Grasping tight and holding warm
a single leaf
releases grief
a sighed relief
in better light, new season born
photo one: credit
photo two: credit
daily word prompt: Leaf
Not Alone
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Tag Archives: poets
Internal Lies
Why, the mighty serpent,
lay coiled beneath the sea?
Malicious, angry, frightened
of an aimless destiny.
That breath of ire, that binding twist
all internal lies
The whip of tongue, the slash of swords –
veiled in mocked disguise.
How then, perchance, to come alive
in apathetic scales
To lighter states, to softer heart –
what happiness entails.
Unleash the truth and let it soar
to surface, past the churning
through honest waves of grace be found
a myriad of yearning.
daily post prompt: Mighty
photo credit
Poems of the Heart
Before I gift you with my favorite poem (and I DO believe it to be a worthy present) I want to share something with you.
My mother loved birds. She loved watching them eat from their feeders and poke their beaks at her sliding glass door. And, she watched them as she became weaker with age.
I knew of this poem but, after Mom died, it took on a greater significance. As a gift, my sister had this necklace made for me.
On the flip side is the first stanza of my favorite poem.
Here is the beautiful poem by Emily Dickinson:
A big thank you to Ms. Dickinson for creating this poem and to my sister for gifting me with this reminder.
And especially to Mom who, kept warm my soul.
Hope is the thing with feathers.
Daily Word Prompt: Crumb
The spider and the fly
Trap me! (Yes, I dare you)
in deceptive woven lace
woo me with your splendor
inside that dark, confining space
Sing me love songs, buy me jewels
rubies, silver, gold
make your smile seem bona fide
and all the truth? Withhold!
But know this
Just when you thought you’ve caught me
in luring ropes, beware!
look closer in your tangled web
You’ll find it’s empty there
(Photo and poetry by C. Dennis-Willingham)
Judgment in disguise
If told to cast the first stone
do you think that I’d obey?
Scar another person
just to please the crowd’s melee?
Those who dress in daily judgement
long in tongue, they criticize
and peel the souls of others,
while cloaked in self-disguise.
Is there any single person
who has never romped astray?
No, I did not think so.
And no, I won’t obey.
A creek with flowing water,
harmonic overtones
a place to sit beneath the Oaks
A better use of stones.
Author’s note: Photos taken and words written while waiting for my husband to come out of eye surgery. (He’s fine) 🙂
daily prompt: Disobey
top photo credit
Will You Come?
Will you row beside me on a lake layered blue
To glide past the mountains in calm solitude
Through ripples of water, a quiet bouquet
just thoughts, without words in a silent buffet
Where worry dissolves with each stroke of the oar
And Nature brings peace, and the soul it restores
— by C. Dennis-Willingham
One-upping the pretentious- Priceless
Miss Pompous puffed out her chest and said, braying,
“My Chanel suit and shoes are all new!!!”
I lifted my chin at her neighing,
saying,
“You should buy a kazoo.
Or a kangaroo.
‘Cause THIS woman you CANNOT outdo!”
And with the last word, I showed her the bird-
Not a finger, you silly,
My emu!
(painting by C. Dennis-Willingham)
daily word prompt: Priceless
A last laugh
photo credit
A last laugh
a traitor
Deceitful, evil
An hourglass,
Beautifully molded
Perfect, the glass
Coarse grains of sand
now collected
the pediment rests.
A finality of time,
hemorrhaged out
like a single bullet creating two holes
A slashing of both wrists.
(A poem I wrote for one of my characters)
How long can I wait?
“A Man in Italy”
I stand here,
waiting,
hoping you will forgive me.
Berating, debating
This feeling, castrating.
(words and painting by CD-W)
Do you see me?
Do you see me?
Truly see me?
Through this canvas, through this paint?
Of course I posed,
And then I smiled,
But, dear, I am no saint.
(poem and art by my CD-W)
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 