OctPoWriMo 12 - A Spark in the Dark

Prompt: Black
Form: Shadow Sonnet

A Spark in the Dark

A shadow falls across my life, a shadow
To shield and cover me behind Your shield.
Your rainbow guards my heart. You hold the rainbow
To wield defending me. Your sword I wield:
The Word in flesh; the Light. You are the Word
And everything I need. You’re everything
Unheard no eye has seen nor ear has heard.
I sing in light or dark; for You I sing.
Night and day are Yours, and in the night
The stars proclaim Your glory. Moon and stars:
Light so gentle in the night. Their light
Applause. And all creation stands to give applause.
In darkest night, I find You in the dark;
You spark something with me. You’re my spark.

OctPoWriMo 8 - Scent

Prompt: scent
Form: sonnet

Scent

Roses blooming in the summer rain
And coffee brewing just before the dawn;
A mug of steaming chocolate keeps me sane
When flowers, kittens, raindrops all are gone.

A turkey roasting and a pumpkin pie,
Bacon frying, pine logs in the stove.
Forests, rivers, mountains soothe my eye;
My nose prefers mint, cinnamon, and cloves.

When I’m feeling sad or lost or blue
I remember all my favourite things:
A whiff of favoured smell can bring me through
And lift me up on reminiscent wings.

If I were blind and deaf I’d be content,
But I could not enjoy life without scent.

OctPoWriMo 4 - Born With Wings

Prompt: Cage

Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay

Born With Wings

I was born with wings, yet they were weak;

I needed training how to make them fly,

But no one told me I could reach the sky,

And those who flew were looked upon as freaks.

They told me I was meant to be unique,

But “normal” was the model to my eye.

It took me way too long to see the lie—

How can you find if you don’t know to seek?

Now fear is chains upon my heart and soul,

Heavy links that hold the feathers fast,

Doubt that tries to keep me in control.

When I come out and spread my wings at last

And fly into the blue, then I will see

That I was always meant to be this free.

OctPoWriMo 1 - Change My Mind

Today's prompt is "Dark Night of the Soul." There is no suggested form, so I chose one of my favourites, the English sonnet.

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Change My Mind

I look for myself in Mom, in Dad, in friends;
I look for myself in art, in love, in God;
But all I find is bits of odds and ends.
Is there a me? Or am I just a fraud?

And yet, each piece I find is part of me
And, piece by piece, I fit myself together
Just like a jigsaw puzzle, and I see
Some pieces join to be, not whole, but closer.

The dark night of my soul is when I find
A portion of the picture is something
That I don’t want to be. And yet my mind
Is mine. So this is me, despite the sting.

If I accept and integrate that part,
And change my mind, then I can change my heart.

OctPoWriMo 26 - Coming Out

“Coming out” can mean multiple things,
But usually it indicates that you
Have been hiding, but now you break through,
To be free, to rise on honest wings.
Hiding part of who you are can sting;
It’s hard on you when you cannot be true,
To know that no one knows th’authentic you,
And so you step into the light and sing.

You are the only you who’ll ever be,
And if you are not you, then no one will.
We should fete the open closet door,
Love one another, help them to be free.
Rejection, disapproval, hatred kills;
Everyone deserves their wings, to soar.

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

For Everyone

Once upon a time I thought I knew
What was all my God required of me,
And who He had created me to be.
I was sure I knew just what was true.
Under the sun there is nothing new,
And I’d been taught that I could clearly see
That to obey the church is to be free;
But something in my heart had gone askew.

All He asks of us is that we love,
But many fellow Christians only hate.
He sent us an example from above:
He died His love for all to demonstrate.
God so loved the world He gave His Son
Not just for Christians, but for everyone.

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 26 - I Am Done For

Today's prompt is abandonment. When I started writing, it just kind of came out a Petrarchan sonnet for some reason. Since I have never been abandoned, I used the theme in a tongue in cheek way. This sonnet is dedicated to my husband, Mark. The quote in line two is Dido, and the one in line 5 is from Dante.

I Am Done For

I swear that I will never leave, my dear;
There will be no white flag above my door;
I will be in love forevermore;
I vow that I will never disappear.
“All hope abandon ye who enter here.”
Each time I look at you, I am done for;
All other men (and women) I ignore.
I love you—just in case that isn’t clear.
I plan to sleep beside you when we’re old
And, probably, I’ll steal the covers still.
You know that you don’t really feel the cold
And I already often do get chilled.
Wrap me in your arms, tightly ahold;
Of you I never will get all my fill.

OctPoWriMo 17 - Savoury

Today's prompt is savoury, and the suggested form is the sonnet. This is my favourite poetry form, and I love writing them. However, most of my sonnets are serious, while today I decided to be a bit silly. It's still true, though. I do like savoury better than sweet.

Savoury

I’m not a fan of super sweet confections,
I don’t really care ‘bout cake and pie,
I don’t hold for sugar much affection,
It takes so little sweets to satisfy,
But if you give me french fries, cheese, and meat,
Potato chips and popcorn: salty things,
I have a tendency to overeat,
Especially with spice to give a zing.
I’d rather eat my dinner than dessert;
Savoury will always be my pick.
And now you know the map into my heart:
Some fat, some spice, and maybe a salt lick.
Bacon is my favourite of all—
Along with spaghetti and meatballs.

Steak sandwich: yum

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 22 - Shadows of Anger and Fear

I couldn't get inspired by today's prompt, so I used yesterday's Wednesday Poetry Prompt from Writer's Digest, and wrote a sonnet about Star Wars. I am so excited about the new film coming. I've been watching the trailer over and over.

Shadows of Anger and Fear

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away,
The shadows of anger and fear grew strong and bold.
The stories are true: it’s us who saved the day,
Took down the Sith, refused to be controlled.

We lost our homes, we lost our families,
We lost so much, we vowed we’d lose no more,
We’d never live our lives upon our knees,
So we took up our arms and went to war.

Among the stars, he faced his destiny—
A choice between what’s right and what’s easy—
And chose the path of light, chose to be free,
And showed us all what love can truly be.

Though darkness had his father’s soul enslaved,
‘Twas love that gave his son the pow’r to save.

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 4 - Embrace the Darkness

Today's prompt is magic. With such a broad, open-ended field to play in, I decided to limit myself with a strict form. I settled on the Kyrielle Sonnet because I love sonnets.

Embrace the Darkness

Welcome to the time of year when
Spirits wander in broad daylight,
We all embrace the darkness, and
Magic thrills us all day and night.

The sun is losing all his hold;
He no longer has any right
To prevail o’er all as of old.
Magic thrills us all day and night.

We glory in macabre and grim,
In spooky and weird we delight.
Cobwebs, spiders—ghoulish is “in.”
Magic thrills us all day and night.

Welcome to the time of year when
Magic thrills us all day and night.

OctPoWriMo 16 - I Never Miss

Today's prompt is "Once upon a time..." (The beginning of a story, not the television show.) We were asked to tell a story with a poem, so I was going to use the ballad form since it lends itself so well to epic tales. However, this particular story wanted to be a sonnet. So a sonnet it is.

I Never Miss

Once upon a time there was a girl

Who knew no equal on the battlefield.

She lived for battle singing in her bones;

Before her, almost anything would yield.

A foe defeated sent a man to kill her:

An archer who had never missed a shot.

He made a different call and then he joined her;

Together, they unwound the villain’s plot.

Now, they take out all who come against them;

They never shall be parted until death.

Two warriors against the world they stand

Until the day they breathe their final breath.

When others ask him how he stole a kiss,

He smiles and only says, “I never miss.”

OctPoWriMo 1 - My Wings

Today's prompt asks us to think about escape, about breaking free of a chrysalis and flying. I started to think about Once Upon a Dream from Sleeping Beauty and Let me be Your Wings from Thumbelina, and I played with the sonnet form and adapted it and twisted it around a bit.

This is the story of how I fell in love with my husband Mark.

My Wings

Once I thought I knew what I would be,
But life does not come with a guarantee.
I had a plan: I did not need a man;
Then I met you, and through my soul you flew.

Suddenly, I could clearly see
That you had always been the one for me.
I know that dreams aren’t always what they seem,
But I know you, and what we have is true.

Your kiss awoke me and you set me free;
We soar together over land and sea;
I wear your ring and you are my wings;
I love you; I know you love me too.

Together we can do it all;
You will never let me fall.

OctPoWriMo 17 - Lord of the Rings Online

Today's prompt asks us to think about games we have played or still play. My favourite game is Lord of the Rings Online (LotRO). It's a massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) based on Tolkien's worlds of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. I wrote an English sonnet on my experiences within the vast world of LotRO.

The Last Homely House in Rivendell

The Lord of the Rings Online

Through Michel Delving, on to Hobbiton,
And up the Hill to see the Party Tree—
Without a mount, it’s quite a way to run,
And rented horses certainly aren’t free.

Once I buy a horse, I ride to Bree;
Such a pretty town, though like a maze.
I play my lute outside the Prancing Pony
And wander through the twisted, winding ways.

And then, I find my way to Rivendell,
Riding through the Trollshaws’ red and gold.
My favourite place, for it is always Fall.
And then, over the Misty Mountains cold.

I speak to Gandalf, Aragorn, and Sam.
I ride with Hobbit, Elf, and Dwarf, and Man.

At the Party Tree in Hobbiton

Playing my lute in Breetown

OctPoWriMo 31 - Quietly Give up the Light

For my final OctPoWriMo post this year, I had to try a Shadow Sonnet. I think it's appropriate today.

Quietly Give up the Light

Bite me, oh dark one; my love, I long for your bite.

Give me your blood, and my soul to you I will give.
Night falls around us, but you are one with the night.
Live you may not, but together forever we’ll live.

Hold me, oh dark one; I’m yours to have and to hold.
Fill me with fire until I have had my fill;
Cold is your skin, but soon I won’t feel the cold.
Still I will love you even when my heart is still.

To my friends I’ll be dead; to my family I’ll be dead too.
Will I miss them? You know, I believe that I will.
You’ll be my family; my only friend will be you.
So much that I have I will lose: I know it is so.

Might I forget the pain in my newfound might.
Light up my heart as I quietly give up the light.

OctPoWriMo 10 - Mornings

Just five more minutes, Mom. I will awake

In time to eat and brush my teeth, I swear.

Aw, come on. Why can’t I get a break?

I want to sleep some more. It isn’t fair!

Hit snooze and snooze again just one more time;

My bed so soft and warm I hate to rise.

I hate nothing like I hate that chime

That calls me to be healthy, wealthy, and wise.

I sometimes like to rise before the sun,

To sit in quiet while all others sleep,

And not to think of what needs to be done,

To pray the peace I find then I can keep.

But most days, coffee is my closest friend.

I wish my sleep would never have to end.

OctPoWriMo 2 - Dreams

The Sonnet is probably my favourite poetry form. I love the musicality of it. Yesterday’s poem was an English (or Shakespearean) sonnet. Today, I’m going to try an Italian (or Petrarchan). The Italian sonnet is much more difficult, as every line rhymes with at least one other line.

Dreams

I’ve always dreamed I’d one day be a mom.

Yes, I’d like to be successful too:

To see my name in print would be so cool,

To reach the world with words, and to become

Alive and free, no longer cold and numb.

I love to dream up worlds: make something new,

To ask the questions “Where?” and “Why?” and “Who?”

Yet, times I’d rather change a baby’s bum.

I believe I’ll realise my dreams,

Although they seem so far away right now.

“Nothing is impossible!” I scream;

My barbaric yawp drowns out the “How?”

And all I see is distant joyful gleams.