Look Alike

The tree would only speak when the sun was at just the right angle to see the face woven into its gnarled bark. Mira waited until she saw into its eyes clearly to ask, “Why can I ask questions only now?”

“It’s when the light makes you look most like a tree,” the oak said.

Song Choice: I Can See Clearly - Johnny Nash

This poem was created as part of the Flash 55 for Verse Escape.

Precious Gem

She spread them out in front of him so he could see. One by one, she explained each’s story.

“This last,” she said, holding a stone so red it was almost black, “appeared when I made a home for the darkness.” She blinked, looking away from him.

“Beautiful,” he responded, placing his hand over hers.

Song Choice: Strong Enough by Cheryl Crowe, acoustic version

This bit of flash fiction was created for Verse Escape's Friday 55

It Takes Two

“It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.”
 
― E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

When Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads announced they'd be bringing back their In Tandem series (collaborations between the poets swimming in the pond) I was delighted to get a chance to work with amazing fellow poet, and (after a few years of visits and crazy phone calls) good friend, Magaly Guerrero.  We kicked around the idea of doing something Quite Serious, but realized, for various reasons, it was better for our health and happiness to go a little more lighthearted with this.

We are not terribly serious people anyway.

So I am pleased to present the product of our combined efforts, Anima and Animus, from Dream to Flesh. Click on the link to hop on over :)

Jane

I remember being not out of earshot too

and hearing words reminding me

I’m no one’s ideal of beauty.

I loved you then,

for our shared sin

of not adorning the world.

I revisited you, year after year.

One day, after a pilgrimage to a crossroad

that long had intrigued me

I found what I reverence, what I delight in –

you fell a little in my eyes.

I’d have never ran

from love to conform to a dogma

that did its best to shame me.

Then I grew a little more, realizing

you defined your own dogma

to align with the dictates of your spirit,

just as I’ve done. Though I’d go left

where you’d go right, conventionalities don’t bind us.

My spirit recognizes yours

and I’ll always love that.

Song Choice: Sweet Jane by the Cowboy Junkies

This poem was created as response to the prompt given over at Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads: My Dearest Book, I Wrote You a Poem. I chose one of my all time favorites, Jane Eyre. I love the book so much, I have an infinity scarf with the text from the scene where Jane and Mr. Rochester confess their love to each other. This is also linked to Poet's United Poetry Pantry #370

The meek...

suppress joy for fear

their light might make someone uncomfortable.

They are told

to devalue their drive so not to appear immodest.

I don’t want

someone to judge my worth on how quiet I can be.

When I am dead I will be quiet enough.

I’m alive,

and not the slightest bit meek.

Song Choice: My Shot from Hamilton

I created this piece to play along with the Friday 55 challenge offered by Verse Escape. There some terrific pieces there, including the one created by the hostess, to satisfy your poetic cravings.

My Love. Crazy.

I prefer your kind of crazy

to the sanity the world tries to sell.

I prefer the sound of your tongue

whispering blessings in my sacred grove

instead of droned heartless hymns.

I have no fear of the world

through the looking-glass

as long as you are on the side

I enter into. You

have filled my head with wonders

since the day you stole

into my tower built of doubts.

You told me my hair was magic

and I believed. You

enchant and enflame me,

until I have no choice but to submit

to the mysteries you have initiated me into.

I lay as novice, but rise as priestess,

adept at the skills you have taught me. I

cannot live without your madness -

my armor against the madder reality

I must inhabit.  I must play at sterile sanity

while the eyes of the world are on me,

but when they turn away,

and the stars are the only witnesses

then I will let you kiss me, madly.

And I will kiss back.  

Song Choice: Crazy In Love by Beyonce, remixed 

This poem was inspired by a prompt given over at Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads: Play It Again Toads where we got to pick an older prompt to work with. I chose the Sunday Mini Challenge based on the poetry of Carilda Olivar Labra, specifically her poem, I go crazy, my love, I go crazy. I've also linked this poem up to Poet's United: Poetry Pantry #369.