The Long Hours

She had ribbons in her hair. Purple velvet, nested in a sea of auburn.
Small amethyst beads around her neck glowed softly in the lantern light, in tune with her radiant smile. Her dress billowed as she danced to the sole violin’s tune, her tangible laughter sweet music to his ears. 

They fell in love beneath the stars — and love, in all its forms, guided them throughout the years, until auburn turned gray, turned white.
When she left, his heart went with her.

On this November day, traffic holding its breath, sky a tense diaphragm; there is no warmth left in the sun. He gently touches amethyst beads with callused fingers, as he gazes at the day’s last shadow; at everything and nothing at all.
The tea in his tin cup has gone cold and his longing counts the hours, until they meet again.

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144 words

Over at dVerse, Kim invites us to write a short piece of flash fiction (no more than 144 words) including the lines ‘Traffic holding its breath, Sky a tense diaphragm’ from the poem “Twice Shy” by Seamus Heaney. Bring your story and come join us at the bar!

The image was created by using the AI Art Generator at Imagine Art.

In Passing (Haiku)

life bridges the gap
between sorrow and a smile —
spring rains fall less stern.

Paper Skin

it is a fractured version of
fortitude that floats
to the surface;
neither bound nor held —
but ever straining
against the tides

my thoughts form pale flowers
born too soon —
not fated to survive
the cold Sun of March

one moment too long
is all it takes —
and then

you are gone.

Fury, framed.

like a b-movie, you linger
in the back of my closet
not yet ready to be disposed of –
for there is still
ReD
in my peripheral vision,
flickering violently.

(Twi)Light’s Tale

bathing in the ocean’s womb
I once saw the moon in tears,
and to mermaid’s silken song
darkened sea became her tomb.

no more stars winked in the night
while the ocean swallowed whole
echoes of abandoned dreams,
for the moon had lost her light.

down below she dwelled for years,
nursed her wounds with flowing sand,
’til, one day, the sun came forth,
dipped his rays into her fears.

and the darkness fled her veins
while he spread his warmth with care
one last sea salt tear she shed ~

to this day, their love remains.

Fluently

in a matter of hours
words turned to crispy shades
and took
honesty to its knees.
it was then you felt your soles bounce off
the yet uneasy road,
leaving purpose behind.

Down By The Water

will we float
at the bottom of this forgotten pool,
when time boils and sorrow
weighs down the scales?

the trident’s choice is
threefold,
but only one
is yours ~
and in your pale hand resides
death,
forevermore.

The End Of Days

– Odin and Fenrir

wide lick the waves at seasons’ wailing end
worlds squirm & wither beneath a weakening moon
sulfurous teeth singe stars & feeble grass
the days grow dark, doomed; wolfish grins.

Fenrir feasts, a fiery dusk
he tears and tastes the tales of Gods;
a brother once bound, now bounds free
rivers roam, Ragnarök has come.

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Tony Maude over at dVerse invites us to use Accentual Alliteration for today’s Form for All. This is my attempt or rather, draft – I have no idea if I did it right… so hard (even harder at 4am), but such fun! 😀 Of course I had to tackle Norse Mythology… may the Gods forgive my feeble attempt. 😉
photo credits: en.wikipedia.org

Boxes

on the break of day,
i find
our ties severed
with stainless steel scissors.
i dismiss
your promise,
that left a stain
on this hardwood heart,
and unravel
our quilted years;
to be stored
in bottomless boxes.

Seasons’ Song

shall we not flourish in the springtime rains?
where liquid crystal moistens earthen tongue,
and green conceals the last of winter’s stains.

will we go far from where our bodies sprung?
past rolling hills beneath a blazing sun,
to vales of summer; youthful songs unsung.

when autumn reigns, will we then come undone?
give up our leaves to mighty gusts of wind,
and slow this walk, that’s only just begun.

have we surrendered; have our roots been skinned?
the joy of life, mere echo in our veins,
and winter’s breath leaves hollowed mind chagrined.

shall we be bound by bitter winter’s chains?
shall we not flourish in the springtime rains?

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Tony Maude over at dVerse Poets Pub invites us to to try the Terza Rima at “Form For All” today. This is my contribution – a Terza Rima Sonnet. Come on over, fiddle with the form and join us at the bar!

photo credits: josephinewall.co.uk

Journey’s End

on the slow lane
in the midst of september
waiting for the end
on the last days of may

as we turned at night ~
eyes, wide with fear
of the looming shadow ~
your breath
froze
to starry droplets…
to embellish the sky
forever.

Transformation

this
is my skin.

this shell,
this itching, crawling
blistering, warping, stinging
beaten (fight or die)
bloodied
shell –
this is my skin.

this
is my mind.

this shriveled raisin,
barely sustained
by self-pity and grief,
huddled, forgotten (fight or die)
in this bony prison cell,
soiling itself –
this is my mind.

fight
or
die

Fight or Die

FIGHTORDIE

ENOUGH!!

one last stand;
i Roar,
eyes open wide,
claw at the fabric
of my so-called home,
tear it to shreds,
pull
my Self
out by the hair,
vomit numbness and lethargy
into the abyss

and

flee from oblivion
crawling
on hands and knees,
further
further…
just a little further…

tired eyes
acknowledge the sky
for the first time;
The
Sky
in all its colors.

i am
breathless,
exhausted

but
Me.

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Anna Montgomery over at dVerse Poets Pub invites us to write about flow and creative U-turns. Her wonderful Prompt triggered something in me. I do not know if my poem will “fit in” – it is about my U-Turn… after this, I started writing.
Thank you for taking me back, Anna.

Dead End

crude fingertips taunt
milky glass
rim’s angry squeals ring

vicious crescendo
lovers’ lane
broken; end credits

lies set the table
one last stare
no words left to give

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… written for dVerse’s Poetry Prompt, 5-3-5 syllabic Kelly Lune (the American Haiku).
Come join us at the bar!

Escape|Awakening

trail’s end
marks
the death of an era;
muddy, strain-stained boots
once again
on solid ground.
too long was the time of chagrin,
too long did we try to broaden
the horizon of the blind.

ways part ~
roads differ;
the night is long.
We, the Moving,
our eyes open wide;
we ride.

break free;
rusty chains on charred ground,
leave the spoils of the new world
piling high ~
we ride
with purpose
we ride
for a new dawn.

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photo credits: murraymitchell.com

Free Of Bonds

now feel the wild
run, dear child, run ~
you smiled for me.

go on, be free
think of me when
i see no more.

run to the shore
cool your sore legs;
your core alight.

flame burns so bright
silver-white You ~
no fright will harm.
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Over at dVersePoets Raivenne has us experimenting with an Asian form of Poetry – the Than Bauk. This is my attempt. Come join us at the bar!

photo credits: collegecandy.com