the "S" word

three small words

caught in throat

blocking the airway

valley between us

only grows wider

as silence lingers

in night shadows

guilt gnaws deeply

yet we still

cannot say those

magic three words

I am sorry

and the sharp

pain and scars

never fade away

vignettes of summer

under air conditioners

cold air blast against our skin

a cool oasis

chlorine fills the air

kids splashing in swimming pools

lifeguards sip water

we sit in the car

ice cream dripping down our hands

sun begins to fade

we chase fireflies

as the sky turns to violet

mason jars alight

- Written for Writers Digest Poetic Aside Wednesday Poetry Prompt #701: summer poem

special days

I remember the day we met and you 

had me intrigue with that first hello

the memorable evening when 

you whispered the first I love you

took me a bit longer to say those

words back but still recall that night

I still think of that afternoon a delivery

driver delivered those bright roses

and the night I knew my heart had

completely fell in love with you

the evening call when you it was you,

not me and my heart was shattered

the morning when I didn’t want to 

leave bed because I lost a good thing

despite the passage of time 

I still remember your May birthday

I still think back to that first day

and the last day we spoke

a collection of days and nights

I carry within a chapter of my heart

- Inspired by Writers Digest Wednesday Poetry Prompt #700

figment

you were a figment of a fantasy

a dream never to become true

a star I could never reach

in the blackness of night

I hear your soft whispers

and feel your gentle touch

I fell in love until the sun 

opened my eyes

- Written for dVerse Quadrille Monday

pose

she could feel

all their eyes

over her skin

the judgmental stares

imprinting false labels

to her name

in the dark

her heart broken

she shed tears

one sunny day

she found light

erasing her shame

her crown upright

and skin bare

she freely poses

Art by Catrin Welz-Stein

- Written for dVerse Poetics: Feeling a Bit Nostalgic Today!  My poem was inspired by the art piece shown above by artist Catrin Welz-Stein.

in the dark, I think of you

you were the one I could never 

reach like a star in the night sky

the muse in my love poems 

that filled my secret journal

in the darkness of night, 

I think of your velvet touch 

that is real and not a dream

- Written for dVerse #202: Hello Darkness 

passing dreams

blooming sunrises

softly kiss our waking lips

sweet morning hellos

afternoon smiles

quickening the heartbeat like love

swaying roses dance

cool fading sunsets

brush across skin like velvet

savory good nights

stargazing midnights

moon and stars beckoning us

we fall into dreams