have come across some really talented writers, so to have the One-Minute Writing of the Day is a great honor to me. Please head over to the site and see the amazing daily writings that people choose to share.

Thanks so much to C. Beth for choosing my piece and thank you to all of those who continue to support my writing efforts. Every comment, email, and visitor is greatly appreciated.

Turning fact into fiction.

It's Friday! Let's celebrate by turning fact into fiction. It's Friday Fiction day over at The One-Minute Writer and today's prompt was to take a true story and write a brief fictional story based on it. Here's mine:

Stage Fright

The bright lights hit his face. It burns. A warm, steady burn so familiar it feels like an old friend. His leg is twitching. He can’t seem to stop it. Nerves, he tells himself. He’s done this a thousand times before, but never like this. Never with her.

She always said she would come, but never did. This time is different. This time she promised. Not just any promise; the cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die, stick-a-needle-in-my-eye kind of promise that children believe in. And he wanted to believe it.

The anticipation builds. His heart sinks into his stomach. The curtain opens. He scans the crowd.

It has sort of a cliffhanger ending, but I promise in real life the ending was a happy one. I didn't want it to get sappy and I wanted to keep it short. This certainly took over a minute to write, but it was under five.

Hindsight isn't always 20/20...

But in this case it is.

Another great prompt from The One-Minute Writer, http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/

I apologize in advance for the rhyming. I have been challenged by a fellow writer to rhyme more in my pieces. I always think rhyming comes off as being very cliche, but I have accepted the challenge, at least for today. And in this case I think it came off more sappy and crappy than cliche. To be completely honest, I really like the first stanza, but the second is just...YUCK! But hey, it was written in one minute and I was struggling to rhyme; all things considered it isn't horrible. It might be bad or generic, but not horrible. LOL!

20/20

If I could go back
to when all wasn't lost
and tell myself that the price of love
is usually worth the cost

I would save up my pennies
until the day I met you
and cash them in
on a dream come true

It takes discipline. I have none.

Today's writing prompt is Discipline and it's courtesy of http://oneminutewriter.blogspot.com/, a great site that I like to visit often for inspiration. Scroll down to see what I was able to come up with in one minute :)

In other news: I think I've officially decided to start a blog dedicated to poetry. I say "think" because the only thing really holding me back is what to call it. I have a hard enough time naming my pieces, most of them end up untitled, so this is going to be a tough one. As always, I'm open to suggestions.

Discipline

I used to know how to avoid you
How to pretend you didn’t exist
You filled me up with promises
I tried hard to resist

Once so disciplined
Now I can’t get you out of my head

I missed my chance

It's been a crazy week. I must remember to breathe.

Deep Breath

I fell in love
With the sound of your breath

I’m sure you never noticed

Such calm beauty
I’m going to miss it

Happiness and its Nemesis

A take on the Read Write Poem prompt Opposites Attract. The finished piece is first and the two poems I wrote to complete the prompt follow.

Happiness and its Nemesis

A summer morning
Flesh on flesh
Lemonade dripping from your lips

A hand slowly slipping up my leg
The sun, a witness to our innocence
Fingerprints drawing a path on my skin

I think to myself
I want to live in this moment

Then you whisper in my ear
You are nothing without me

*************************************************

Happiness

A summer morning
Lemonade
Dripping from your lips
The sun, a witness to our innocence

I think to myself
I want to live in this moment

**************************************************

Nemesis

Flesh on flesh
A hand slowly slipping
Up my leg
Fingerprints drawing a path on my skin

Then you whisper in my ear
You are nothing without me

So many ideas, so little time...

Untitled VI

It didn’t take long
For you to become infatuated
With my lips

It didn’t take long
For you to become disenchanted

Collecting thoughts

A quickly-written piece to finish out the month. Now I'm off to do laundry.

Collecting Thoughts

Messages in bottles
Love letters written in sand

The waves come crashing
Pull them in with watery precision

They arrive on my doorstep
in pieces

Shattered, torn, broken
Marked: Return to Sender

An observation on the life of a waitress.

I love people-watching. It's one of my favorite things to do. I imagine the kind of lives that people passing by live, have lived, or want to live. I suppose there are people who do the same when they watch me. I often wonder what they see, but sadly will never know. I wrote this poem this morning while on the bus, passing one of my favorite diners. It took all of two minutes and I actually like how it turned out.

Waitress

Outside, she steadies herself
against the brick of a deceptive
Hollywood background reflection

Chicago wind dances
through curls, bleached white
time after time

A Betty
Gladys
Or Annette

Index and middle fingers firm
around a long, slim cigarette

Dreaming long lost
dreams with each inhale

With each exhale, wondering
where the time went

Promises, promises...

I don't make many promises, because to me a promise is sacred. It's something that is meant to be kept, not broken. A friend of mine doesn't believe in promises. For the ten years I've known him, and for many years before that even, he has made people pinky-swear when something is important. I think it's adorable.

My Promise to You

I’ll pull together all of our
false starts
Toss them in my pocket

The next time it rains
I’ll let the sky wash them away

My Truth

My Truth

I fall in love
On a daily basis

The written word
Is never disappointing

I’m the narrator and this is just the prologue, a.k.a. Read Write Poem revisited

I was listening to Panic at the Disco on the L today and this song has been stuck in my head ever since. Anywho... I was a little discouraged by the fact that I haven't been writing much lately and decided to pay a visit over to Read Write Poem. They always offer such wonderful inspiration and today was no different; thank you friend.

Mosaic

Carve it into the backs
Of my eyelids
So I can see it
When I’m dreaming

Slither it underneath my skin
By way of willful needles
Whatever you have to do
Just leave a lasting impression

Scorching hot
Burn it into my mind

Granular tokens
Of belittled affection

The fence has been lowered
The guard is off duty
I will excrete nothing

Your secret is safe with me
In this mosaic

Bold words are courtesy of the prompt.

I miss having time to do nothing.

The new job has been keeping me busy. I'm happy to be working hard for the money, but I wish I had more time on my hands. By the time I get home I feel so guilty for being away from my dog all day that I make a quick dinner and play with her until it's time to go to bed. I haven't written much in the past few days either. There just hasn't been time. I miss naps. I miss random phone calls. I miss walks to the park in the middle of the day. I miss my friends! I've been neglecting my email accounts, my facebook, my text messages (except for a select few). I promise I'll get the hang of my schedule soon and figure out a nice rhythm. Until then...

Untitled V

I miss
Late night confessions
Mixed with a little white zin

By little I mean three or four glasses
Enough to admit my deepest sins

I miss dreaming of you until morning

I know it's not a good piece with as long as I've been absent, but it's a start. Now, it's off to bed for me.

A sky for new beginnings.

I took this picture on a visit to the park while I was consumed with NaPoWriMo. This picture really doesn't do that sky justice. It seemed so promising on that day. A sky for new beginnings.

Sky

I take a deep breath
Exhale my troubles
The sky swallows them whole

Waiting...waiting...writing...writing...passing the time.

Writing to keep my mind off of things. Writing to pass the time. This is all I have come up with. I think the first piece seems a bit off. I've re-worked it a couple of times... still seems wrong.

Maintains the Memories

Time-
My nemesis
It maintains the memories
I’ve tried so hard to forget
and the ones I cherish

If it drops
It will shatter
Memories will be lost
forever

I will refuse to mourn them

************************************

Untitled III

A wolf in sheep’s clothes
I reach for you

I’m not that kind of girl

I’m not that kind of girl

************************************

Untitled IV

When the excitement has faded
When contentment has worn off

What will we have left?

New job, small poem, and life as a cynic.

Today I went for a second interview with a company I interviewed with last week. I got the job! I'm very excited. It seems like a really nice place. The people were all very friendly...though they always are in the beginning, but I have a good feeling about this place.

I found out yesterday that I'm going to have another poem published in The Cynic Online Magazine. My poem, Sprouting Up Roots, will be featured in the Cafe Del Soul section of the July issue of the online magazine. I'll post the link to the poem when the time comes. I'm really excited. It's nice to be able to see my work on a site that doesn't belong to me. It helps to push me toward submitting more of my work to publications.

I wrote a small piece the other day and didn't post it because I thought I might try to re-work it in some way. I can't seem to make any changes so I'm going to go ahead and post it. If for some reason I end up changing it down the road I'll just post the new version too. I've been obsessed with touch lately...people might start to notice.

Untitled

Did you even notice
that I touched you?
(Between heavy breathes
and heartbeats)

It's the science of love
we have yet to perfect.

A busy day, a short poem.

Today was a full day. Somehow I found time to write. Now I'm tired. Drained. Too lazy to create complete thoughts. Still considering starting that other blog. Until I make a decision all of my pieces, small and large, will continue to go here.

Untitled

I want to have a conversation
Without peeling back the words

Without eliminating the ones that beg
For physical contact, a safety precaution
Because they make me seem desperate

I want you to touch me

Saw The Killers last night, fell in love all over again, wrote a poem, and things unrelated.

NaPoWriMo is over, but this came to me this morning and I liked it.

Rhetoric

The words course through my veins
Like blood
Pumping...
I need this to live



Saw The Killers in Milwaukee last night. They were amazing! I swear every time I listen to one of their songs I fall in love...and when I get lucky enough to see them live...well, very little compares. Oh how I heart Brandon Flowers.

In unrelated news: I've been flirting with the idea of starting a new blog; one that will be for poetry and prose of the shorter nature. I usually write longer pieces, but I've found a lot of comfort in some of the smaller pieces I've been writing lately. I thought I would dedicate another blog to those musings and also allow other people to post their smaller pieces as well. Then I would keep this blog for my more "developed" pieces and thoughts and random junk in the maze that I call Life. Just an idea. We'll have to wait and see if it goes anywhere.

Day 30 and the bittersweet end of NaPoWriMo.

It's been a very productive month in terms of writing. I successfully completed the challenge of writing a poem a day during the month of April. There were even days when I was able to write more than one poem. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to read my entries and to those who made comments on them. And a special thanks to everyone who participated in the 30 poems in 30 days challenge. Being able to read the entries left by other participants helped a lot. It made me realize that I wasn't alone in the struggle and allowed me to be introduced to some amazing writers. I still plan on posting poems here, just probably not everyday, and I hope the rest of you continue posting too. I have enjoyed so much of what was written this month, imagine how wonderful our poems will be without time constraints! Here is my final entry for the month of April:

Bittersweet

She carries leftover conversations
In the palm of her hand

The beginnings
Middles
And ends
Of time well spent

In hospital rooms, visiting
Her sick grandmother

In bunk beds, reassuring
Her younger brother

In late-night phone calls, made
To her mother
Just to say hello

It’s always been her job
To handle the clean-up

Pull all the words together
Make something tangible from them


*The line carries leftover conversations was taken from the Leave A Line, Take A Line entry on Read Write Poem. The line was posted by Deb at stoneymoss.org.

Day 29. I don't think I can make it, so tell me how it ends.

One day left...I'm excited and disappointed at the same time. Oh NaPoWriMo, I am going to miss you! Anyway, here is my poem for the Read Write Poem prompt.

Tell Me How It Ends

Take another step
Keep up
Wait

I always pay close attention
to your instructions

I’m not as strong as you are

You tell me how to cope
You tell me how to hope
You tell me how to breathe

Seems I can’t do anything without you
walking me through the motions

I can’t make the pieces fit

Or get that voice out of my head

That annoying little engine
coaxing me to recite over and over again,
I think I can
I think I can

When we both know I can’t

Just tell me how the story ends
Do I make it over the mountain?

Day 28. Nearing the end and my writing has turned to crap.

Not my best work, but as good as it's going to get for the day. Two offerings for "Seeing Red," the Read Write Poem prompt.

Nocturnal

I used to dream in red
about changing the world

I thought I was special

Now I dream in black and white
about unrequited love,
only to realize I’m the same
as everyone else

******************************************

A Crimson List

I sit down,
make a list of all the things I’ll need

A mixer
for tossing in sins

A notebook
For keeping secrets,
generating scarlet letters,
and confessions

A vacuum
for destroying the remnants
of our failures

Candles
for melting the evidence

The red line train
for escaping

All of the items are red
because red demands attention

Satisfied,
I put the plan into action

Day 27. Written in less than five minutes, using supplied words.

I have to head out the door so I wrote this in like five minutes. I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to get back on and write later. I like the title. It's kind of lame, but I like it. Prompt courtesy of Read Write Poem.

Using Supplied Words

I am leaking through veins
Supplied by lack of ammunition

I’m the wicked backwards cadence

Nascent
I value all my specimens
And relish
In acts of impossible lunacy

Day 26. It has been a rainy weekend.

I love rain (just thought I would toss that in).
I didn't follow the Read Write Poem prompt, but I did write a poem in response to one of Rumi's. The Rumi poem is listed first, courtesy of http://www.rumi.net/rumi_by_shiva.htm, followed by my poem.

Poem by Rumi

You think you are alive
because you breathe air?
Shame on you,
that you are alive in such a limited way.
Don't be without Love,
so you won't feel dead.
Die in Love
and stay alive forever.

*************************************

My Response, Untitled

I know I am alive
because I breathe air.
Shame on yourself,
never having learned the power of a deep breath.
I am not without love
and no one lives forever.
In fact, when I found life in love
part of me was already dead.

Day 25. This is not a how-to. It is not even close.

I started out following the prompt by writing a list of things I wanted to learn, but stopped after the first thing I wrote down. Inspiration is tricky, I go with what works. I'm hoping to come back to the prompt later to write a proper how-to, but after I've had some sleep.

Liner Notes

I want to learn
How to play the piano
But you won’t teach me

A conflict of interest
Or so you say

I wonder what you’re so afraid of

I promise
If your hands should wander
From the keys
To my flesh
And I should find you
Impossible to resist

I’ll help you file away the regret
In the sheet music

Read Write Poem

What an honor! The Kreativ Blogger Award.

Lucky me! Fellow NaPoWriMo poet Angie has honored me with the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thanks Angie! Angie is an amazing poet who has two blogs, wobbly legs and the space between words. Check out her stuff!
http://wobblyleggs.blogspot.com/
http://therer2doors-thespacebetweenwords.blogspot.com/

The award comes with a few responsibilities:

1. Post the award on your blog and link to the person who gave you the award.
2. List seven things you love.
3. Pass it on! List seven blogs you love and let those people know you’ve given them the award.

Seven Things That I Love

1. My Mom
2. My dog Lola
3. My incredible friends and family
4. The Office – Michael Scott Rules!
5. Starbucks – especially the tall vanilla latte
6. Baseball – Cubbies and Yankees!
7. Wine

Seven Blogs That I Love

1. a slice of life
some of the best poetry I have ever read
http://a-mus-ing.blogspot.com/

2. lend me your eyes
Antonio Estevez, a great artist
http://antonio-estevez.blogspot.com/

3. geek ink
another fabulous writer
http://itsacanadiangeek.blogspot.com/

4. the possibility of being
more wonderful poems
http://earthmama2k.blogspot.com/

5. mission improvisational
Danielle Mari: creative genius
http://missionimprovisational.blogspot.com/

6. poetical bits
sometimes comedic, always brilliant

http://poeticalbits.blogspot.com/

7. westering
Sarah Haliwell’s poetry site…simply amazing
http://knittingthewind-westering.blogspot.com/

Day 24. I’m listening to a Spring Song…are you listening?

Two poems today. I was on a roll yesterday, but I'm saving those poems for a project I'm working on. Sadly, I think one of the poems from yesterday fits today's Read Write Poem prompt a lot better. In any case, here are the two I wrote today, which sort of follow the prompt. I mean, there are some sounds in there. Ha ha ha!

Spring Song in the Windy City

Last night
The city was in shambles
Rain was banging on my windows
Begging to be let in
Thunder was calling my name
Threatening sleep

Today the city is calm
The wind is at rest
The sun
Is gracing us with its presence
Cars speed past
Children are outside
Running and playing and singing
Birds are chirping their Spring Song

There’s no sign at all
Of any damage that may have been done

********************************************

Are You Listening?

Oh quiet night!
Why must you torture me?

I long for the buzzing of lights
The revving of car engines
And late-night conversations

After all
That’s why I moved to the city

Day 23. I never wear hats.

Seeing as I'm unemployed I could have chosen a number of "hats" for today's Read Write Poem prompt, but this came to me immediately after reading the prompt, so I went with it. Please note that while I'm unemployed I do not actually sleep until noon. That's just how the line came to me. LOL

A Different Hat

Instead of sleeping
Until noon
I rise early

Feed the baby
And send my husband
Off to work

Wife, mother, homemaker

I make a living
Protecting
The things that I love

Day 22. Wednesday. Earth Day. List Day. Cubs Game.

I cheated a little on the Read Write Poem prompt. All of my books of poetry are currently in storage so I just picked five of my favorite poems. The lines that belong to other poets are in color, and the poets and their poems are listed at the end. Now, I have a Cubs game to go get ready for :) Happy Earth Day!

Speak

I take my seat
Among the many passengers
Through the window
I can see people
Caught
Under the brown fog of a winter dawn
They don’t speak to me
They’re eyes are hollow
They don’t understand

In front of me are signs
Maximum Capacity 312
All baggage must be stored overhead
Emergency Exit located on the left
Emergency exit…
The words swim around in my head
This is my exit
I’ve boarded the train, there’s no getting off
Not for me

There’s a rumble in my stomach
Nerves perhaps
No
It speaks
It’s the memory of all the things
We used to be
Struggling to get out of me
Memories…
We loved with a love that was more than love

I run down the list of reasons
Weighing out the consequences
The smell of winter on your skin
Is all that I’ll truly miss
I’ll draw you a map
If you want me
You can follow me
There’s a place where the sidewalk ends
That’s where I’ll be waiting

The train begins to fill
I can sense we will soon
Be moving
I avoid the eyes
Of the empty people around me
Instead I stare at the space in front of me
It speaks to me
Of two imaginary roads
And sorry I could not travel both


Under the brown fog of a winter dawn- T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land
I’ve boarded the train, there’s no getting off- Sylvia Plath, Metaphors
We loved with a love that was more than love- Edgar Allan Poe, Annabel Lee
There’s a place where the sidewalk ends- Shel Silverstein, Where The Sidewalk Ends
And sorry I could not travel both- Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

Day 21, a rite of passage and the trouble with titles.

I wish I could come up with titles for the poems I'm writing for NaPoWriMo. Maybe that will be the extended goal for next year. Look at me...already looking forward to the poetry insanity of next year :)

Rites of Passage, Untitled

You pulled
At the seams
Until I unraveled

Shut the door
And explained
You didn’t travel
All this way
To hand me over
To someone else

Used the memories
We created
To string together words
In a way I would understand

Lured me into your pattern
Without consent

Took my trust
In the palm of your hand
And crushed it
Right in front of me

Took the little girl fantasies
In my head
And exchanged them
For a dose of reality

A night
Neither one of us
Will ever forget

Rest assured-
Your grasp is permanent
Though your hold
Is slipping

Read Write Poem

Day 20. Two poems to fill the space.

I wrote two poems today. Both wre inspired by the same image, a texture print by pareeerica. Prompt courtesy of Read Write Poem.

*Garbage* Texture by pareeerica

Empty Spaces

The empty space
Seems so promising

But I can only promise
One thing

If you give me
Too many chances

I’ll mess it all up
I’ll take you for granted

I’ll leave you
Seeing red

The empty space
Means one thing

I take
More than I give

I’ve always been
A selfish girl

I have no intention
Of changing

I’m not deserving
Of your love

The empty space
Is a reminder

If we push any harder
The center won’t hold

We’ll both
End up alone

********************************************

The Spaces Between

There’s a space
Between the first time

And the last time
We met

I go over the scenes
In my head

Wondering –

What to do
What to say

What to wear
When I know
You’ll catch a glimpse
Of me

There’s a space
Between the moment
I started to fall in love

And you started slipping
Away

I had you so close

Now I only have you in
Dreams

Day 19. I can't believe I've been able to keep up!

I'm really surprised that I've been able to write at least one poem a day. I write every day, but usually just fragments. Some days have been challenging, but I'm really glad I decided to participate. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by to read or comment on my poems. The support is very much appreciated. And thanks to all of those who are sharing their poems as well. I've come across so many wonderful writers this month! And of course, thanks to the wonderful people over at Read Write Poem for everything they do.

This poem is about my first best friend, Shannon. For a year we were a dynamic duo. I miss her on a regular basis.

Shannon

You came into my life
In the middle of 2nd grade

Hop-scotch
King of the Mountain
Tag! You’re it

You were my first
Real best friend
Then you moved away
Your dad was in the Navy

Things were never the same for me

For a while
We kept in touch

Wrote letters
And sometimes our parents
Would allow us to make
Long-distance phone calls

Eventually
We ran out of things to say
The friendship faded
Or sailed away

I wonder if you ever think of me

Day 18. Word Salad

This was fun. I didn't have to work too hard on a Saturday morning. I might try to do another one later if I have time. Prompt details can be found at Read Write Poem.

Word Salad, Untitled


Beauty
And bitter armor

Plead
With the nemesis

Panic
At the signs

Empty
Is the pillow thief

Who can relish in
A life aggressive

Sweet are the fragments
Of love


My original list of 50 words: Nemesis, Bitter, Sweet, Sugar, Patch, Love, Relish, Honor, Thief, Tackle, Scales, Passive, Wisdom, Crane, Wealth, View, Flow, Aggressive, Youth, Contain, Fragments, Signs, Loss, Bend, Hinder, Rise, Low, Point, Master, Life, Missed, Temper, Slither, Court, Spent, Press, Spot, Pillow, Wipe, Panic, Empty, Width, Bask, Plead, Frosted, Glow, Armor, Beauty, Close.

Day 17. Am I missing something?

I am missing something. Inspiration. I think this poem suffers from a severe lack of inspiration. The only thing that I have to go on right now is sadness, loss, and desperation. I'm not really willing to go into that dark place right now so this is all I have to offer for today.

Missing, Untitled

I held it
In the palm of my hand

So close
I could taste it

Put it up to my lips
Then let it slip
Through the cracks
Between my fingers

I watched it fall
To the floor

I waited too long
I can’t see it anymore

But I know it’s still here
Caught somewhere
I just have to find it
It’s waiting for me

Read Write Poem

Day 16 and words just aren't enough.

Adore, v.

It doesn’t seem enough
Just to say it

I adore you

Adore...
This verb that rolls off my tongue

And then is gone
Something so temporary

I long to leave a permanent mark

I worship you from afar
Sometimes getting too close

As I try to push this love

Further along

Read Write Poem

Day 15. Tax Day. List Day. Procrastinating is my specialty.

The Instead List, Untitled

You called

I should have called you back
Should have been a good friend
Should have explained
(Everything)

Instead
I came up with excuses
Reasons why you wouldn’t
Understand

Because I was afraid

I folded the laundry,
Did the dishes,
Had a drink,
And then another,
(And then another)

I wrote a letter
I had no intention of sending

I put your songs on repeat
Just to hear your voice

I listened to your
Previous messages
Over and over
Until I memorized
Every syllable
Every heart-felt sigh

And then I cried

You called
I should have called you back

Instead
I convinced myself
You would be better off
Without me

Wednesday is List Day over at Read Write Poem.

Day 14. Animis Parati

Large Poultry. Taken on a road trip to Iowa.

Animis Parati

It’s a long stretch
Of road

Tumbleweeds
Attempt to attack us

I take photographs
To document the journey

We stop
As little as possible

It’s a matter of
Time constraints

Leaving a little bit
Of ourselves in everything

I fall in love with you
All over again

My heart is prepared,
I’m ready for anything


Read Write Poem

Day 13. I'm calling for you.

Today's offering, a lune. It's been a long day. I spent most of it getting rained on while watching the Cubs beat the Rockies and now I'm a bit tipsy. Apologies.

I'm Calling For You

If you listen
closely, you can hear me
in the wind

Read Write Poem

Day 12. From What I Remember

From What I Remember

From what I
Remember
Coffee
Was a religion
Cigarettes
A way of life

In the bathroom
A porcelain tub
With tiny cracks
Held the family secrets

Funerals masqueraded
As family reunions

The dishes would pile up
In the sink
Until there was a reason
To wash them

Stop!
Was another word for Go
Between supposed friends

I love you
Lost all meaning

Husbands told lies
That wives pretended
To believe

Children would dream
Of getting out

I just wanted to make
Ray Bradbury proud


Read Write Poem

Day 11. Let's go to the movies.

Once again, a prompt brought to you by the good people at Read Write Poem. Mine was inspired by the movie Coraline.

Coraline, Untitled

I walk with you
Through the house
Helping you search
For your secrets

Instead I find my own

There are some
In the cupboard
Some under the floor

I had forgotten where I hid them

And the hallway
I never feared
Roaming at night

It led to some
Alternate universe
Something posing as
A parallel life

On one side
I was forced
To sleep
In order to hold on
To such pleasant dreams

On the other side
They built me a city
Where all of my dreams
Could come true

Day 10. A haiku hangs with headlines disquised as Found Poems.

I like to take pictures of trees. They've always fascinated me.

Haiku, Untitled

The tree stands, unknown
Branches reaching toward Heaven
Leaves hunger for wind

**********************************************

Found Poem, Untitled I

Romeo
Is late for dinner

Just a king for his time

Capturing
The outlines
Of an exuberant universe


Found Poem, Untitled II

Panties,
squirrels,
and lots of ammo

Champagne
before breakfast
and other fantasies

What waiters talk about
when diners are waiting

Please note: My found poems were created using headlines from the April 10th, 2009 online edition of the New York Times. All headlines were taken from the Arts section.

Prompt courtesy of Read Write Poem.

Day 9: Dreaming of Paradise

Paradise, in couplets. Untitled. It might be obvious to those who know me, but this was written about Wrigley Field in Chicago. Home to the Cubs. Home to me. Writing prompt courtesy of Read Write Poem.

Paradise, Untitled

There is no place I know
Where the grass is greener

The sky is blue
The sun shines bright

Even in a rain delay
Mind over matter they tell me

Besides, people only see
What they want to see

All I know is
It feels like home

The space between us
Is lined with chairs

Rows and rows
Waiting patiently to be filled

When I’m there
I’m never alone

But I always feel
Like the only one

Bases loaded
It’s been too long

I’d stay forever
If they would let me

You’re in my heart
I must get back to you

It's Day 8 and I'm Up In Flames with Heather.

Two poems today. Conjuring up unflattering images of my exes was easy; taking responsibility for my own actions wasn't. If this poem seems a little one-sided, it's probably because it is. Completely unintentional, I swear.

Up In Flames

Maybe when I bent
It wasn’t back far enough
And you couldn’t tell
I was bending for you

Or maybe you thought
I took you for granted
A creature of habit
I let the spark fade

You’re the one that got away

Maybe I wasn’t enough
You always wanted
Bigger
And better things

Or maybe I was too good
You couldn’t bear
To hold me back
For one more second

I’m the one that got away

******************************************************
This was written about one of my exes, but titled after a friend's ex.

Heather

I can still see
The look in your eyes
As my famous last words
Became suspended
Frozen in time

I tried to catch them
But they were cold
To the touch

I never meant to hurt you


Side Note: I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who has come by to read my poems, commented on them, or emailed me. I really appreciate the support. And thanks to Read Write Poem for the daily prompts.

Day 7. Did someone say nicknames? Because I've had many.

Today was tough. I had many ideas, but nothing seemed to come of them. I hate that I've been relying on the Read Write Poem prompts so much, but I am very thankful to have them available. Today they suggested the nickname prompt, of which I've had many. Some that have stuck are Sweet Pea, Bunny, Pepper, Jez, and J-Dogg 4. The ones that appear in this poem were given to me by my family. Boo is what my mother calls me, Princess is what my father calls me, and Jess is what my brother calls me. For the longest time he was the only one allowed to call me Jess; now it's what most people call me. I apologize for the epic explanation.

I Have Been

My real name is Jessica

I have been
Boo
She who always
Put family first
Carried her fair share
Of the load
Always came home on time

And never once
Disappointed her mother

I have been
Princess
A bookworm
Reading by flashlight
Under the covers
Waiting for her father
To make it right

Because Jessica gave up
A long time ago

I have been
Jess
The big sister
Huddled in bed
Arms tight around
Her little brother
Waiting for the fighting to end

That’s still me
I am who I’ve always been

It's day six and I'm nothing but bones.

The Laugh by Pensiero

Day 6, Poem 6.

Inspiration courtesy of Pensiero's The Laugh and readwritepoem.com.

Nothing but Bones

You stand alone
No excess baggage
As passersby
Keep passing by

They pretend
You go unnoticed
Pretend to look
Right through you

No one bothers
To comment
On how thin you look
But they think to themselves
Nothing but bones

You smile,
Then laugh
Because you know
One day they’ll be
Nothing but bones too

Losing Momentum. Gaining Speed.

It's day five and I'm already losing momentum. Hopefully a burst of creativity will spark within the next few days. On the bright side, once I get an idea that I like the poem does seem to evolve faster than usual for me. I take the good with the bad and hope something half way decent comes out. A side note: Italicized words are from the readwritepoem.com prompt for today. The complete list of words I had to choose from is located at the bottom of this posting. Now, without further ado, here is today's installment:

A Series of Meaningless Events

Wipe this

Empty that

Love, honor, cherish

Measure the width
Between two distances,
Come up empty

Bask in the glow

Watch that temper

Remember to breathe

Slither into bed

Plead with the pillow

Wake up,
Alone

Here is the list of words I had to choose from: Nemesis, Bitter, Sweet, Sugar, Patch, Love, Relish, Honor, Thief, Tackle, Scales, Passive, Wisdom, Crane, Wealth, View, Flow, Aggressive, Youth, Contain, Fragments, Signs, Loss, Bend, Hinder, Rise, Low, Point, Master, Life, Missed, Temper, Slither, Court, Spent, Press, Spot, Pillow, Wipe, Panic, Empty, Width, Bask, Plead, Frosted, Glow, Armor, Beauty, Close.

Day 4...

I'm not particularly happy with poem #4 for NaPoWriMo, but I'm pressed for time today. This was written in less than 15 minutes, so I guess I can't complain.

A Glossy Ruin

Brick homes
That once seemed so
Indestructible
Have been successfully blown down
By the Big Bad Wolf

Cars slip into vast holes
Courtesy of black ice
No
It’s Black Honey
And it tastes good

Children dream
Of the bright side
Adults pretend
There’s something to look forward to
On the other side of the rainbow

A world full of Mimosa Blossoms
And Pink Champagne

A brief side note: I went to the mall today looking for a lipgloss called Black Honey. After purchasing it I decided that I wanted to work Black Honey into my poem somehow. On the drive home I tried to come up with some ideas, but was unsuccessful. When I got home I immediately checked readwritepoem.com to see the prompt for today. The site suggested using paint color names or eyeshadow names and linked to the Clinique website. Coincidentally the gloss I purchased was from Clinique. I thought it was fate, so I used gloss names.

And then there were three...

With this being day three of NaPoWriMo readwritepoem.org suggested the poetry prompt of "three in a row". I decided to write three lunes. Short and sweet, plus I they're a bit of a change for me considering I never write lunes.

#1
My heels, unsteady
falling fast into the cracks
a welcomed distraction

#2
Hold on tight
I can shake you off
at any time

#3
Saint Peter waits
put in a good word
for me, please

No pictures. Just words.

National Poetry Month
Poem2

Torabelle

I imagine
her name,
face,
date of birth.
All the defining characteristics
that make her so attractive.

I imagine the way
she looks up from a book
the moment you
walk into the room.

I imagine your eyes
so fixed on her body
you forget all about me.

I breathe a sigh of relief.
I don’t have to disappoint you tonight.

I piece the fragments
together.
Think back
to when the phone calls
stopped coming in.
Pinpoint
the exact moment
you fell in love with her.
It makes me quite sick.

I imagine
her being incredibly delicious,
irresistible even.
The exact opposite of me.
I’m hard to swallow,
easy to forget.

Replaceable,
or so it would seem.

Side note: I don’t normally use punctuation in my poetry, but I know people who do and I’ve always envied them. I thought it would be fun to give it a try. It wasn’t.

April is National Poetry Month

To celebrate I am going to write at least one poem a day for the month of April. This will be a challenge for me. I was going to start off with a Lune, but pieces of this came to me in the middle of the night so I decided to go with it.

Untitled

Lights are flashing
Nerves take over

Everything beyond touch
Is left patiently waiting

Elsewhere,
Heaven is crashing into stars