Flirtatious

We just keep going
despite the advance
of gradual slowing
pursuing our chance
that hints at showing
when we romance
a dream while knowing
our circumstance.

Avast

I delve into the voices of the past
when looking for a way to forge ahead
like climbing to the crow’s nest of a mast
to see if there are continents to tread
and often there’s a landing spot to find
exotic pleasures for the heart and mind.

Expatriates

I'm here at your table enjoying
the taste of my favorite treat
although you're supremely annoying
you make yourself easy to beat

Your kingdom was once a fair country
where people were happy to give
but now your incessant effrontery
makes natives seek elsewhere to live.

To Be Continued

Is there anything left to say
he wondered as he met the day
oppressed by shades of gray

that scrolled across the sky
like all the lines that rot and die
while he becomes less spry

but there were debts still owed
so he maintained productive mode
and on and on it flowed.

When Wembley met Matilda

In springtime when the flowers sprout
Encouraged by a gentle rain
All types of creatures venture out
To start the cycle once again

Beside a giant swaying elm
In which a tawny owl hoots
There lies the dank and loamy realm
Where Wembley Worm once put down roots.

Now Wembley wasn’t merely meek
He always trembled, downright shy
Avoiding not just Robin’s beak
But even every passerby

He’d burrow down beneath the tree
To shiver in the chilly ground
Alone with just his misery
Uncertain moans the only sound.

One day a friendly little gnat
Caught sight of Wembley in his hole
She buzzed, “Hi, please come out to chat.”
But Wembley shook beyond control

He dug down deeper in the dirt
Until he could no longer hear
That scratchy drone which didn’t hurt
But put a tickle in his ear.

Matilda was a thoughtful bug
And though it seemed a trifle strange
She felt an urge to give a hug
And help this gloomy worm to change.

The next day as she whizzed about
She made a point to softly land
Beside the spot where he would pout
To try and coax him from the sand

“Oh please forgive my brash advance
I know the world can be a scare
But if you give me one small chance
I’ll show you other people care

Come out; come out to see the sun
And drink the silver morning dew
Together we can have some fun
Before the day is finally through.”

As tempting as her offer was
Old Wembley still could not say yes
He hunkered down until her buzz
No longer made him curious.

Matilda flew home with a smile
She never backed down from a fight
She knew that it might take a while
But Wembley Worm would see the light.

The following day she came back
And took her place beside his door
Prepared to try a different tack
She cleared her throat to speak once more.

“I’m here again to voice my plea
Come look around my timid friend
If you don’t pop up once to see
You’ll always wonder in the end.”

Now this made Wembley start to think
Of course he didn’t want to hide,
While thinking he began to slink
Then suddenly, he was outside!

He blinked and rubbed his tiny eyes
Which quickly darted all around
He shuddered but to his surprise
There was no danger to be found.

“Hello, how are you bashful one?”
He heard a small voice kindly say
“My name’s Matilda, no don’t run,
I’m so glad you came out to play.

I know you’re scared, I would be too
But look, I think it’s plain to see
A worm as big and strong as you
Has naught to fear from little me.”

So in a slightly shaky tone
He said “My name is Wembley Worm
I live my life right here alone
Where everyday I fret and squirm

I’ve never had a friend before
But if you want, I’ll really try
Just don’t get mad if I’m a bore
I’m not the most exciting guy.”

At this, Matilda had to grin
She said “I’m sure you’ll be okay,
The day is young so let’s begin.”
And off she flew to lead the way.

“I have no legs for running fast
So please don’t get too far ahead
If I’m alone my nerve won’t last.”
A worried Wembley quickly said.

Together they began to search
For interesting sights to see
They climbed upon a fallen birch
To marvel at a bumblebee

Whose humming echoed through the air
A truly joyous kind of song
And Wembley couldn’t help but stare
Unsure why he had moped so long

The next stop was a narrow brook
That gurgled with a pleasant sound
The fish gave him a hungry look
Which prompted them to turn around

They ran into a fragrant bush
Where Wembley stopped to fill his nose
Matilda had to gently push
And say, “Come on, it’s just a rose.”

All over that small wooded glade
The two explored and talked and laughed
Until they saw the glimmer fade
From daylight’s final golden shaft.

Then Wembley turned to his new chum
A strange expression on his face
He tried to speak, no words would come
So he began to slowly pace

At last he said “You’ve given me
The greatest gift a friend could give
You showed me how good life can be
And also how to truly live.”

Matilda blushed without a peep
Then left as it was time for bed
But Wembley knew he couldn’t sleep
A million thoughts raced through his head

He sat there gazing at the sky
Reluctant to go back below
For now he knew the reason why
Sometimes you have to change to grow.

In the Hole

All is well?
Who can tell?
The lie has built
for quite a spell

so pick a shell
the shiesters sell
your trust will wilt
in debtor's hell.

Holding Fast

I shall not let you go
although you're chirping so
I refuse to be deprived of your sweet song
it helps me every morn
to deflect the coming scorn
from those who think that status makes them strong.


***This poem is a result of compound inspiration, two of my favorite poems prompted it: Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson and Dreams by Langston Hughes.***

Spoilage

Before self-awareness condemns
our minds to a sentence of doubt
we savor the pleasure that stems
from people that jump when we pout

but some never seem to outgrow
the childish need to be seen
as center of all that we know
or else they turn horribly mean.

To Ply

My morning momentum will often inspire
my mind to create as connections refire
and I like to go (if you know what I mean)
by starting the day with a slate I wiped clean.

Intangible

What I have sought
cannot be bought
it can't be lured
or ever caught

it can't be held
it can't be quelled
it's never cured
can't be dispelled

for it's not real
but hard as steel
and rest assured
it's worth a feel.

Heart of Gold

Nature is no miser
with the brightest of its shades
the sun could not be brighter
on the buttercup strewn glades

Her blue is vast and vibrant
Her green so rich and lush
when crimson hearts are strident
Her beauty bids them hush.

Accommodations

Last night I slept on air
despite incarceration
but woke to some despair
undeniable deflation
for bars were everywhere
and chances of probation
were thinner than that air
that once was my salvation

Tonight I'll sleep on stone
and revel in my hunger
more lonely than alone
a misbegotten blunder
and while I'm lying prone
I may start feeling younger
and stir the tempest in my bone
that rumbles low like thunder.

No Crap

I haven't cared for a long time
with little reason to
as long as I am paid my dime
there's motions I'll go through
but if you don't put down the hoop
and drop your whip right now
in order for you to ever poop
they'll have to remove those things somehow.

Heavy Toll

A raven was in the road
it’s head in swivel mode
looking for somewhere to peck
a victim flat as heck
but flew before it felt
another steely belt.

Gardening

You fancy flesh
that yields to touch
so vibrant, fresh
and promising such
delight beneath the skin

You take a whiff
before you know
you're feeling stiff
and juices flow
from deep within

Contentments grow
in coveted lands
unless we sow
with our own hands
an orchard free from sin.

Retrospect

We make a map within our head
of where our path of life will lead
until we find the trail we tread
is nowhere near the place we thought
as promises and pride proceed
to keep our tether taut

preventing us from seeking out
that distant spot of which we dreamed
another bind, another bout
of unexpected stress and then
the road is shorter than it seemed
way back when.

Thorny

The sarcasm drips
right off your lips
like dew from a poisonous plant
which could be the root
of why people scoot
whenever you roll out a rant

Indigent

If knowledge is the currency of the universe
there's one thing I can tell
I don't have to shake my purse
to know I'm broke as hell.

Rain Check

A blackbird walks with it's beak pointing down
and head gyrating side to side
as it highsteps through the rain-soaked grass
I could swear that bird is starting to frown
for all the worms have chosen to hide
until the hunter makes it's final pass.

Transferal

The giant grew nasty (as mean as a snake
that swallowed a hornytoad by mistake)
he struggled to make it (as all of us do)
lamenting the mountain of gold that he blew
and blaming each beastie (as broke as the next)
for being the reason that he was perplexed
while proof is quite plain (as the nose on his face)
that he is the cause of his current disgrace.

Beginning of the End

How can anyone with a brain
select such a person to lead
her lust for fame couldn't be more plain
a platform planked with greed

If you want America worse than now
then go and waste your vote
on the media's latest sacred cow
so another thief can gloat.

Darn It!

My dog digs dirty socks
and now his breath melts rocks
I toss him a bone
but he leaves it alone
I think he needs detox.

Dwarfed

I sit beside the quiet creek
and listen to the birds that speak
their minds in lilting melodies
as I inhale the fragrant breeze
and wonder shadowed by the cleft
how many days like this are left?

Lost Sheep

Matters are seldom as simple
as what we are led to believe
by those that should set the example
but only proceed to conceive
inventive ways to deceive
as ethics so easily crumple
and we are abandoned to grieve
destruction of the temple.

Guarded

The problem with thriving on refuge
is being too sheltered to see
that ducking all threats of a deluge
can mean you're not totally free.

Schooled

If one stuck a fish up their nose
would it be smelt?
What if they served it from their deck
would it be dealt?
And if they had the battered kind
would it look bruised?
Try munching on a clown fish
you might be amused.

Sacrificial

You'll never escape
the yoke on your nape
or brush off the need
to constantly scrape

The bane of your breed
is to service the greed
of elitists that rape
while you slowly bleed.

Slipping the Noose

The wounded can never recoup
the blankness of flesh with no scar
but take yourself out of the loop
and soon they'll forget who you are.

Patron

As graceful wisps of cottonwood dance softly on the breeze
like little fluffy fairy sprites at play
I marvel at the emerald bounty waving in the trees
and thank our earthen mother for today
forgetting all the pompous fools that pen inane decrees
so I can just enjoy the grand ballet.

Flying Lessons

I watched a pigeon take a dip
it didn't even have to strip
and then it paused to take a sip
before continuing it's trip

across the sky to who knows where
oblivious to our despair
if only we could learn to share
it's knack for knowing when to care

instead of being so consumed
with petty slights that we've presumed
as pointless enmity has bloomed
within a breed that could be doomed.