Poem a Day Challenge, Day 27

Fell behind once again. Anyway, the prompt was to write a poem about longing.

Longing

I wanted something made
from my own hands.

After cracking the eggs,
adding oil and water to the flour,
I mixed it all with just a big spoon.
My hand got tired.

The cake pan was too small,
so it came out looking like a
mountain peak.

But the inside was soft and sweet
the strawberry icing just right,
and the beauty of it all,
was that I took my time.

Poem a Day Challenge, Day 19

The prompt was to write a poem about anger.

This is dedicated to the memory of Carl Joseph Walker Hoover.

See Something, Say Something

School bullies sized him up,
decided he was gay,
and the relentless taunting began.

All he did to piss them off
was go to church,
excel in school,
volunteer in his community,
love his family,
and play football.

Thinking they had protection under the law
his mother fought for the school
to protect her son,
and Carl was to eat lunch
with the bully for a week.

Carl hanged himself
with a cord instead.
He was eleven.

What is a child to do,
when the adults
have no wisdom or courage?

Poem a Day Challenge, Day 18

The prompt was to write about an interchange.

A Mother's Love

He veers off the path I've laid out
at times,
and underneath his love and respect,
there is bass in his voice
as he wrests his independence.
My son will soon be a man.
In this constant dance of holding on,
letting go,
I still watch him
and stroke the waves of his hair
as he sleeps.

Poem a Day Challenge, Day 17

Today's prompt was to write a poem using the phrase, "All I Want Is.."

All I Want Is

All I want
is to own a spot
underneath a witch hazel bush
along with the time
to inhale its perfume
and put pen to paper.

Poem a Day Challenge, Day 16

Today's prompt was to write a poem about a color.

Green

Mrs. Lewis
gave each of us
a rexographed picture
of a flower.
I scribbled methodically,
staying within the lines.

When she passed by my masterpiece,
she yelled at me.
I had colored
stem,
leaves,
petals
my favorite green.

Vision blurred
by tears and shame,
I ground the purple crayon
into the paper,
bleeding the petals into a hideous blue.

I was one of the best readers
in her kindergarten class,
and if she’d had a heart,
I would have explained how I
only wanted to replicate
the verdant beauty of
spring.

Poem a Day Challenge, Day 15

Today's prompt was to take a title from a poem we like and write a new poem.

Still I Fell

As much as intellect intrigues me,
what hooked me was his style,
the glitter of his light brown eyes
the hot sex beneath his smile.

The power and prowess of his kisses,
Always made swoon.
But he had a few years on me.
Daddy would not approve.

One day I was bold enough
To bring “the young man” home.
Mom and Dad were their polite.
They advised, “Leave him alone”.

He was too old, I too young.
He was not college bound.
It was too easy to lose myself
in this passion that I’d found.

Dad saw the way he came and went
and my longing for our sporadic times,
the way he never spoke of love,
or solely wanting to be mine.

Daddy kept his peace, and
let me find my way.
He must have known all along,
he did not come to stay.

And when he disappeared
Daddy was kind enough to know
How very cruel it would have been
To say, I told you so.

(The original title was from “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou.)

Poem a Day Challenge, Day 14

There were two prompts today: to write a love poem, and an anti-love poem.

A Love Poem

No matter how I’ve tried to mold you,
you never stay put.

I’ve been tempted to surrender, but
the way every kinky strand of you
twists and turns around my fingers
has seduced me.

I’ll keep searching--
jasmine, peppermint, shea butter, rosemary,
jojoba conditioners,
olive oil hot treatments,
until I find what it is you need
for you to love me back.



The Realist

Love is like a great book.
No matter how much time, energy you invest
into the reading or writing,
it must come to an end.