gratitude

I am grateful

for the silence

of mornings

letting my mind

rest before the

grind of the day

I am grateful

of the serenity

of nights

fall into dreams 
to recharge 
for tomorrow

- Written in response to Poetic Aside 2019 November PAD Chapbook Challenge Day 28

meal ticket

he thought

his b-ball skills

was his meal ticket

out the hood into

millionaire status

but hoop dreams are

achieved by so few

she believed

her thin frame

would gain her

model fame

but one must ask

is the price

worth the pain

you and me

had faith that

our degrees

were the keys

to upper class

then they changed 

the game

- Inspired by Poetic Aside 2019 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 25

dare

I dare you

to tell me

the truth

no matter how

it might

break me

stormy music

lightning bolts

illuminate the sky

thunder cracks

across the ground

raindrops pound

against windows

under darkness

it is this music

that lulls me

to a deep slumber

into dreams that

seem endless

the only thing

better is holding

your hand as

the storm sings

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #92: Take a crack at poeming and Poetic Aside Nov 2019 PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 18

myth

at first she

did not think

this was real

he was a dream

too perfect, a myth 

too far-fetched

to believe in

but he proved

himself true,

time and again

he was not a

fickle promise  

or an illusion

to soon disappear

slowly her heart

opened and she fell

in love with him

- Written in response to WD Poetic Aside November 2019 PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 14

prime

am I past my prime

and now must live

with regrets after

missing the boat

or am I just starting

after marinating

in this seasoning

that is now ripe

- Written for WD Poetic Aside 2019 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 11

Chicago Bulls jacket

a Chicago Bulls Starter jacket

still hangs in my closet –

after all these years  still keeps

me warm when cold, though

I rarely wear it outside anymore

but it still holds cherish

memories of days old

- Written for WD Poetic Aside 2019 November Chapbook Challenge: Day 7

Photo by Arcadia Maria

11/7/19

night life

when young they were the

keeper of the night’s flame

dancing under disco lights

the deep base vibrating

under feet

tossing aside their burdens

they partied until sunrise

with no thoughts of when

the night will come when

flashing lights won’t hold

such sway

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #91 - Keep and WD Poetic Aside 2019 November PAD Day 4