OctPoWriMo 21 - I Cannot Fix the World

Prompt: Screaming into the wind

I Cannot Fix the World

I am but one. I cannot fix
The world no matter what I do.
I do not have effective tricks.
I am but one. I cannot fix
Religion, earth, or politics
When you refuse to see what’s true.
I am but one. I cannot fix
The world no matter what I do.

OctPoWriMo 10 - Please Ask

Prompt: Touch

Image by Maklay62 from Pixabay

Please Ask

They  say we all need touch to live
But please, ask me before you do.
I don’t want to be combative;
They say we all need touch to live
But if kindness you want to give
I may not want that touch with you.
They  say we all need touch to live
But please, ask me before you do.

OctPoWriMo 9 - Rose-Coloured Glasses

Prompt: Eyes

Rose-Coloured Glasses

Like Pollyanna, I will try to see
The good in everything that I endure;
A filter of rose does not make me carefree.
Like Pollyanna, I will try to see
The diamond hidden underneath debris.
I don’t believe this means I’m immature.
Like Pollyanna, I will try to see
The good in everything that I endure.

OctPoWriMo 6 - Lady Sky

Prompt: blue

Lady Sky

Along a dress of brightest blue

She wears a golden coronet

‘Til evening’s fall from morning’s dew.

Then, o’er her dress of brightest blue

She draws a raven wrap—gloves too,

And bows her head ‘til dawn is met.

Along a dress of brightest blue

She wears a golden coronet.

OctPoWriMo 27 - Rainbow

Colours bowing in the sky,
Reaching over all below.
Spectrum dancing in my eyes;
Colours bowing in the sky.
I tip my head and stretch out my
Senses, welcoming the glow.
Colours bowing in the sky,
Reaching over all below.

Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash

In the Deep

Deep beneath the surface
Something starts to stir:
Moving with a purpose
Deep beneath the surface.
Soon will be catharsis
For I cannot deter;
Deep beneath the surface
Something starts to stir.

The Taste of Margarine

A film of grease upon my tongue
Chased by hints of forgery,
Just like botox makes you young.
A film of grease upon my tongue
Clings like Donald Trump among
Rants and lies and perjury.
A film of grease upon my tongue
Chased by hints of forgery.

OctPoWriMo 31 - Lurking in the Dark

Today is the last day of OctPoWriMo 2017. This was my sixth (!) year doing this, and I am still learning so much every time.

Lurking in the Dark

What is lurking in the dark?
Hiding from all living eyes?
Skulking in the misty murk?
What is lurking in the dark
In the woods behind the kirk?
To seek it out would be unwise.
What is lurking in the dark—
Hiding from all living eyes?

OctPoWriMo 25 - Sweet and Calming

This poem is dedicated to my husband, Mark.

Sweet and Calming

Your smile is sweetness to my heart;
Your touch is calming to my soul.
Especially when we’ve been apart,
Your smile is sweetness to my heart.
Like a poignant work of art
Satisfies and makes me whole,
Your smile is sweetness to my heart;
Your touch is calming to my soul.

OctPoWriMo 23 - Call Them Sin?

Today's prompt is What is the Message?




Call Them Sin?

What message do we send
When we call them sin?
How can we defend
What message we do send?
Whatever we intend,
No matter how we spin,
What message do we send
When we call them sin?

OctPoWriMo 16 - Sacred Silence

Today's prompt is Losing Your Fears and Tears and we were asked to think about what fears we face and fight and lose. I have always hated speaking in front of people.

Sacred Silence

Speaking up and speaking out
Gives me shakes and gives me chills
Even when I have no doubt.
Speaking up and speaking out
Feels like I’ve broken all about
Sacred silence no longer still.
Speaking up and speaking out
Gives me shakes and gives me chills.

OctPoWriMo 10 - I'm a Contradiction

Today's prompt is Power and Control.

I'm a Contradiction

I like to have control of what I do
And yet I love a list of tasks to do.
It sounds like I’m a contradiction, true:
I like to have control of what I do,
But I don’t want to lead or oversee.
Knowing what’s expected leaves me free;
I like to have control of what I do
And yet I love a list of tasks to do.

OctPoWriMo 8 - My Life is Good

Today is Thanksgiving Sunday in Canada, so I wrote a poem about what I am thankful for.

My Life is Good

I’m thankful for the life I hold.
I am blessed. My life is good.
I may complain, but when all’s told
I’m thankful for the life I hold
With food and shelter ‘gainst the cold,
More clothes than I could ever need.
I’m thankful for the life I hold.
I am blessed. My life is good.

OctPoWriMo 7 - Caution

Today's prompt is And Then I Went Too Far. But I honestly cannot think of a time when I did anything that could be called "too far." I'm a very cautious person, and I don't usually come close to the line, let alone step over it.

Caution

I am not spontaneous;
I ponder, mull, and think again.
The unknown feels precarious,
And I am not spontaneous.
Crossing lines is craziness;
It’s easier to just abstain.
I am not spontaneous;
I ponder, mull, and think again.

OctPoWriMo 6 - Next to Me

Today's prompt is While I was pacing the floor, but I don't pace. I fidget when I'm anxious. However, one of the phrases stood out to me: "shadows walk with me." There is something comforting about one's shadow, but there is also something eerie about it. I am currently reading a scary book, and since I'm in that mindset that's where my poetry went today.


Next to Me

My shadow paces next to me
In the corner of my eye.
Though I’m standing still I see
My shadow paces next to me.
I can’t escape; I’ll ne’er be free
From birth until the day I die
My shadow paces next to me
In the corner of my eye.

OctPoWriMo 5 - Both Good and Bad

Today's prompt is Finally I Understand, and this is a theme I revisit often. I wrote another triolet today.

Both Good and Bad

My life has not gone how I’d planned
And yet it’s good, so I am glad.
Now I finally understand
My life has not gone how I’d planned
For it’s not traced, but drawn freehand:
A masterpiece, both good and bad.
My life has not gone how I’d planned
And yet it’s good, so I am glad.

OctPoWriMo 2 - I Drift Away

Today's prompt is We Write Because We Must. I do write because I must, but I couldn't find inspiration for today in this prompt. Instead, I write a triolet (my current favourite form) about how easy it is to just not try, whether in relationships or anything else.

I Drift Away

I drift away from everything,
Allowing all to pass me by.
I hide from life because it stings;
I drift away from everything.
But with no pain there is no zing.
Do or do not? Yet I must try.
I drift away from everything,
Allowing all to pass me by.

Smoke

Photo by Paduret Dan Cristian on publicdomainpictures.net

I dance among the crackling flames,
Reaching for the sky above.
Like the fire, you can’t tame
My dance among the crackling flames.
Your breath is tangled with my chains;
I strangle you to show my love.
I dance among the crackling flames,
Reaching for the sky above.

OctPoWriMo 5 - My Heart has Always Known

Today's prompt asks us to write about love and relationships. As always, I must write about my husband Mark. I actually cannot remember the first time we met, and sometimes it feels like I've always known him. I've tried to capture that in a triolet.

My Heart has Always Known

I can’t recall a time before
It seems my heart has always known
We two are halves of but one soul
I can’t recall a time before
Without you I was never whole
With you I am so much more
Nevermore to be alone
I can’t recall a time before
Without you I was never whole
It seems my heart has always known

What is Truth? (A Triolet)

Morgan Dragonwillow asked the following questions as a poetry prompt:

1. What does truth mean to you?
2. What is your truth?
3. Do you know what your truth is?

Here is my response in triolet form:

What is Truth?

One unerring mark of the love of truth is not entertaining any proposition with greater assurance than the proofs it is built upon will warrant.
~John Locke
“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”
~Flannery O’Connor
What is truth?
~Pontius Pilate

I asked my neighbour, “What is truth?
“Is it the same for you and me?”
He answered me in words uncouth.
I asked my grandma, “What is truth?
She smiled and showed her single tooth.
“Truth is truth, do you not see?”
I asked the world, “What is truth?
“Is it the same for you and me?”