River of Stones #31

We whispered

our goodbyes

through a casket lid

but the heaviness stays

as we wonder

how our sister

will face each morning

with his side of the bed empty.

Poetic Asides Tritina challenge

The Love of a Family

When a loved one is snatched by death,
Death trembles in the presence of family.
Though one is fallen, each member stands.

In love, in strength, in hope each member stands.
They help each other face death

And continue on as a family.

Even though one has left the family,
his memory stands
as he goes on to live past death.

Even through death, the love of a family stands.

River of Stones #30

When the little boy stood up at the funeral

and through tears said why he loved his grandpa,

we couldn’t hear the words, but understood just the same.

River of Stones # 29

Feeling like I’m in a mirrored fun house—

in the same room with my four sisters.

River of Stones #28

Cousins

 

The youngest clutched a red blanket

and requested kisses from

great aunts he met for the first time.

The oldest shook hands politely

and said, “Pleased to meet you.”

The one in the middle said,

“I loved Pappy as much as Daddy.

I’ll always have him in my heart.”

Just a day ago he was inconsolable,

now, he consoled adults around him.

At a time I begged for God's presence,

He appeared in the children.

Ordinary Death

Yes, death is quite a common thing.
In fact, everyone will die.
Yet, it comes as such a great shock.
We can’t grasp it when it happens.

All experience painful loss.
Yes, death is quite a common thing.
It shakes us to our very core.
We wonder how we can go on.

If we could just see it as good.
If we could admit to ourselves,
“Yes, death is quite a common thing;”
It may become less horrendous.

A graduation, homecoming,
Reward, ending to suffering.
We could be at peace, smile and say,
“Yes, death is quite a common thing.”

River of Stones #28

Grieving widow.

What we can’t say with words,

we say with hugs and food.

River of Stones 27

“I have to use that thingy

on the windshield.”

Californian sister.

Can’t remember the word

for ice scraper.

River of Stone #26

Steel beam and concrete warehouse

Crushed demolition worker

Crushed sister

Picking our way through the rubble

River of Stones # 25

Sausage and toast

in a circle around the plate

like a wreath.

Nothing in the plate’s middle

means something’s in his.

Poetic Asides Prompt Friend of a Friend

It’s Not Over Till It’s Over
  

My friend’s friend has had about

eighty of her novels published.

Every time she’d see me,

she’d ask about my manuscripts,

until she finally stopped asking.

She said something about failure.

As long as I have breath,

I’m writing and submitting work.

I didn’t hear any fat lady singing.

River of Stones # 24

My Mind 

A dark little room

Flimsy walls

Smells, light, cold

Flashes of pictures

From around the world

Attempting to permeate

But it’s too early.

River of Stones # 23

One Stormy Night

The storm blew in last night

violently ringing the porch bell.

My son went out in his bare feet

and took the noisy thing down.

The next morning, my husband

swept the snow off the porch,

except for prints packed down

by my son’s size fourteen feet.

It looked like Big Foot had visited.

Writing the Life Poetic Wordle: houseboat, drumming, scared, ambled

No Need for Change 

Early afternoon

In my houseboat

Rocking in the old cane chair

Listening to the drumming on the roof

Enjoying George the basset hound’s company.

George was lying at my feet.
Whining
Ears perking up
Figured he was just scared of the storm
But I heard a knock.

What?

In the middle of the lake

Nary a soul for miles

Ambled over and opened the door
Skinny girl stood there
Soaked to the bone
Looking terrified

“What?”

“Our boat turned over.
I think my friend drowned.”
“Come in.
Sit down.”
I threw my old coat over her.
Fiddled with the scanner
While she blubbered.

 “No cell phone?” she moaned.

“I have no use for them.”
“Computer?”
“Are you crazy?”

I heard the familiar crackle
Explained things to the dispatcher
Got the motor going
Found her boat
And her friend clinging to it.

Two weeks later
I received a package
General delivery
Took it home

“Looky see,” I told George.
Cell phone
Pitched it into the lake.

River of Stones # 22

The fog turned the hills into a shadowy forgotten dream.

Poetic Bloomings prompt Color

Pink

I used to be prejudiced against pink.

You know, pink was fluffy and girly. 

Ballet slippers

Barbies

Tutus  

I wore a lot of blues. 

But when I became an artist 

I took a good look at pink. 

I painted my walls 

a barely-noticeable pink.  

My winter jacket’s a pale pink.

My living room’s accented in pink roses.
I like pink, I think.
The other day,
my friend wore a burnt pink leather blazer.

I’m not there yet.

Diana Clark Prompt --poem based on You Tube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go43XeW6Wg4&feature=player_embedded

Crazy Cat

Kitty in a hamster ball
Paws and ears and tail and all
Upside right, whirling around
Oopsy daisy upside down
It’s a good thing you're so small
Crazy cat!

Folded up so nice and tight

What’s this thing that wants to fight?
A big, wiggling furry snake?
It’s your tail for goodness sake!
Kitty, do not take a bite
Crazy cat!

While you’re in there stuck inside

May as well enjoy the ride
Brother cat may think you’re dumb
But he’s missing all the fun
You'll never know till you've tried
Crazy cat!

River of Stontes #21

After the wagon ride

the two great horses,

stood side by side,

one looking bored

one looking quizzical

as if to ask,

“One more time?”

River of Stones #20

I in my boat

felt small

in the vast lake

towering pines

magnificent mountains

looming dark clouds

expansive blue sky

yet, large, too.

River of Stones #19

A shady place sheltered me.

The river whispered as it rushed past.

The rocky path invited me for a stroll.

PA Prompt Cruelty

Worth Getting to Know

To overlook someone like a rock

or a piece of furniture.

To regard them as humorless

since they don’t joke around.

To assume the reason they’re quiet

is because they have nothing to say.

To say, “They’re just shy,”

and assume they like it that way

and it will always be so.

This is cruelty to me.

January 18, 2011

Check out my interview with Marie Elena Good on Poetic Bloomings.
http://poeticbloomings.com/

River of Stones #18

Snowflakes descending on glazed rocks

 like spaceships on an alien landscape.

River of Stones #17

Mounds of snow

Like plump doves perching

Soft, silent

Tangled, maze

Black branches, silver-blue white

Lovely work of art

River of Stones #16

Sometimes amidst clutter and busyness

Someone stops and buys you roses

Somehow making it all worthwhile

River of Stones #15

Mailbox

Shivering in the cold

Waiting for something warm

to fill its belly

Poetic Bloomings Prompt That's My Line!

Hugs and Funny Faces Are My Fuel to Make Tomorrow Run

Mornings, I say, “Party’s started.”

“It’s off to the races.”

What keeps me going so strong?  It’s

Hugs and funny faces

All day long, they lighten my load

In various places

Jokes, teasing and deep belly laughs

Hugs and smiley faces

Evenings, they lend a helping hand

Keeping with the paces

A little rough, but source of strength

Hugs and bearded faces

At night, they sit upon my lap

Seeking my embraces

Purring very contentedly

Hugs and furry faces

Endings by Purplepeninportland Prompt #36

River of Stones #14

When they laid their baby

in a musty manger

would they ever imagine

that their likenesses would be crocheted

and atop someone’s entertainment center?

River of Stones #13

Living with a person with Alzheimer’s

is like Colorado weather.

Anything could happen.

Fifty-five degrees in January.

Snow in May.

Poetic Bloomings form poem Rime Couee, also goes with photo below

I would never expect to find

in the far outskirts of my mind

thoughts of the unlikeliest kind

as Colorado beach,

but like rare gems are often mined

inspiration’s in reach.

River of Stones #12

Like a beach in Colorado,

sometimes our personalities contain quirks

few people are aware of.

Poetic Asides Promp Life Changing Moment

Every Moment

A grain of sand

In an hourglass

Sinking, shifting, moving

Meeting new grains of sand

A feather

Caught up and carried by the wind

Drifting along

Various elevations and clime

A leaf

Rushing along in the current

Past rocks, trees and dying leaves

New scenery at every bend

Little choices

Imperceptible, perpetual movement

Feeling like nothing has changed

But yet, everything has

Every moment

A life changing moment

River of Stones #11

The cloud of smoke perched on the mountain

like an innocent squirrel looking for a nut,

while the fire on the far side consumed acres.

River of stones #10

Our lives here on earth,

like reflections on a clear mountain lake,

may be beautiful, but not the real thing.

River of Stones #9

The bare rocky mountain glowed yellow, orange, browns,

basking in the sun like a giant prehistoric lizard,

while pines slipped into the darkness like fleeing prey.

River of Stones # 8 also Poetic Bloomings prompt

                                                           photo  Poetic Bloomings

As a lake reflects the golden sun

with a fountain bubbling deep

may I reflect Your Golden Son

with Your Holy Spirit bubbling from within.

River of Stone #7

The flamingos strutted in the greenery like walking flowers.

River of Stones #6



The little tree grew in the red rock

amidst cedars and pinyon,

cactus and sage brush

daring to flourish.
At times, I feel like that.

River of Stones #5



                                        

                                             The desert landscape was hostile,

                          with cactus giving passing motorists

                                      the middle finger.



PA Prompt--Unstoppable Force

Time Marches On

Regardless of anti-age cream,

an hour on the trampoline,

or efforts of Ponce de Leon,

unstoppable time marches on.

No matter if you’re thinking young,

the spring in your step hasn’t sprung,

or you possess much verve and brawn

unstoppable time marches on.

Despite throwing sugar away,

drinking enough water each day,

a full night’s sleep and up at dawn,

unstoppable time marches on.

River of Stones #4

She approached the angel bench hesitantly

as if its wings would gain some unseen strength and ascend to heaven.

River of Stones # 3

Rocks, bushes, waterfalls

so perfectly placed they appear fake

like a cheery telephone greeting

amidst troublesome times.

River of Stones #2

The Garfield Cat cloud

hung over the Sleeping Ute.

May they rest in peace.



River of Stones #1

Through two hot air balloons

which hung like drapes,

a third balloon, like a prince,

danced with white ballerina clouds

 in a pale blue sky.