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.