love/anti love PAD 25-1, terzanelle

 

The Things We Do for Love

 

The thistles here are sharp as tacks.
Unknowingly, we bring them in.
We find them when we feel the pain.

 

Inside, barefoot or socks so thin.
They lie in wait for us to find.
Unknowingly, we bring them in.

 

Those little rascals are unkind. 
They pierce through socks and stick in skin.
They lie in wait for us to find.

 So I search for them to begin.

And be glad when I step on one.
They pierce through socks and stick in skin.

 

Because for Hubby it’s less fun.
So I attempt to find them first.
And be glad when I step on one.

 

He always feels the pain the worst.
The thistles here are sharp as tacks.
So I attempt to find them first.
We find them when we feel the pain.

 

 

 

Living Creature, PAD 24-3, tanka

 

Legacy

 

Writer sits alone

But with the whole world in mind

Writing to no one

But writing to everyone

Letting it flow, inside out 

Living creature PAD 24-2, Tableau

 Hubby Tableau

 

I hear squeaks, rattles,

And giggles, sometimes.

Hubby in hallway

Slightly bent over

Pushing his walker

Coming to breakfast

 

He speaks with effort

His garbled greeting

Sits at the table

On his padded seat

Two strokes have aged him

But he’s still Hubby

 

We pray together

Thank God for the food

We don’t talk a lot

So he can swallow

It has been eight years

A lot to swallow

Living creature, PAD 24-1, synchronicity

 Visitor

 

Eight-foot fence around our back yard

Does not deter our neighbor’s cat

He leaps

 

He scouts our yard for moving things

He looks at me with sideways glance

He comes

 

Beautiful long, blackish-brown fur

Plump, rather big for a kitty

He sits

 

At my feet, he rolls on his back

“Rub my fat belly,” he demands

I do

 

I tire and quit so he stands

But he lingers, hoping for more

Not now

 

I go back inside through glass doors

I look back, he stands, expectant

Questions

 

Aren’t you going to let me in?

Aren’t you going to adopt me?

Never

 

He turns and leaps over my fence

But days later, he’s at my feet

Hello

Response PAD 23-2, Poetic Bloomings, night, swap quatrain

 

A Poem of Praise

 

I look to You, almighty God,

You are perfect and I am flawed.

I know that You will see me through.

Almighty God, I look to You.s

 

I sing Your praise into the night.

You are the way, the truth and light.

You are worthy, my voice I raise.

Into the night, I sing Your praise.

 

With thankful heart, I come to You.

Appreciate all that You do.

You have been with me from the start.

I come to You, with thankful heart.

response PAD 23-1, night, Poetic Bloomings, stornello

 

My response to this awesome world is to write

Aim to live my life with vision, faith and light

To shine in the dark, like a star in the night

Night Poetic Bloomings, Sonnetina Tre, memory PAD 22-4

 

A Walk in the Night

 

That birthday, autumn, I had turned nineteen

We three friends decided to take a walk

But first, lasagna then cake and ice cream

A pleasant time to laugh, catch up and talk

 

Into the dark night, on a country road

We longtime friends, comfortable spending time

Our teasing and camaraderie flowed

He, neighbor since birth, she, classmate of mine

 

We didn’t know this walk would be our last

And a standout memory of my past

Memory, PAD 22-3, sonnet

 

Like a Song

 

I can’t believe that so much time has passed.

The twenty-five years have flown by so fast.

The first one who stayed with us, frail, and small,

She could not see, hear, talk or walk at all.

 

She weighed only thirty pounds, twelve-years old.

She was light enough to carry and hold.

Caused feelings that I’ve never felt before.

Somehow, she was one I grew to adore.   

 

She had such beautiful, big, dark-brown eyes.

And when she smiled, it came as a surprise.

She clearly favored a warm bubble bath.

Her life was certainly no primrose path.

 

She did not stay with us for very long.

Her memory still lingers like a song.

Memories, PAD 22-2, skeltonic

 Out of the House

 

Five girls, little room

Played outside sun or gloom

Snow, rain, thunder boom

Mom always with a broom

We ran the hills

Explored for thrills

Took our spills

Hot or chills

Took our hikes

Rode our bikes

Lots of yikes

Lots of likes

Sled in snow

On the go

Grass to mow

Firefly glow

Brilliant leaves

Tomato thieves

Torn shirt sleeves

Wild grass weaves

Swam in creeks

Rained for weeks

Laughs and shrieks

Squeals and squeaks

Climbed up trees

Stepped on bees

Skinned our knees

Memories

Memory PAD 22-1 Sijo

 

Rivers, sand, oceans, lakes, red earth, mossy trees, plains, mountains

Early travels countered the hills, creeks, and trees of Pennsylvania

Now, my old stomping grounds have become part of my travels

Why Blank, PAD 21-3

 

Why?

 

Why does it rain?

Why do birds sing?

Why did the creek go dry?

Why does it snow in April?

Why do trees whistle in the wind?

Why do animals eat other animals?

Why do chipmunks die in bird houses?

Because.

Just because.

Why Blank, PAD 21-2, Shadorma

 

Why Not?

 

Go to Egypt?

During the school year?

Ride camels?

Is it safe?

Adventures, history, fun

So we say, “Why not?”

Why Blank, PAD 21-1, Sevenling

 

Sevenling (Why?)

 

Why do I write?

Why do I exercise?

Why do I pray?

 

Why do I binge on Netflix?

Why do I scroll on Facebook?

Why do I eat too much?

 

Could it all be for the same reason?

Explanation PAD 20-3, Septolet

 

Early, dark

Scrape windshield

Forested mountain

Rambunctious children

 

Some income

Love nature

Best friend

explanation PAD 20-2, senryu

 

He makes goals

Next day texts his excuses

But that is his own business

Explanation PAD 20-1 sedoka

 

Perspective

 

She is such a snob

Only talks to ones she knows

Such an unfriendly person

 

Introduce myself?

I hate this awkward shyness

Part of the reason I write

Six words PAD 19-3, Saraband

 

Fizzled  

 

Roiling emotions at his words,

They seemed like simply gibberish.

Completely crazy and absurd!

 

Beneath gnarled branches of the apple tree,

He kneeled before her with a diamond ring.

The expression on her face, could he see?

She declined with the phrase, “Well, here’s the thing.”

six words, PAD 19-2, ryuka

 

Spring days of kites and giggling kids

Dandelions, bubbles, and wind

Squinting and sneezing at the sun

Breathing rain-washed breezes

six words PAD 19-1, plus my six words, rhupunt

 

Gibberish

 

Mysterious
Bubble and fuss
Intricate dust
Add in some grace

 

Dandelion
Rolling on fine
Squint at the time
Setting the pace

 

Indigo storms

Fitting the forms

Gibberish norms

Try saving face

 

Crystal in thought

Radiant lot

Gnarled but not taut

Ending in place          

Nature Center poem

 

Ringtails

There’s a secretive animal

That is seldom seen.

He’s tan and has a long white tail,

Covered with black rings.

 

He looks somewhat like a squirrel,

And a bit like a raccoon.

He only comes out at night.

You might see him at full moon.

 

He eats bugs and plants

And perhaps a lizard.

And at climbing trees,

He’s practically a wizard.

 

He lives in rocks and caves

And is called a Ringtail Cat.

But he is not a cat at all.

What do you think of that?

Optimistic/Pessimistic PAD 18-3

 

Nightlight

 

When all seems dark

and I’m afraid

and things aren’t looking great.

 

I take my Bible

and begin

to pray and meditate.

 

My favorite verse

in Scripture,

Romans 8:28.

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV).

Optimistic/ Pessimistic, PAD 18-2, acrostic

 

Pessimistic

 

Problem focused

Expecting the worst

Sad countenance

Stubbornly negative

Intimidated and anxious

Morose and melancholy

Intensely doubtful

Scared of the future

Tragic attitude

Imagining disaster

Cynical outlook

Optimistic/ Pessimistic PAD 18-1, acrostic

 

Optimistic  

 

Open eyes to possibilities

Positive attitude  

Turning focus upward

Inspired, enthusiastic

More than hopeful

Imagining the best        

Sanguine personality

Taking a bright outlook

Intensified expectancy

Cheerful and Confident

Trope PAD 17-3 Rubáiyát

 

Lies

 

I’m tired of romance stories based on lies.

What one relates as true, the next denies.

The deeper into story, falsehoods grow.

It makes me wonder if they’re ever wise.

 

And when, at last, the lovers tell their tale.

It certainly appears that they will fail.

Then somehow, they accept each other’s love.

But I am not convinced that all is well.

Tropes PAD 17-2, haiku

 

Tropes

 

Telling a story

Repeating scenarios

Often switching up

People, places, happenings

Ending nicely

Sometimes

Trope PAD 17-1, Rubai

 

College Dating

 

My college years sound like a trope,

With cross connections like a rope,

Between some roommates and some friends.

Yes, it was like a real-life Soap.

 

From ex and beyond, it extends,

Relating in curios blends.

Roomie liked my ex plus a guy.

The guy liked me and here it tends

 

To complicate and go awry.

I liked my ex’s roommate, sigh.

Another friend’s ex asked me out.

I dated him, but not sure why.

 

It grew tangled, without a doubt.

Somehow or other, all worked out.

I got with ex’s roomie, yay.

Roomie got with ex, roundabout.

 

We had some months to date and play,

But then, time came to go away.

I went to Wyoming to stay.

And met my hubby one fine day.

Possible, PAD 16-3, Rondeau

 

Keep On Writing

Keep on writing, through thick and thin,
Though you may think you will not win.
When success seems far out of reach,
And you fear, “Those who can’t do, teach,”
Feel wasting time may be a sin.

You’re tired of being so “all in.”

Always taking it on the chin.
You’d rather relax at the beach.
Keep on writing.

Rejection puts you in tailspin.
You need to grow a rhino skin.
All’s possible with God does preach.
He does listen when you beseech.
So please, finish what you begin.  
Keep on writing.

 

Possible PAD 16-2, Rondelet

 World of Possibility

 

The travel bug

Oh, I had caught it early on.

The travel bug

It started slowly as a slug.

To see the world, I have felt drawn.

Immunity is now long gone.

The travel bug

possible PAD 16-1, PB nuisance, Rondel

 

Mean Old Winter

 

 Fair autumn days are slipping past.

Old winter’s chasing on its heels.

Who’s ready for what winter deals?

Impossible for fall to last.

 

Mean winter’s coming way too fast.

At gloominess, my poor mind reels.

Fair autumn days are slipping past.

Old winter’s chasing on its heels.

 

Bare branches stark in skies like glass.

Sheet ice on roads aims, maims, and kills.

I freeze, at least, that’s how it feels.

As days go by, gray snow’s amassed.

Fair autumn days are slipping past.

Monster PAD 15-3 Rispetto

 

Send Them Packing

 

The monsters creep about at night,

Which shows that they are truly wimps.

Afraid to face you in the light,

They hide away with all the imps.

 

So if there’s monsters neath your bed,

You tell them go, fill them with dread.

Because you’re brave and good and wise,         

The monsters run in their surprise.