Thursday, December 17, 2015

Santas on the Run


Santas on the Run

The street is
filled with Santas
on the run.
The only
similarities
among them are
red caps and coats.
They are
tall and short,
slight and stocky.
They hit their
own stride, set
their own pace.
Visions of the
finish line dance
in their heads.
The reindeer
sit back and smile.

This will be my last post of 2015. I wish you all Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year. I'll see you back here Jan. 5, 2016.

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Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Birthplace


Birthplace

A city tucked on
a great lake that
intensifies its winters.
The people know how
to wield a shovel, steer
a snow plow, not only
for themselves but also
for each other.
They pull together
during a storm just
like they do during
a Bills game.
United to influence
the outcome
in their favor.

Do you write about your hometown? What is it or its people known for?

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Thursday, December 10, 2015

Caught


Caught

Leaves float down,
are picked up
by the wind and
carried for miles.
It sets them down
to let them skitter
along the ground.
Suddenly, they stop,
caught in a thin slot.
They can't break free,
no matter which way
the wind blows.

What's caught your attention lately? Have you written about it?





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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Road Work



Road Work

He stands
in the
middle of
the lane,
dressed in
reflective clothes.
He holds
a sign.
STOP

I do.
I sit.
I stare
at an
empty lane.

He turns
the sign
with authority.
SLOW
The motion
of his
hand signals
GET GOING

Do you have a story involving road construction? Have you written about it?





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Thursday, December 3, 2015

Fast


Fast

Why do you go so fast?
Do you see life as a race?
Who are you trying to pass?
Are you afraid of coming in last?
Do you prefer every day to be a blur
so you don't have to see what's happening.

Does life move to fast? What do you do to slow down?

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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Why Blame the Rain?


Why Blame the Rain?

Why blame the rain
when it changes
from liquid to ice?
Isn't it at the
mercy of  the
temperature?
Can't the wind
blow in the cold?
Don't the clouds
contribute when
they cover the sun?
Why blame the rain
when it freezes?
It doesn't work alone.


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Thursday, November 26, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving


I am grateful for the natural wonders in my life, 
animate and inanimate, past and present.

Happy Thanksgiving

and thanks for stopping by.

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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Other Side



The Other Side

How long did
it take to
build this wall,
to make it
so solid,
to make it
so tall?
What will it
take to bring
it down,
to turn our
lives around,
to bring us
together?

Do you build walls? What kind?

This poem was inspired by one of the early prompts in the 2015 Poem A Day Chapbook Challenge: united and/or divided.





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Thursday, November 19, 2015

Reliving History


Reliving History

The ancient storyteller
uses a lyre to help
him pass on the truth.

Calls to the muses
whenever he is confused.

Proclaims the songs too hard,
but continues in his role as bard.

Recites, revises, relives as long as
history repeats itself.

Does history repeat itself? Can we change that?

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Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Everything Seems the Same


Everything Seems the Same

The sun rises
at the usual time.

Leaves lie
on the ground.
The wind blows
them around.

The rain falls.
Drops tap
on the roof.

A crow
scavenges
in the street.
Squirrels run
up and down
the trees.
The neighbor's
dog barks.

Everything
seems the same
but nothing is.


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Thursday, November 12, 2015

Turn on the Lights


Turn on the Lights

How do you
turn on the lights?
Your stage is
the canvas.
You portray
the actors with
brush and paint.
How do you
captivate the
audience,
shine the
spotlight in
the right place?
Make us stop,
examine and
applaud, not
caring that
so much is
still in the dark.

Where do you place the spotlight? How do you draw the audience in?

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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

To the Author


To the Author

I am submerged
in the words.
Surrounded
by your choice
of nouns, towns,
sights and sounds.
The characters
you created; the
stories you related.

No more will come.
You have left
 all you could.
Every time
I read them,
I am immersed
in your love of words.

 I wrote this poem as part of Robert Lee Brewer's 2015 November PAD Chapbook Challenge. The prompt was submerged.

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Thursday, November 5, 2015

Once Upon a Sailboat


Once Upon a Sailboat

I was once
upon a sailboat
when the weather
turned so fast
I had to face the fear
that this sail
might be my last.

The river changed
from glass to swells,
the sky from blue to gray.
The steady breeze
became great gusts.
The sun simply
went away.

We came about
and headed back,
our progress
made in spurts.
Forward, capsize,
right the boat--
we reached the dock,
relieved, unhurt.

I have always
loved the water
and I always will,
but I never forget
a storm may form
when all seems
bright and still.

I wrote this poem for Robert Lee Brewer's 2015 November PAD Chapbook Challenge. The prompt was to take the phrase, Once Upon a (blank), replace the blank and use the completed phrase as the title of the poem. What is your "Once Upon a (blank)" poem?

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Monday, November 2, 2015

Celebration

Mother Nature went heavy on the blue today.

Celebration

The fireworks are popping
a little out of season
but for good reason.
They celebrate
a goal achieved through
determination, resilience
and camaraderie.
The pops continue
as end of day turns
into new morning.
On any other night,
we might resent
a disturbance at
such an hour.
Tonight, we
surrender to the noise.


I'm posting a little early because of today's blue sky and the freshness of last night's World Series victory by the Kansas City Royals. Surrender is today's prompt for Robert Lee Brewer's 2015 November PAD Chapbook Challenge. I have a feeling any prompt Robert gave today would have ended up in a poem about the Royals.

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Thursday, October 29, 2015

Halloween


Halloween

One night each year,
we walk among ghosts
and goblins, vampires
and witches. 
We hear the 
werewolves howl.
We face the monsters
and tame them with
a little sweetness.

What are you doing for Halloween? Is it a favorite holiday or not?

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