To Long Life
The gravekeeper’s child dances with me
He is my starlight, though this he can’t see
I wish he'd leave me on his own
But I'd hate to be alone
He must live, this he knows
But I can't stand it when he goes
He tempts the blade, I see his wrists
One for every night we've kissed
He and I are worlds apart
But death can't fell two lonely hearts
We sing and toast and dance in spite
Of the dawning morning light
I know he wants to join me here
In the tombs of yesteryear
He is lonely; hates his eyes
But I don't want him to die
Please, my friend, you've so much
To help, to hurt, to know, to touch
I'll dance with you, my darling dove;
Continue on, and live for love
--
a twin poem from the opposite perspective of "A Toast to Us"
don't know about the title for this one
#poetry
A Toast to Us
I am blind,
You are a ghost
And tonight,
We dance and toast
“To our health!”
Laugh you and I
Though we both know
I’d rather die
Than dance alone
Through this soft storm
Without your light
To keep me warm
Though I can’t see
I know your shine
And I wish
That it were mine
Though I know
It's one day soon
I must wait
Beneath the moon
For the day
When you and I
Can dance away
Our afterlife
--
Found half-finished in my notebook (stanzas 1&2 + concept), tidied it up and finished it
#poetry
A Story of Stars
Long ago, our starry nights
Were long and hard, bereft of light
The people wished to see their way
without relying on the day
And so they thought and thought and thought
But all that thinking came to naught
What on earth could light the skies?
What spark of fire never dies?
They took this matter to the king
For he knew nearly everything
A great laugh burst forth, a challenge indeed!
The king would sate the people’s need.
He knew at once what must be done
He must create a midnight sun
He gathered up his kingly might
And set about his task that night
A whisper ran through all the land
A great new world was close at hand
But the people did not know
Just how far the king would go!
He traveled up the highest mount
Up more steps than one could count
And at the top, he met a friend!
The king asked the sun what it could lend.
The sun just smiled, then she said:
“You do not know what lies ahead,
But I shall grant you this one gift:
Take these coals, but run, be swift!”
“If they meet a wind too strong
Or if they burn for far too long,
They will go out, my dearest friend
Then your quest will surely end.”
“Place them in the inky sky,
And then their fire will not die.
Your love for all your people shows
In the night that sparks aglow.”
The king bowed in thanks, and started back
To give the world the light it lacked
When he returned to his home,
He sat upon his brilliant throne.
“Call my subjects!” said the king
“Tell them I have just the thing!
These coals have come right from the sun!
Soon the darkness will be done.”
The people of the kingdom came
To investigate our wise king’s claim
And so when the next night fell,
The king addressed his people well:
He threw the coals up to the sky
And then it seemed they learned to fly!
They scattered all across the dark
Finally, a brilliant spark!
Alas, the wind, it grew and grew!
The final, brightest coal was through!
Its fire faded, the people sighed
It seems they would not get their light
The sun herself was looking on
And knew the king’s last coal was gone
She traveled quickly, down to earth
And then she said, “For what it’s worth:
“I know a way, just one, mind you,
To light this coal, once red, now blue,
You must believe in its strong light
And hang it yourself in the brand new night.”
The king knew that this awesome feat
Was near impossible to complete
“But for the people!” he said aloud,
“I will make my subjects proud!”
He hefted the coal upon his back
To chase away the night so black
He climbed the stairs he climbed before,
So his people could see forevermore
The subjects were worried for their king
He could not do everything!
So they rallied behind him, lent him their might
All together, they beat back the night!
The king trudged up the mountain, spurred by their love
And finally hung this coal far above
The people, they cheered, and at last,
The total darkness was a thing of the past!
Folks came from countries, near and far
To see the things the king called “stars.”
They marveled at the shining night
Then turned their eyes to the greatest light!
The coal the king placed with the help of his friends
Shines over mountains, fields, and glens
That great coal is now called the moon
And it won’t burn out anytime soon.
---
Children’s book assignment for my Creative Writing class
It’s a little too long :(
#poetry
As You Would Sticks
I pick up words
as you would sticks
And build them up
As though they're bricks
In this way,
I built a home
And carried on
To build my Rome
I gathered all
the words I could
And placed them where
The world once stood
Piece by piece,
I made it new
Then one day
I showed you
My castles burned
as did the sky
And word by word
My kingdom died
Even now,
I hum along
And sweep the streets
I grew up on
Sometimes there
Among the ash
I find a word
Tossed out like trash
I dust it off
And set it straight
And though it might be
Somewhat late
I build it up:
An altar to
All the words
And friends I knew
#poetry
If Stairs Could Talk
If stairs could talk,
They'd moan and groan,
And gossip with
The telephone
The telephone
Would ring the walls
Who, in turn,
Would tell the halls
Pretty soon,
The whole darn house
From creaking board
To tiny mouse
Would know the truth
And shout it, too;
If only humans
Had a clue
--
late for a challenge (what if stairs could talk?)
Back to the Moon
We're going back
to the place
that sparked our love
of outer space
We'll make our way
Beyond the moon
And hopefully,
we'll do that soon
Think of it:
Me waving "Bye!"
And taking off
Into the sky
Every night,
Until the day--
I'll dress for bed
And this I'll pray:
I wish I may,
I wish I might
Travel on
This next spaceflight
--
i!! am!! pumped!!
but also not
#poetry
kneel
we will kneel and you will stand
we'll both protect this sorry land
hand in hand and over heart
we have sworn to do our part
kneeling 'fore the nation's eyes
kneeling for their anguished cries
band together, save the small
justice for them, one and all
they sleep silent, brave and proud
we forge on, against the crowd
we will not rest until the day
no more lives are lost this way
--
i am so, so tired
#poetry
Architect’s Haven - PADCC Day 21
Build it up, and bring it down
Bleach the buildings, paint the town
An architect, perched up high
Builds her castle in the sky
A paradise for those with wings
Full of love and strange new things
Windows break the moonlit walls
And butterflies will walk the halls
Ivy climbs the grand staircase
While our hero takes her place
She sits upon her wooden throne
In this castle of her own
She saved this place from snow and ice
For the birds of paradise
Should you dare to take flight, too
She'll open up her world to you
--
Day 21 Prompt: Two for Tuesday -- De/Construct
#poetry
thinking about revising this one too
Today We Leave - PADCC Day 10
Today we leave, at bitter dawn
to find the strength to travel on
And though our search is all in vain
We soldier on, through sun and rain
For we have come here, just to fight
From fading dark to morning light
We stain the trees a brilliant red
And have no time to mourn the dead
We sleep, we scream, we carry on
Each of us, a simple pawn
Though we are soldiers, made of stone
We still miss our life back home
Lockets, letters, pictures, too
Remind us of the life we knew
And though my heart and face are stone
I still miss my world back home
--
Prompt: going somewhere
I may revise this
I don't want it sitting in my drafts anymore :(
#poetry
Doubts - PADCC 18
This poem is useless
As is its pen
I hate to say it
Again and again
Though I can't stop
And some say it's not true
I should write for me
But every one is for you
Everyone preaches
The same stupid line:
"Forget your readers
and let yourself shine."
If nobody sees it,
Then what is it for?
What is the point?
Should I try anymore?
I want so badly
Just to be heard
But nobody reads—
Not a one of my words
--
Day 18 Prompt: good for nothing
doubts are the worst and make for bad pieces, at least for me
#poetry