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

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

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

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.

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

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!

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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!

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?

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

bang

the bang bang from a drum

can be annoying at night

but not worse than the bang bang

from a gun, with people and blood

running in the streets

or the big bang from a bomb

dropped from skies when 

people can’t get along

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #214: Going out with a bang the last quadrille prompt for 2024. 

with you

with you

I want to voyage 

across the lands and seas

and maybe

touch the stars

with my fingertips

with you

I want to taste

heaven on my tongue

and dream in love songs

but I have to ask

will you come with me?

- Written for dVerse Quadrille 213:With a little help...

what if

what if I gave up the charade

told you how I really felt 

about things?

what if I said, the hell with it

and leave, chasing lofty dreams

that seem too far away

but what if I choose to stay

and love you anyway

- Written for dVerse Quadrille #212: What the What?

I want to believe in promises

I want to believe in

every word you promise

I want to believe that

everyone has some

goodness in their heart

but time and time again

I’m left disappointed

in the action of others

yet I still believe that

goodness is still out there

- Written for dVerse Quadrille: Time for a 44-word poem