These are written in response to a prompt by Robert Lee Brewer in his Poetic Asides column. You can find it in Writer's Digest Magazine and online at
http://www.writersdigest.com/ . As always, thank you, Robert.
The Sun Fell (The Sun Also Rises)
That day he admitted his
crimes against you
against God
against me
against family
His words boiled in
my belly until
I needed to vomit
I did not know where
to turn what
to do
my mind spun out of
control I couldn't think
all I know is that evening
the sun fell
Emma's Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland)
Wonderland made of night dreams
day dreams
imaginings
passages from books
lines from poems
brush strokes from paintings
stippling from charcoal drawings
verses from songs
instrumentals in their entirety
poem song stories built in my soul
No matter what part of Wonderland
I am visiting you are always there
I wake with you travel by your side
give you sparkling silver kisses
or deep red kisses never ending
you play my heart like a piano
late late night or early morning
together
waking ends with you by my side
no matter what land one thing remains
I will always love you
Lord of Lies (Lord of the Flies)
Something is not right
way inside the core of you
truth is what you decide
it is
at that moment
lies are only explanations
or evidence of
the problem being with everyone else
never you
not your fault
ever
because you know
what real truth is
an insight no one else has
A Good Soil (The Good Earth)
Shrubs gone
wall built
weed cloth laid
now
build a good soil
to feed my garden
potting mix, organic
so much better
than what they sell as topsoil
light compared to heavy
lets roots grow
instead of suffocation
peat moss
compacted treasure of the ages
holds raindrops
giving drink to flowers and fruit
veggies and herbs
long after a thunder storm
compost black gold
feeds continuously
coaxing growth
from stems leaves buds
in turn gifting us with
blooms in purples pinks yellows whites
fruits red blue green purple
vegetables enough for
now Thanksgiving bounty saving for
winter
it is with love
I build a good soil
joy comes with harvest
Invisible Child (The Invisible Man)
Wake up to mother's general call
to all brothers sisters
Time to get up
Sit at the table
behind the row of cereal boxes
spread for each to choose
Eat in silence
Dress for school
Walk alone thinking alone
Take my seat in the classroom
saying nothing
following directions
Walking home thinking alone
come in the door to my
shared room without hello
Pick up a book
lie down on my bed
to read my mind's adventures
Dinner nervous time
dad is intelligent stern aloof
mom sighs too often
Back to my room
to read in peace not even
wondering how many words
I have said
or not said this day
of invisibility