purple sky

Photo by Jack B on Unsplash

the last sunset of this journey

turned the sky a purple haze

that mesmerized our eyes

in this last moment we hold hands

imprinting this image into memory

before we return to our ordinary lives

sevenling: things to do

things I loathe to do:  doing laundry,

paying bills, listening to political talk

things I would rather do: write poetry,

vacation in the Caribbean, fall in love

perhaps life will let me do both

in hibernation

when the days are cold, and the nights colder, 

all I want is to hibernate in my home

let me slumber under thick blankets 

or lounge on the sofa under soft throws

sipping hot cocoa, away from the frigid 

snow that covers the ground

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #238 the last one for the year.  

gathering

I want to gather

the warm memories

scattered across grass

let me bind them

into photo albums

to remember these days

let us watch another 

sunset before darkness 

burst the seams

- Written for dVerse Poetics: Come Sew With Me.  I used the terms "gather" and "seams".  I also borrowed "bind" from "binding".

enough

I think I had enough of 

life’s noise and chaos 

I have zero cares to give 

to everyone’s causes

I just want to lounge in peace

dreaming of moon and stardust

I want to savor the autumn leaves 

and warm sunsets before the end

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #237:Zero

a love story

one glance was all it took 

two hearts to beat together

three nights we spent in paradise 

four months this love became gold

five years passed us by quickly

six weeks we saw the sky fall

seven hours our shouts filled rooms

eight memories were all you left me

nine love songs keep me up at night

- Written for Writer's Digest Poetic Aside November 2025 PAD Day 25 and dVerse Poetic: 1,2,3...Go! 

bombshell

she was the nerdy girl

who didn’t dress in style

he was the popular guy

who all the girls love

of course, he would coax 

her from her shell, revealing 

her beauty to all, but she was 

already a bombshell

before catching his eyes

 

- Combining two prompts for this poem:  dVerse Quadrille #236 (Word: coax) and Writer's Digest 2025 November PAD Day 17 (Trope poem - Romantic trope: different worlds)

in November

November

tumbling autumn leaves

cobalt sky

we linger

stretching out the time we have

before darkness falls

- A Shadorma poem written for Writer's Digest 2025 November PAD Chapbook Day 11

whirling

the world and life

has my head whirling

trying to find balance

in this topsy-turvy time

when your eyes cannot

decipher truth from lies

you find your hands 

grasping for something

solid and calm

I watch autumn sun wane

as we fall into darkness

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #235

I want something

I want something

I only wish I could

place my finger

to its pulse

I want something

new or different

or go back to how

it was before the fall

I want something

to refill this void

to warm my cold nights

to brighten dark mornings

I want something

something else, some

thing but I can’t find 

the right words to say

I want something….

- Written for Writer's Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #762

don't fall asleep

whatever you do, don’t fall asleep

don’t get pulled into whimsical dreams

that make only promises they don’t keep

stay out of darkness and search for light

chase after sunrises and rainbows

don’t linger under gray storm clouds

I’m standing here waiting for you

to join me in the lavender fields

please stay awake, don’t fall asleep

- Written for dVerse Poetics: I'ts Not That Scary

My inspiration came from this horror movie quote: "Whatever you do, don't fall asleep" by Nancy Thompson, Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).

where's the spark?

I search for any signs

that this love was true

I wanted to feel a spark 

between our fingers

that would tell me 

that you were mine

we spent hours stargazing

under midnight sky and

yet at dawn’s arrival 

the questions still

lingered within

- Written for Quadrille #234: A Sparkler of a Day

coalesce

we dance around

going in circles

but never blending

until the day

the world tumbled

into the darkness

at that moment

we meshed together

returning to light

- Written for Writer's Digest Poetic Asides Poetry Prompt #760

walking in autumn

the rustling leaves crunch beneath our boots

while walking under cobalt sky

that will soon fade into deeper blues

on lawns pumpkins with frightful cravings

awaiting Halloween visitors

in the coming dark my ears detect 

the haunting boos of the unseen

dancing under moonlight

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #233: Bring on the Boo!

hidden letters

letters

I wrote when young

filled with poetic words

stay hidden in my desk away

from light

- Written for Writer's Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #758

red roses

the bouquet of red roses

dazzle in their vase

she placed them on the table

bringing life to the room

each passing days her eyes

gaze upon the vibrant hues

stirring up memories

in time the petals withered 

away like a love story ending

- Written for dVerse Quadrille: Pick your posey!

late summer at the pool

late summer sun

children at play

their laughter loud

their forms reflect

across blue waters

sipping cold lemonade

lounging by pools

she savors relaxation

before autumn’s arrival

with her routines

- Written for dVerse Poetics: Reflections, Reflecting

so much

we have so much to say

but cannot find the words

to express what lies 

within our hearts

so many ways to speak

but too little time 

as my eyes drift 

towards setting sun

I try to say the words 

before it’s too late

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #231

if these walls could talk

if these walls could talk

what would they say?

what songs would they sing?

what secrets would be revealed?

I remember as a teenager

lounging on my bed with

feet propped against the wall

covered in celeb posters

and talking hours on end

if I could just go back

to those easier days

my heart would be lighter

and my smile brighter

- Written in response to Writer's Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #754

rumpus

the elderly man sits in his lounge chair

his television showing a large

crowd of young people causing 

a rumpus in the streets

it takes him back to his young days

when he bravely marched down streets 

causing his own disturbance of the peace

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #230 - Let's kick up a rumpus

sultry nights

sultry nights

we meet in secret

under silver stars

we share moonlight

kisses and caresses

until dawn’s arrival

in the morning sun

we unwillingly depart

to our separate lives

memories of you

keeps my heart warm

until the next meeting

- Written for Writer's Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #752.  Form inspired by cherita poetry form.

The Goodbye

Elizabeth had read the letter at least four times, but the words remained the same.  John, the man she had grown to love, was leaving.  He wrote in fancy words that she wasn’t the problem. It was all him.   He needed to see the world and have more experiences.  Things that apparently did not include her.  

Elizabeth thought John was the one.  He was handsome, intelligent and rich.  Even her uptight family was impressed with him.  She had no idea what changed.  

With tears in her eyes, Elizaeth looked around the garden.  Suddenly the words her grandmother once spoke came to mind.  

“The future gathers in vine, bush, and tree: Persimmon, walnut, loquat, fig, and grape.”

As the sun began to set, Elizabeth brushed away her tears and exited the garden.  Just like John, she had places to go and things to experience too.

- Decided to try something different today with dVerse Prosery: Yvor's Time and the Garden

magic words

I waited to hear

those magic words from your lips

but they never came

time lost from all that waiting

slowly I moved on

- Written for Writer's Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompts #751

while in line at Starbucks

she stands in line at Starbucks

listening to a woman in front

of her ordering a latte

behind her a group of teens

jabber about something

on their phones

in the mist of noise

she thinks back to her own 

youthful days and smile

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #229 -Shall we Jabber On?

in the woods

Photo by Lillian

rays of light

break through trees

morning sighs

forest green

grass awakes

our senses

it is here

we find peace

in our hearts

 

- A tricube poem written for dVerse Poetics: Let's Take a Walk in the Woods

in wonder

in a dream she saw herself

standing in a lake, 

casting a fishing pole line

far into the serene waters

the sky was a blue not seen

in nature was the last vision 

before awaking at dawn

her hands resting on tummy 

in wonder

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #228.  This poem is inspired by the cultural belief that deaming of fish symbolizes fertility and pregnancy.

can we...

can we paint the sky

in starburst hues

can we forget the worries

that dots our daily lives

can we slumber with stars

as the moon razzles us

with her beauty one last time

- Written for dVerse Poetics: Who has a sweet-tooth?.  I used the following candy names: Starburst, Milky Way and Razzles.

the world keeps turning

birthdays and holidays come and go

the worlds keep turning

sickness takes over family time

the world keeps turning

broken promises beget broken hearts

the world keeps turning

rockets light up the sky

news reports of growing deaths

and yet the world keeps turning

- Written for dVerse Quadrille#227

dream in tapestry

we dream in tapestry of colorful hues

the sun sings among bouncing clouds

in your eyes I find a peaceful escape

as the sunlight dins in the evening

our voices collide with far-flung stars

better days ahead

they say better days are ahead

but it’s hard to see the rainbow

behind the black storm clouds

so I lift my weary eyes 

toward the sky hoping

this saying is not just a myth

- Written for Writer's Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #745

lune poems

I.  Collom lune poem: 

“music across the sky”

we saw music

paint across the summer sky

tasting their rhythms

II. Kelly lune poem: 

“cologne memories”

it was your cologne

took me back

to lost memories

in honesty

do you really want me to be honest 

or would you rather I say the sweet

words you desire to hear?

do you really want me to be frank 

or should I sugar-coat my feelings

making them easier on your mind?

you tell me

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #226 - Honestly!

Enchantment of stars

Photo by Akhil Lincoln on Unsplash

Enchanting

Stars dance across the sky

Your golden eyes shimmer in moonlight

Luminous

Starlight outshines shadows

The light of your smile brings such joy

Radiant

The songs of glowing moons

Your voice echoes across the oceans

Glimmering

Against the dark window

Your heart gives me hope of lasting love

- Decided to try writing a Parallelogram de Crystalline poetry being highlighted at dVerse MTB: A Lover as second nature

I'm in search of ...

I’m in search of 

a new car to replace 

my old one in which the list 

of fixes keeping growing

I’m in search of 

my traveling muse 

that went AWOL when

face masks and quarantines 

became in vogue

I’m in search of

ways to embrace aging

to love this changing body 

instead of fighting 

against the inevitable

- Written for Writer's Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #742

beyond, a sunrise

Photo by Jordan Wozniak on Unsplash

beyond the storm clouds

that oppress our heads

beyond wars, falling bombs 

and divisive rhetoric

beyond the high cost of living

and bills that keep coming

beyond our internal clock

that moves closer to zero

beyond the deafening noise,

a sunrise still greets us

-Written for dVerse Quadrille: ..the sun'll come up...

changing directions

it was the writing on the wall

that finally pierced harden heads

and stony hearts 

so we changed directions 

in our nautical sails 

to find calmer seas

- Written for Writer's Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #740

insomnia

in the quiet darkness of my bedroom

I find myself lying in bed staring 

at the ceiling counting imaginary sheep

my mind continues to turn and turn

with thoughts speeding by

I close my eyes willing sleep to come

but she always arrives late

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #224: Walk quietly in my dreams

estrenar

the old clothes and shoes

she peeled off and put on 

her new spring dress to

match her glowing face

when they saw her as 

she estrenar down the street

they were enamored by

her mesmerizing perfume

she simply smiled as she

collected their compliments

into her heavy purse

- Written for dVerse Poetics: I Have No Word in English For.  I chose the word "estrenar" which in Spanish means to premiere, or to wear or use for the very first time.  

no door will hold me back

Georgia O’Keeffe, A Piece of Wood I (1942), oil on canvas, 

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, gift of The Burnett Foundation

small brown circles 

stand before my eyes

letting my mind drift 

into haunting questions

I had toiled and pour

my heart out completely

reaching this moment

a hard-fought battle

I know deserved the 

praises and gifts

despite what other said

a person like me doesn’t 

deserve to be here

but I have shattered 

glass ceilings that had

been cracked by others

I now stand tall before

this door that will not

hold me back

- Written for dVerse Poetics: In other words  Poem inspired by "A Piece of Wood I" by Georgia O'Keefe.

tangled

how did we get here?

where did we go wrong?

I thought we had it together

instead we find ourselves 

tangled in webs of our own making

I want to escape but cannot

find an easy way out 

yet I still cling to hope

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #223-Untangled It

love in colors

under July blue skies

I fell in love with 

golden brown eyes

under silver stars

we shared first kisses

the pale moon watching

as brown leaves fall

our pathways diverge

warm memories fading

- Written for 2025 April PAD Challenge: Day 28

another Monday

another Monday

another day staring a long work week

another day dreaming of slumbering 

instead of typing long emails

I sometimes wonder if I went back in time

altering my paths if things would be different

or still lead me to the same door

- Combining two prompts with today's poem - dVerse Quadrille #222: There's no alternative and 2025 April PAD Challenge Day 21

love: a senryu

I once was in love

getting lost in your bright eyes

not seeing the cliff

- Written for Writer's Digest 2025 April PAD Challenge: Day 15

when the enchantment ends

I sometimes think back

to my childhood days

when all seemed easier

and the world still held

enchanting dreams

and then you grow up 

watching the magic fade 

into responsibilities,

difficult life decisions and 

the passage of time that brings 

many hellos and goodbyes

- Written for dVerse Quadrille#221: Some Enchanted Poem

what lies within truth

I have been writing poetry for years

I dye my hair constantly

I sometimes second guess my decisions

I loathe all politics

Covid has dampened my traveling muse

I am always the life of the party

I still have hope in this crazy world

- Written for dVerse Poetics: April Fools

time

time

is the train that you always

seem to be chasing

time

is the blooming flowers that

in time will wither away

time

is the laughter of children

a reminder of youthful days

time

is the deep ocean waves

that carry us far and away

time 

is a kiss sparking a love story 

you never want to end

- My attempt at dVerse Poetics: Personifying The Abstract

engraved memories

there are memories 

that are fleeting 

and others engraved 

into the brain

I remember my first kiss

the guy who broke my heart

but I can’t recall what 

I wore last Tuesday 

or the name of the last song 

I heard on the radio

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #220

spring's arrival

spring arrives with a sigh

winter’s shadows still linger on tree limbs

the sun’s kisses hold promises

- Written for Writer's Digest Poetry Prompt #735 .  Also sharing with dVerse Open Link Night

three poems

 I.

“if I give you my heart”

if I give you my heart

will you cherish it for eternity

or toss it aside like junk

that will soon have no use

II.

“storm clouds”

when the storm clouds gather

my lonesome eyes turn to you

my serenity among the darkness

that now surrounds us all

III.

“among the flowers”

among the fields of flowers

I find my peace within

clear blue sky comforts me

and no longer am I afraid

- These poems were inspired by images posted for dVerse Poetics: Monopoly with a Twist

return to my arms

I have been waiting for you

to return to my arms

through autumn leaves

and fallen snow

the birds sing with

the arrival of spring

as I sit and wait

in the distance 

the owls hoot under stars

my heart still clings to hope

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #219: A Poetic Hootenanny

dementia

when he started misplacing his keys

no one saw it to be a precursor

to losing much more

slowly we watch 

memories fade 

along with 

the light

in his 

eyes

- Written for Writer's Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #733

indigo

we first met under summer sun

I became enchanted with 

your golden brown eyes

my heart sang when you 

kissed me under indigo sky 

when our love affair ended

it killed my heart so softly 

and it took years to mend 

those broken pieces

- Written for dVerse Quadrille Monday: indigo.  The last stanza inspired by the song "Killing Me Softly" by R&B legend Roberta Flack, who passed away earlier today.

I never stopped loving you

I never stopped loving you

you had me at the first kiss

making me fall into a bliss

your kisses were morning dew

and soft touches I so very miss

I never stopped loving you

you had me at the first kiss

after everything we’ve been through

my heart will still reminisce

and I cannot regret any of this

I never stopped loving you

you had me at the first kiss

making me fall into a bliss

- My attempt at an English Madigral poem for dVerse Poetry Form: English Madigral prompt

home

her heart been waiting

for the father that

never returned home

many nights sitting

by the front window

looking for him to appear

but he never did

even when she left home

in the eyes of every man

she searched for the serenity

that left when her father 

walked out the door

- Written for Writers Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #731

artwork

the artwork was displayed

for all eyes to see and study

some called it art, 

others called it trash

he didn’t let the zingers

creep into his heart 

he keeps painting the sky

in vivid shades and pulls back

the curtains others hide behind

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #217: Poems with Zing!

washing dishes

she stands at the sink

filling the dishpan with 

hot water and Dawn soap

he is siting in the living room

falling asleep watching the news

she scrubs each glass and dish 

the moon her only company

the water runs down the drain

but she doesn’t see the suds

only the years that are now gone

- My attempt for the prompt at dVerse Poetics: Reimagining the Familiar

Funny enough this is the second poem I wrote about washing dishes for a prompt.  My previous poem was posted in August 2018 here entiled "as she washed dishes".

when ignoring the hints backfire

many said they didn’t know

despite numerous times

we tried to tell them

there were clues and hints

along the way but some

chose to ignore the signs

for those who took heed

we now sit back sipping tea

while drawing up escape plans

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #216 - Can You Take a Hint?

be my light

will you be my light

when darkness falls

will you take my hand

lead me through shadows

dark storm clouds gather

ice covering our hearts

and yet your eyes tell me

everything will be alright

lift me up

with outstretched arms 

I made a plea to the breeze

lift me up into dreamy blue skies

and let me slumber on pillowy 

clouds for all eternity

take me away from the dark storms,

wildfires and frigid cold that 

threatens to envelope us all

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #215: Ready for Liftoff

dreaming of spring in winter

I dream of blooming flowers

and bright warm sunrises

that bring forth clear blue skies

yet when I open my eyes

I’m greeted by barren trees

snow covering the grass

and icy breezes at sunrise