Rain on Fleshy Cheeks

Stop Inhale life Exhale sadness Draw in the earthiness of rain It cleanses pavement Soaks into human joy Stop Inhale life Exhale fear Feel the moist tears from heaven On our fleshy cheeks Tears of peace Flooding hearts with calm Stop Inhale life Exhale doubt Allow the rain to wash it Away to the gutter, the sewer Positive thoughts form a puddle In which to stomp and play Stop Inhale life Exhale the unimportant Let go of frivolous everything FindRead more

Warmth of a Smug Embrace

At last you show your face smiling, glowing a bit smug absent you were betrayer deserter hiding in ashiness depression cover of darkness for days twelve or more I could not see your smile or feel the warmth of an embrace damp tired is what I felt and sleep wanted to sleep You’re here now giving life and breath to my soul I love to soak up your being praise your existence fall to the ground thank God for withoutRead more

Grumbles and Yawns

Monday morning comes ’round on the whisper of fleeting darkness It spreads across the horizon in hues of navy and crimson or surrounded by the mist of winter’s fog New life, new breath New work week Monday never knows what joy or sadness or need of coffee it brings It simply is Accepted as a day to start over or cursed by the loss of the past two days Monday is both love and dread Smiles and frowns Monday followsRead more

SoCS: Another Left Turn

The way I travel to work is filled with lines and blue skies and an airport fence. It’s straightness follows a curve, a detoured right turn, a left turn, then up a hill. Past houses both small and hugely expensive, past groves of green and yellow trees, past a trail crossing. Another left turn. Driveways on the left, a narrow road, the foliage of green weighs heavy on a barrier fence. Almost there and then I stop. The light isRead more

SoCS: The Preposition Behind a Cliff

Upon a Friday sunny I shall write concerning this stream that follows through with a prompt on behalf of Dear Linda. It’s about 6:00 pm and I am brain dead. The cats are sleeping on the bed, the laundry is spinning around, and from within my stomach growls. I need food, not prepositions. I want quiet, not wordy words. From beneath the patio, I hear the neighbors drive in. Then they drive out. I wish they would stay home, haulRead more

SoCS: Breathing Seasons

Breathe in Breathe out Lungs cauterized by winter’s frozen retort Stark trees bare their darkened soul Breathe in Breathe out Lungs refreshed by spring’s unprocessed reply White birch bare their newborn green Breathe in Breathe out Lungs parched by summer’s brazen song Limbs bare their sultry, layered bark Breathe in Breathe out Lungs clear and crisp by autumn’s chameleon chatter Leaves bare their red and golden hues Breathe in Breathe out Lungs expand and collapse by pages on the calendarRead more

A Familiar Pose

Quite often Sitting on the couch I witness A familiar pose of one in stillness Splayed Straddling Seemingly sad The other one sits in wait Ignoring Impatient with him He pretends the victim She stares uncaring He begs attention She wonders if it’s time to eat He feigns forlorn She says get over it He huffs his woe She leaves disgusted I stay sitting on the couchRead more

SoCS: Going Somewhere

Abruptly, as I begin this verse, and slowly, as it frames the page, It sits beautifully. The expression of words curve delicately into a prompt. Prompts are delightfully fun and quirky and thought-provoking. Yet, truthfully, a prompt can instill the cold, clammy sweat of writer’s block. I calmly think of what to say, what to do next. Oh my. This should be wickedly fun, not wearily woesome. I absolutely must act briskly and quickly to spin a yarn For I shall be somewhereRead more

SoCS: Oh, the Million Things!

Straining to feel spring Restraining from vulgar sighing Straining to find calm on the job Restraining from deadline stress Straining to finish a good book Restraining from adding another to the list Straining to people-connect Restraining from silent solitude Straining from the edible desires Restraining with duct tape Straining to attend the gym Restraining from giving up the fight Straining for daily gratitude Restraining from divisive politics Straining to find the written word Restraining from not letting that go StrainingRead more

Finding the Bathroom

I am this. The sullen smog from Jimi’s rock and roll guitar. The faithful mist of a a royal prince. The reddened azure of water’s vapor. I am not a sissy pastel, nor the good-for-nothing child of black and white. My soul is the first breath of spring’s vibrant columbine. My heart is filled with the liquid of amethyst jewels. I embrace the grandiose swirls in the sky of a rising day. Never will I be boring khaki pants, norRead more

Musings from the Pod VI: 10 Minutes

“Alas, poor mackerel in a can. I knew it, Ziva, a fish of infinite taste, of most excellent cuisine. It hath borne me on my lips several times, and now, how cherished in my imagination it is! I want to gorge upon it!” “Gibbs, what are you doing?” “I’m filling in for mom, writing for her blog. What do you think?” “No.” “No? I thought I was giving everyone a bit of cat culture.” “By bastardizing Shakespeare?” “How did youRead more