Simple Days

lemonade summer sherbet sunshine overhead bare feet on cut grass The past week was chaotic as we wrapped up the semester. Between the emails, grading, meetings, late student work, extra emails from panicked students about their excessive late work, and everything else, I didn’t really have a chance to sit and just enjoy a momentContinue reading “Simple Days”

Gratitude

Spotting pale petals, you remember, trading picturesque mountains for Midwestern fields, the willpower of finding home away from home while healing strangers. But I would call you my brother, standing among a handful of faces that comforted me when the world was ending. How a rose must look from hospital rooms, frail petals and questioningContinue reading “Gratitude”

Floodwaters

Well, that escalated quickly. I intended to write more innocently about the river flooding happening near our home, but this definitely turned into something more. I composed this Symetrelle poem for the We’ave Written Weekly prompt at the Skeptic’s Kaddish. This week’s prompt is from Jane, who asks us to do the following: I believeContinue reading “Floodwaters”

Resuscitation

bitter, battle-hardened, armed with baited breath and toxins, build the bridge that bares your losses, unaware you are the strongest I don’t presume to know what this bald eagle is thinking, but I’d venture that he’s eyeing up a tasty fish. Though they were at one point added to the endangered species list for mostContinue reading “Resuscitation”

Weighted Paths

Yesterdays coat my boots their pathways overflowing their messages grayed out now under futures still unknowing we’ve taken what’s best ~and we’re weightless as our footsteps~ pressing forward into darkness indecision spikes like pebbles underfoot, but we’ll float home with stars in our eyes and daydreams in our pockets This week’s Wea’ve Written Weekly promptContinue reading “Weighted Paths”

Sunset Dance

evergreen sunset painting lessons on flawed palms tempered emotions guiding moments from my past softly teaching me to dance I’ve been thinking a lot about how we choose to spend our time or how we prioritize our time. A friend who recently returned from visiting family in India said that in some parts of theContinue reading “Sunset Dance”

Daydream Believer

my dreams aren’t far from King’s because it still stings when the waitress still brings two separate checks, though we wear matching rings, and I dream of a world not dictated by memes, falling apart at the seams, stripped by ego and greed, but instead one that gleams where love’s kindness is gleaned and spillsContinue reading “Daydream Believer”

Cast Off

Cast out to sea, warbling wayward. Only the wind speaks, offering its favors– its knowledge and greed, gathering our labors to skim waves so free, spreading them skyward. Our grief? Let it be, whistling onward. Say goodbye to me, but I’ll save my words. This week’s Wea’ve Written Weekly from the Skeptic’s Kaddish involves breakups.Continue reading “Cast Off”

Endothermic

walking winter’s lane leaving sloggy footprints pressing face to windowpane breathing out our thumbprints erasing messages we’ve laid story’s momentary imprint tapping the earth’s veins secrets sparkle and glisten It’s still cold, but perhaps my poem can invoke warmth? Christmas season reminds me of family and memories, probably because there are so many traditions associatedContinue reading “Endothermic”

March 13th, 2020

Friday the 13th: the last day of school indefinitely unexpectedly cruel TV projects lines wrapping around stores packed hospital halls teary news anchors the wind whistles fiercely tearing the house siding shaking our normalcy crushing and dividing This week’s Wea’ve Written Weekly prompt was another fun one! Here is Britta’s prompt poem and her guidelines:Continue reading “March 13th, 2020”