Haiku number two - Words ... NaPoWriMo, Day 24

Haiku number two... before midnight, even.

Words

released on a sigh

drifting through a tangled mind

soon to be tethered. 

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/words-in-the-wind-ruben-monzon.html

Spring Haiku... NaPoWriMo - Day 23 (I know it's late!)

An attempt at Haiku, as suggested by Heather Grace Stewart, one of my favourite poets. I don't think I nailed it, but it was an honest effort.

Spring

little buds leaping

unfolding to embrace light

waking from the dark

Drifting... NaPoWriMo, Day 22

Quick poem... kind of inspired by the "Broken" book cover created by Liette Chamberland.

Drifting

Some days - life is easy.
It drifts by on a wave of hope;
light, carefree, content.
These are the days
we need to remember
when hope turns sour,
and the waves turn stormy;
leaving us in a world
filled with turmoil
and confusion and despair.

The easy part is still drifting...
Sliding past the woe.
Creating it's own trail
of wistful anticipation.
This is the road we must travel.
Setting aside the worry and pain-
letting hope guide us
beyond the chaos and roiling waves
to that sheltered place
we call peace.

http://morningrainpublishing.com/project/broken-by-nancy-beattie/

Fairy-Tale RomanceNaPoWriMo - Day 21

Uh oh... it's eight minutes after midnight...

Fairy-tale Romance

Softly whisper in my ear
Of dreams, and, wishes, and love.
All I really want to hear
Are stories of fairy-tale love.

I see the prince so clearly,
He's tall, and dark, and divine.
His princess will love him dearly,
Their hearts forever entwined.

Take me to the world of dreams
Of fantasy kisses and romance.
Where nothing is as it really seems
And reality is all askance.

There we will discover
The truth that lies ahead.
The real world shelters my lover
Who I'd rather have instead.

http://screenpicks.com/2012/04/best-movies-about-weddings/

Liminal Legend... NaPoWriMo, Day 20

My book, Liminal Lights, will be released May 15th by Morning Rain Publishing. The poem below is a teaser for the book... sort of. 

Liminal Legend

In the days before the Liminals came,

The world was dark and dreary.

Man had no creative flame:

His life was dull and weary.

Then came a spark, a tiny light,

A magic so pure and untainted. 

It smoldered into something bright:

Never to be captured or painted. 

This energy surged deep within,

The power too vast to be harboured.

Man needed help from another kin:

Who came from the cosmos and laboured. 

Their essence thrived in ethereal light,

Their outlook bright and lively.

With skill and care they brightened the night:

Weaving their craft so wisely.  

Another creature discovered their blessing,

Its spirit was dark and murky.

With a hunger that was all encompassing:

It drank in the precious energy.

Man did not know who to trust,

His power was sacred - unstable.

Liminal secrets were scattered to dust,

Reduced to nothing but fable. 

In Time... NaPoWriMo Day 18 - I know it's late.

I'm posting twice today - once now, to make up for Friday, and again later, when I've completed my second offering. Writing with loud, rambunctious boys around is tricky business... this one needs work, but it's a start. 

In Time

Yesterday, you were just a boy,

Exploring the world around you. 

Yesterday, you danced with joy,

Accepting each moment as brand new. 

Today, you are a teenager,

Feeling your way to manhood.

Today, you're young and eager

Leaving behind your childhood. 

Tomorrow, you'll be a man

Adjusting to life as an adult. 

Tomorrow, you'll understand,

That this isn't the final result. 

For now, you're free to discover

Taking your time to grow.

For now, satisfy your hunger,

Learning all you need to know. 

Catching Up... NaPoWriMo, Day 19

I didn't post yesterday, mostly because we were celebrating Easter with family and partly because four hours plus driving makes writing difficult... the police frown upon typing and driving...

So - now I'm two poems behind...

Catching Up

Some days, it seems, even though I try,
I can't catch up, I will not lie.
The dishes are stacked, with care, on the table,
I know they're there, I'm just not able.
My kids are grungy, their clothes aren't clean,
I think one is wearing my fine cuisine.
The vacuum sits, collecting dust,
And the toilet seat has formed a crust.

What distracts me? It's hard to say,
I only know I sigh with dismay.
It's not the TV that is blaring,
I'm not one for sitting and staring.
I like to think that I'm not lazy,
But each day is filled with crazy.
I know there are chores to be done,
But I'd rather dream, and read in the sun.

http://halfdozendaily.typepad.com/my-half-dozen-daily/2013/05/5-things-friday.html

Ode to a Lost Sock... NaPoWriMo, Day 17

Today, I did six loads of laundry (including folding and putting away), changed five beds, edited 20 000 words (or more), ran some errands, and wrote this poem... because socks deserve love, too.

Ode to a Lost Sock

Yesterday we were snuggled together,
Rolled up tight, two birds of a feather.
Oh, my mate, where have you gone?
I'm not sure my life can go on.

Already, I miss your shapely form,
You were so soft and toasty warm.
We've been apart for only a day,
I only wish you did not stray.

What shall I do? How will I survive?
Without your support, I cannot thrive.
For sure, we were the perfect pair,
When it comes to socks, there is no spare.

We Belong... NaPoWriMo - Day 16

I promised Scott Butcher I'd write about eagles... but I didn't say what I'd write. Only that they would be present in my poem, and I'd link back to his fabulous pictures on Facebook.

I also promised my 17-year-old that I would write about seahorses...

And I always keep my promises.

We Belong

I am the eagle
Majestic and strong
My perch is the highest
In the sky, hear my song.

I am the seahorse
Gentle and pure
I drift with the current
In water, I endure. 

You are so tiny
Paltry and small
An ocean is binding
Not for me, at all.

You are gigantic
Huge and immense
The sky is expansive
It doesn't make sense. 

We are both rulers
Just drifting along
Enjoying the elements
Of where we belong.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.522479301193819.1073741830.444968528944897&type=3

Halfway... NaPoWriMo Day 15

Woo hoo - I'm at the halfway point and I've only missed one day of poetry, which I promise to rectify before the end of April.

Halfway

     Not sure
          if I should
               go up or down...
               Undecided, I lean
                    to the right,
                    but the wind blows...
               And pushes me
          to the left
         Where I balance
     For a brief instant
Before teetering
     Back to the in between

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/405720

Hide and Seek... NaPoWriMo Day 14

Almost halfway through NaPoWriMo and today is the day the words won't come so easily...

Hide and Seek

There is no poem inside of me today.
I searched.
I checked in the corners,
Behind the furniture,
And even dusted away a few cobwebs.
The poetry is playing a fabulous game
And it's calling it hide and seek.
Only, the harder I seek,
The more elusive it is.
It just doesn't want to come out to play.
And even though I'm sad,
I can respect this decision.
Not every day can end in rhymes
Or carefully counted syllables.
Not every day holds imagery,
Or meticulously sculpted stanzas.
Tomorrow the poetry will reveal itself
Tired of waiting for me to find it.
And I'll be here, with pen in hand,
Willing to play the game.

http://spotonlists.com/life/top-10-fun-games-that-cannot-be-played-alone/

Stormy Night... NaPoWriMo - Day 13

I'm not depressed or angry or upset in anyway - but I hate storms, and we had a lovely one this evening. The louder the storm, the more nervous I get.

Stormy Night 

Stretching across the sky
In a trail of angry light
Blazing a path of untouched fire
So pure it burns bright and white.

Rumbling with rage and hurt
An awkward and awful choir
Building to an apex of fury
So incensed by ire.

It's only a brief phase
Lost in a moment of grief
Let the rain wash away the fear
The pain is ever brief.

The storm ends in silence
Leaving a smoldering void
In a chasm of emptiness
Where nothing is enjoyed.

http://www.deviantart.com/art/In-This-Storm-141281826

Cheers to the men... NaPoWriMo Day 12

Yesterday I saluted the women in my life. Today's poem is for the men.

Cheers to the Men

Cheers to the men who make my day bright,
With smiles and cheer
You make me feel light.

Here's to their vigor and unyielding strength,
They hold me up high
And support me at length.

Be kind and mindful, they're soft and they're sweet.
With dreams of their own
They make me complete.

Remember their power, it's part their charm
To love and protect
And keep all from harm.

Respect their intellect, it's sharp and it's swift,
Tenacity unleashed
Can oft be a gift.

Cheers to the men who hold my soul close,
They make my life whole
A heart always knows.

http://faithatthebeach.com/2012/09/17/true-friends/

Cheers to the women! NaPoWriMo Day 11

Today's poem was inspired by good friends and their stories. Every day I am grateful to know so many wonderful women who effortlessly empower, support, and love each other.

Cheers to the Women

Cheers to the women who make me feel whole
With laughter and tears
And stories well told.

Here's to their spirits that rise high above
The surface of masks
To reveal their love.

Be gentle and kind, they're fragile and soft,
Full of hope and life
Their dreams held aloft.

Remember their strength, it's part of their charm,
What might be a weakness
Is what keeps them from harm.

Respect their minds, they're strong and creative,
Independent and swift,
And often persuasive.

Cheers to the women who hold my heart,
My life is complete
You set me apart.

http://nowisgoodblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/women.jpg

Sweet Temptation... NaPoWriMo Day 10

I'm posting before midnight! 

This one is in response to Scott Butcher's suggestion I write about chocolate... which I love above all other foods... even though I know that the smallest taste will lead me into trouble... because I have no willpower... 

Sweet Temptation

Please don't tempt me 

With your velvety voice

And your sensual eyes

And your delicious scent. 

Even a taste

Could ruin everything

By teasing the beast

That lurks deep inside. 

Please don't lure me

With your warmth and charm

And  sweet sensations.

Even a hint

Could weaken my resolve

By enticing lust

That simmers within. 

Please understand me

When I say I love you

But I can't have you

Nor should I need you. 

Even one lapse

Could destroy the trust

My body demands

So it can be strong. 

Come with me... NaPoWriMo Day 9

While the rest of my world is settling into sleep, I'm writing about it. Thanks to my writer-friend Lockie for giving me the suggestion. He has a bit of poetry of his own on his website - so when you're done reading mine, you should definitely take a look at his.

Come with me

Come with me to the fairy land
So we can dance under the stars
While listening to the pixie band
As they strum on their guitars.

Come with me to the land of dreams
So we can skip with abandon
Through the forest and in the streams
You'll be my constant companion.

Come with me to find the night
So we can play together
Within the shelter of moonlight
Please stay with me forever.

Come with me to the place called sleep
So we can drift with freedom
Letting our minds sink down deep
Into ethereal wisdom.

http://anime.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/1302249/

Whispered Illusions... NaPoWriMo, Day 8

 I was thinking of my upcoming publication of Liminal Lights when I wrote this...

Whispered Illusions 

Whisper to me of fun and games and thrills
And chills that take you away, far into the night
Where the magic drifts through the wood
And over the hills, between the trees and finds
Us there with hope and fear and laughter and love
Of the world all around, beneath and above.

Whisper to me of all that you've seen and been
And want and need from life and its cohorts
Who dance in the rain, in the dark, hidden in mist
And concealed under cover of sunlight and smiles
Upon faces that twist and contort with the pleasure
Of human awareness taken in measure.

Whisper to me so that I might hear and not fear
This life all around me, surround me, don't drown me
In knowledge and wisdom that I won't acknowledge
As it reaches beyond me, stretches and leans
To weave new patterns, and dreams and visions
I can't explain because my world is illusions.

NaPoWriMo... the commitment issue...

Was it only seven days ago I said I decided to do this crazy poetry thing?

Stepping out of my writing comfort zone is one thing, promising to write poetry everyday for 30 days is quite another. First of all - it's harder than I expected it to be, and I knew it wouldn't be easy. I'm not whining or moaning or making up excuses; I'm simply stating a fact. Good poets make it look easy, but this is work. Really challenging, heart-wrenching, soul-searching work.

Soul Searching

Sometime in the night you saw me
Sitting in the dark, in the light blue chair,
Tears long dried on my cheeks, nose red, eyes puffy,
You knew better than to interrupt my reverie.

The words simply dried up inside of me,
I couldn't find my voice, I'd lost my flair.
Words silenced in my heart, dried up, all  musty,
Locked in a world of despair without energy.

Slowly, silently, you stepped away from me,
Letting me mourn my loss, leaving me there
To ponder the right and wrong of my trusting
The well to be full, overflowing with generousity.

As you faded away, I knew that you saw me
Offered your strength, enveloped me in care,
And compassion, and love, and curiousity
To awaken the dream within, and lend constancy.

Sometime in the night you saw me,
Sitting in the dark, in the light blue chair,
Eyes gleaming, mind whirling, lips curling
Into a smile filled with light, love, and novelty.

Woman Writing at a Table 1905 Artist:  Anschutz, Thomas Pollock

Travelling is hard... NaPoWriMo Day 5

Writing poetry on the go
While driving to and fro
I might have dropped the ball
But I didn't miss the call
I will keep this going
The words continue flowing
Even though I'm on the road
I'll honour the NaPoWriMo code
And not skip even one day
As promised I'm going to play
This might not be my best
But it surely was a test
Of my commitment to this game
Even though it's kind of lame.

My apologies to anyone reading this - I'm determined not to skip any days. This might not be my best offering, but at least I tried...

I don't want to... NaPoWriMo Day 4

It's only day 4 and I'm already late posting my poem. If my computer had been cooperative, I would have had this piece shared before midnight... as it is, it's still rebelling, thinking that it should get at least one Friday off now and then.

Anyway - here goes...

I don't want to...

I don't want to go out in the rain
to play.
I'll get wet
and melt—

Oh help!

I don't want to go out in the sun
to play.
I'll get hot
dry up—

Not fun!

I don't want to go out in the wind
to play.
I'll get cold
Might fly—

Oh my!

I want to stay inside today
not play.
Read my books
and write—

That's fun!

Outside Right... NaPoWriMo Day 3

Feeling a little bit sentimental as I watch my boys grow into young men...

Outside Right

Just when I thought I had it all figured out
You came along and turned my world rightside up.

The grey depths of your eyes beckoned with care

Pulling me in, sheltering me there.

A small flash of smile, a dimple or two

Giggling and squealing and laughing anew.

Tiny fingers, always so sticky and sweet

I always knew you were my special treat.

Each day that you grow, I feel you pulling away

But the bond doesn’t break, it’s strong and will stay.

Thank you for flipping all the wrongs outside right

You strengthened my heart with your special light.

Finding my inner poet... Day Two

Deep breath - here goes... please don't judge too harshly, I can hardly believe I'm putting this out to the world in the state that it's in...

Path to Pathos

Who thought of this disorganized plan—
no balance, no structure, no rules,
it’s all confusion, intrusion, illusion

What is this place we call life—
it pulls, it pushes, it undulates
without reason, or rhyme, or treason

Where do we go from here—
disjointed, unplanned, yet connected
to each, we beseech, and impeach

When does this misery end—
it won’t resolve from within nor without,
it surrounds, it resounds, all around

Why call it freedom—

it’s a trap, a cage, all chaos
let’s engage, not enrage, let's restage.

Poet for a Month...

Usually, during the month of April, I round up a few word-smithery friends and ask them to share poetry on my blog. If I feel inspired, I might add one of my own, but that's a rare occurrence. This year I was so caught up in the perpetual winter that March slid into April before I realized what was happening. Now, I'm left with a conundrum... I can't just let NaPoWriMo slip by uncelebrated. I might not write poetry, but I do enjoy it.

So...

I'm taking a gigantic step out of my comfort zone and am going to attempt to write one poem a day during the month of April. Don't get excited - it probably won't last as I have commitment issues.

In the meantime, enjoy it while it lasts:

Poet for a Month

A poem a day?
What's that you say?
Try something new?
It takes but a moment or two...
Yup - I think I'll play
And become a poet before May.