OctPoWriMo 16 - You Are Love

You Are Love

You cannot stop loving me

No matter what I do or say,

For You are love entirely.

You embrace me when I pray;

Your love is bigger than I know;

No matter what I do, You stay.

I want to stand up tall and show

The ones who say they follow You

Your love is bigger than they know.

They claim an ownership on truth

As if a human can know God—

The ones who say they follow You.

By You they are no longer awed;

They’ve forgotten Who You are,

As if a human can know God.

There is none You would deter;

You cannot stop loving me.

They’ve forgotten Who You are,

For You are love entirely.

OctPoWriMo 15 - Cover Me

You flattered me and made me feel

I was your shelter and your shield,

But never did you give cover to me.

You tried to make me fit your draft,

But I am not clay to be crafted

To fit the script, for it was not my story.

He gives me shelter in the storm,

He is my cover, he is home,

And we have learned to cover one another.

My partner, lover, and my friend,

We share the load, our lives we blend;

He holds me close as we advance together.

OctPoWriMo 12 - Love is a Warrior

Love is a Warrior

Love is not a summer cloud, wispy and frail

Love is a storm rolling in, thunder and rain

Love is a warrior; love will never fail

Love is not the bubbles floating in champagne

Love is a guardian, breaking evil’s bones

Love is a warrior, a wild hurricane

Love is not lust, desire, or mere hormones

Love is a choice you make again and again

Love is a warrior; love may stand alone

Love is not thoughts and prayers without action

Love is kneeling in the dirt to be a shield

Love is a warrior; love’s shouting, “Amen!”

Love is justice and mercy and truth revealed

Love is every hurt and injury healed

OctPoWriMo 10 - Silver in the Gloom

It has been a long time now
Since I felt that certain “Wow”

I used to feel like I could fly
Today, I often want to cry

You are still the silver in the gloom
And I will love you beyond my tomb

We may not dance upon the air today
But you are here, so here is where I’ll stay

Together we will find the light once again
You are mine forever and ever amen

OctPoWriMo 9 - Love is So Much

Love is So Much

Love is

A kitten in your lap

A baby in your arms

A puppy’s kisses

A gift carefully wrapped

Love is

A god kneeling in the dust

An outcast helping a stranger

A mother protecting her children

A child’s trust

Love is

A whisper in the dark

A hand reaching out

A hug that holds you together

A spark

Love is

A kiss, a sigh, a touch

Love is so much

Love is love is love is love is love

Love cannot be overcome

Love has won

OctPoWriMo 6 - All is Fair

All is fair in love and war?
No. Do not presume to speak for
Me or anyone like me.
Love is greater than you see
And there is nothing I need more.

Love may be an open door,
But love is also so much more
Love is priceless; love is free
Love is here for you and me
And all is fair.

Your little boxes cannot bear
The size of love; they haven't a prayer.
Love is love is love, and we
Only see through glass darkly.
And all is fair.

OctPoWriMo 5 - Love Denied

Today's prompt is "denied" and I decided to do a florette as I didn't do one when it was the suggested form.

My topic is something that has been in my heart a lot lately.

Graphic created by author

Love Denied

Jesus loves me, this I know;
You say you want to help me grow,
But when I show you who I am,
I am denied. Your love’s a sham. It’s just for show.

The church was never meant to be
A corporate monopoly.
He said we are to be His bride.
We’re meant to be a family, yet we divide.

God is love and love is love
And I am vastly weary of
Conditions that are placed upon
His unconditional love. Stop it. Begone.

OctPoWriMo 2 - How I Love You

Today's prompt is "poems and notes to you."

Photo by Bundo Kim on Unsplash

How I Love You

I wanted to show you how much I love you:
I wrote you a love note, but it wasn’t right;
The words didn’t say what I wanted to say,
So I tore it up and tossed it away.

I tried again to express how I love you:
I wrote you a love song, but it sounded trite;
The words fell flat, the melody faltered.
I could never share it as it was so awkward.

A third time I tried to convey how I love you:
I crafted a poem—I guess it’s all right;
Third time’s the charm, or that’s what they say.
You love me, so you embrace what I’ve offered.

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 24 - When Lovers Meet

I see you there
Across the room
Your eyes so bright
You put the sun and stars to shame
You enchant me

Love Is...

Love is the beginning and the end:
All the Law and Prophets hang on that.
Without love, it’s all a vast pretend:
Clanging cymbals, nothing, falling flat.

Love is the foundation and the peak:
Never failing, always hoping, sure.
All you need, and everything you seek;
In the arms of love you are secure.

Love was, and is, and is to come again.
Faith and hope abide, but love has won;
Kind and patient, over all love reigns,
Bows its head and whispers, “It is done.”

Love is father, mother, lover, friend;
Love is love and it will never end.

OctPoWriMo 6 - Taste Your Lips

Today's prompt is tantalizing and the suggested form is Loop poetry. I can't remember if I've tried this form before, but I like it. It's fun.

I have been married 7 years last month, and I still think of my husband first when I see prompts like this. I crave his touch, and I believe that I always will.

Aren't we cute?

Taste Your Lips

Let me taste your lips
Lips that smile so sweet
Sweet and soft and warm
Warm me with your heat

Hands and fingers tangle
Tangle me with you
You and I together
Together rendezvous

I am yours forever
Forever we are one
One flesh, one heart, one love
Love me—I’m undone

OctPoWriMo 27 - My Happy Ending

Today's prompt is about happy endings. "What is your happy ending?" I know I've written about my husband several times this month, and maybe I'm a bit sappy, but he's one of the best things in my life. He's my happy ending. Today's sonnet (Italian style) is written in third person, but "she" here is me.

My Happy Ending

Once upon a time there was a girl
Who dreamed of romance, chivalry, and knights.
Since she was young, her mind would tend on flights
Of fancy, free from fetters of the world.
Happiness, she thought, would be a whirl-
Wind love affair, consuming days and nights;
Of deepest depths and, oh, so dizzy heights.
Instead, she found love like a bloom unfurled,
A slow awakening like spring’s return.
Before she knew what happened, she would yearn
To be with him each moment of each day.
She was surprised to find her soul would say,
“This is my other half, the one for me,
My happy ending I could not foresee.”

OctPoWriMo 20 - I Love You

Today, the prompt was to write a love poem. I chose to use the HexSonnetta form since I love sonnets and I've never tried this one before. This poem is dedicated to my husband Mark.

I Love You

Do I need to say
I love you? For you know,
And every day I show
That I will never stray.
I don’t do things halfway:
You’ll always be my beau.

Yet, I know words have might
And, so you won’t forget,
I once again will let
You know you are my light.
So, yes, I know ‘tis trite,
But I have no regrets.

Never more alone,
For you and I are one.

OctPoWriMo 13 - Love Will Be

Today's prompt asks us to write about risks we are willing to take, and suggests using the blitz form. This is one of my favourite poetry forms, so I had to take up the challenge. Instead of writing about risks I might/will take, I wrote about a risk I took seven years ago: on September 1, 2008, I asked my best friend if he wanted to be my boyfriend. This year, we celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary. So that risk worked out well, I think. ;)

Love Will Be

I had waited
I had dreamed
Dreamed of love
Dreamed of forever
Forever I would be with him
Forever we would love
Love is patient
Love is blind
Blind to signs that all could see
Blind to feelings, leaving fear
Fear of rejection
Fear of being open
Open up my mouth
Open up my heart
Heart so full of love
Heart so full of hope
Hope like a tiny flickering flame
Hope that flared at his response
Response that fulfilled my every wish
Response set my heart ablaze
Ablaze with feeling
Ablaze with joy
Joy that never yet has waned
Joy that took me to the church
Church with friends and family
Church where we became one
One flesh
One soul
Soul mate was just a word before
Soul mate is my husband now
Now we have woven our lives together
Now we are one soul in two bodies
Bodies that once were separate
Bodies that yearn to touch
Touch my heart
Touch my hand
Hands entwined
Hands so strong
Strong and able to keep me safe
Strong, yet gentle
Gently holds me
Gently gives his best
Best lover
Best friend
Friends we are
Friends we will always be
Be together
Be forever
Forever
Together

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

OctPoWriMo 29 - All I Need

Today's prompt is our own personal love story. This ballad is dedicated to my husband Mark.

All I Need

Romeo and Juliet

Were really rather blind.

David and his stolen queen

Had no peace of mind.

Cleopatra never knew

The joy of growing old.

Lancelot and Guinevere

Made Arthur a cuckold.

You and I will never be

An epic tale of love;

I don’t care, for what we have

Is greater than above.

We don’t need poison, lies, and murder

For drama in our life.

All I need from you, my love,

Is to be your wife.

OctPoWriMo 11 - The Other Side of Love

Today's prompt asks us to write about "creating a better world for children."

The Other Side of Love

All life is of value

No matter age or size;

You can see the wonder

Reflected in their eyes.

Before you were considered,

The Father knew your name.

He will never leave you;

He loves us all the same.

Anyone who injures

A child of God above

Will learn, to their dismay,

The other side of love.

Requiem for Innocence

Won't someone save the children?
I fear nobody will.
They're hiding in the shadows
As Darkness comes to kill.

They've barely started living,
But evil doesn't care.
This killer has no mercy;
Not one of them he'll spare.

The boy who dreamed of freedom:
He is the first to die.
He wanted peace and justice;
He never ceased to try.

He lived life with a passion;
He loved with all his heart.
You see, he felt too strongly
From the very start.

I hear the cries of younglings
As they're sent into the grave
By hands that should protect them.
He is once again a slave.

-Esther Spurrill-Jones

2012 Valentine's Day Blog Hop: A Valentine's Letter

Vicki Orians challenged us to write a love letter from one of our main characters to another. I'm going to do this a little differently; this won't be romantic love. So this is Lance, the main character of my untitled WIP, writing to his deceased twin brother.

Raoul,
It has been so many years since I last laid eyes upon your face, so many many years, and yet sometimes I still forget. I turn to ask a question of you and you are not there. I hear your laughter in the next room, but you are not there. I see your face in the mirror, but it is only my face, and you are not there.

Ah, Raoul! I miss our conversations; I even miss our arguments. We always said we'd live forever, but we meant to do it together; eternity is lonely without you. I would do anything if you could live again.Vengeance was supposed to make it better; but vengeance only made things worse. Now your murderer hunts me with the strength and skills I gave him and with a great hatred in his heart for me and all our kind. I fear that this is my fault, for instead of killing him for killing you, I turned him into one of us, turned him into what he hated. For so long, I hated him for what he did to you; but now I only pity him for he is like me: forever alone.

I was always so proud, so proper. I don't remember if I ever told you that I loved you. I wish that I had, even though I know you would have laughed at me and made some joke; I miss your jokes. You were always so impulsive, so happy, so alive.

I miss you.

Your brother,
Lance