A Good Day

Day 30 and final day of April Poem-A-Day Challenge!  Today's prompt at Poetic Asides is, "When I leave here...."   This 30th day of doing a poem a day found my brain a bit fatigued, but I had to finish what I started, right?  So here's my final (though feeble) response.

When I leave here,
I will be there,
In the car and
Out of my chair.

When I arrive
In another part of town,
I'll head to son's deck
And sit right back down


With fresh air and sunshine,
Maybe too much to eat,
But all in all,
A much better seat!


With the warmth of
Family, friends, and sun
I know this afternoon
Will be fun!

Ode to Books

Day 29 April P-A-D Poetic Asides prompt:  Write an ode....not necessarily formal.  I really hit a brick wall with this prompt, but I finally came up with this.

You take me to places I never thought to go,,
You take me away from the pain of today.
You bring me knowledge, helping me grow,
You give me more than I can ever repay.


You make me laugh at myself and others.
You give me the means to loose my sorrow.
You replace boredom with hours of pleasure.
You let me encounter many lovers,
You give me hope for a better tomorrow.
You, my books, are the pearls of my treasure.


G.K.Bostic - 4/29/11

The World Without.....

Day 28 April P-A-D prompt from Poetic Asides:  "The world without something"  My response for today is a few senyrus.

The world without you

would have no meaning for me

my beautiful sons

**********

Without tornadoes

Alabama would not know

such devastation

our hearts and our minds

stop mundane meanderings

to send prayers of hope

**********

This world without love

would be a nightmare beyond

imagination



Day 27

The Day 27 P-A-D prompt: "In the blank of blank"

IN THE CLASSROOM OF LIFE

In the classroom of life you will learn

There is much that you can discern.

There’s wisdom to hear

If you open your ears

As sure as the world’s going to turn.



I Will Lead You

Day 26 April P-A-D prompt:  Write a leader poem.


Let me guide you in your search as you
Enter upon the path to understanding
And follow the way of the peaceful warrior.
Dare to let go of futile search for happiness
Ending disappointment and frustration to
Rediscover the joy of now.

Evening

Day 25 - April P-A-D prompt:  Write a falling poem.

As daylight dims and

Sun falls behind horizon

A new night is born

Day 24 - Wordle Words

For Day 24 I decided to try Brenda's Wordle Words Challenge.  Thanks for the Challenge Brenda!


Tenderly wrapped in tissue
Of denial
Her heart lay protected
By opted amnesia,
Shielded from sharp pain
Of promises not kept,
Sweet promises of
Eternal love…
Yet memories of the
Piquant, cheap perfume
Creep back to haunt
Her dormant senses.
Visions of dark-haired siren
With pinwheel tattoo
Upon her nape
Diminish protective shield
Stealing peace of forgetfulness,
Squeezing the hand of
Betrayal ‘round her heart,
Replenishing the hate.
Remembrance leads her to
That aching path
That will alone
Quench her thirst
For revenge.

Here are the Wordle Words: 

tissue, sharp, cheap, squeeze, replenish, creep, steal, quenching, pinwheels, tattoos, piquant, diminished, eternal

Why Worry

Day 23 April P-A-D prompt:  Write a quit doing what you're doing poem.


Worry?  Why?
How does it help?
   And who?
Does it stop wars,
   Cure disease?
Does it prevent the drought
   Or stop the seas?
Does it keep a child
   From foolishly erring?
Does it stop the moron
   From drinking and driving,
      Destroying too many lives?
If worry could heal,
If worry could change the tides,
     Still the winds,
        Stop the ground from moving.
If worry could protect the child
     From harm and suffering,
        Keep fools from causing pain,

If.....

     Worry?   Why?

G. K. Bostic - 4/23/11

You

Day  22 April P-A-D prompt:  Write an "only one in the world" poem.

Divine creation

There is only one of you

Honor your spirit



On Second Thought

Day 21 April P-A-D prompt:  Second Thoughts



Alarm is set for half-past five,
Busy day ahead.
First a walk,
A brisk 5K,
Back again,
Quick shower then
Coffee, eggs, and fruit
For fuel,
Throw a load of laundry in,
Answer email
Check new prompts,
Write a masterpiece or two,
Scribble a sestina...

 Or

Should I just sleep in?

4/21/11

Message in a Bottle

Day 20 April P-A-D prompt:  write a message in a bottle

Solitary life

Until my savage Friday..

Strange reality

Words

Day 19 April P-A-D - Just a couple of Cinquains

Words

Like pearls

Strung together into

Beguiling choker of dignity

Mockery

 

Pearls

Words strung

Together wrap around

Mind’s heart with passion

Gemstones

Like an Angel

Day 18 April P-A-D prompt:  Write a poem with the title, "Like a ____"

Innocent newborn

Petal soft skin touched by God

Your soul’s legacy

G.K.Bostic - 4/18/11

A Portrait

Michele

Teacher, mother,

compassionate and funny

with a beautiful spirit

Friend

Sevenling

Day 16 - Trying a form I've never done, the sevenling.  Poem inspired by the Travel Channel:  Man v. Food - Carnivore Challenge In Baltimore

 

Baltimore’s great beef challenge
With steaks charred on the outside
Pink within, and juices flowing


He digs into 74 oz. of meat
Beginning with gusto, slowing halfway,
Stumbling near the end


The weight is killing us…

4/16/11

Need For Peace

Day 15 - Instead of the usual prompts, I used a word list from a challenge at Apollo Blessed for this one.

(image from: http://wallpapers-diq.com/wp/11__Centurion_Rage.html)

I need the taste of peace
To take away this bitterness.
Seething rage saws
With razor sharp claws
At these prison bars
Made of need to please.
Hidden anger begs to speak
Before the ground lays claim
To the object of my ire…
Coveting calm yet
Tormented by turbulence
Of unspoken wrath.
With frail strands of sanity fraying
Need for love too great
To let rage escape
And risk rejection,
Isolation,
Loneliness…
I beg for peace.

4/15/11

(Word list: frail, taste, need, love, turbulent, wrath, claws) 
Note:  This piece is not autobiographical.  ;)

Is It Time?

Day 14 April P-A-D prompt:  Write an "ain't none of my business" poem.
NaPoWriMo Day 14 prompt:  Write a sonnet

How do I know it’s time to take a stand
When watching mother hurt her little child?
I want to speak, to lend a helping hand
But fear prevents all but a gentle smile.

It’s not my business how a parent treats
Their child is it? Will interference cause
The child more grief...intended help defeat?
And so instead of stepping in I pause…

I tell myself the child will be okay
Return to life I know of calm and peace
Until I see the child another day,
See bruises, proof abuse will never cease

Until someone steps in and takes a stand.
I know that now I must extend my hand.

4/14/11

My Always Friend

Day 13 April P-A-D prompt:  "Write a poem that remembers an old relationship." 


So many turns in life
You’re up then you’re down
You find someone...then they’re gone..
You move on...

You're dealt a bad hand
You don't understand...

Another comes along
It’s good,
It’s true…
But death comes along and takes it from you…

Yet you go on,
Perhaps all alone.

So what gets you through
What’s always there for you?
It’s the sounds and the music
The music in your soul

The words of the poets
Paired with perfect melody…

Music and song
That carries you through
Always there helping you mourn
Giving you strength

Celebrating love and success
Through the pain and the joy
The suffering and the silence...
Companion through it all.

Notes:  Rather than a person, I chose to write about my relationship with music.

Sir Speedy

NaPoWriMo Prompt:  Write a fast poem in five minutes or less.  This took about two!  ;)

One special bunny

Easter's hypersonic hare

delivering eggs!



Re-Birth

NaPoWriMo gave a prompt to write a one-sentence poem of at least 40 lines.  Here's mine.


One spring day
As I meandered
Through my greening world,
And listened to
The sounds of birth
Surrounding me,

I observed a song,
A symphony of life
Springing from
The dormant fields
In colors of
A new season

Filled with violets
And hues of yellow and pink
As an artist’s brush
Lavished his canvas
With impressionistic
Beauty,

And the waking earth
Held murmurings
Of awakening life
As birds sang,
Dogs barked,
And children played

Together
Like all the players
In the symphony
Collaborating
To create a spring
Concerto,

And the music
Rang through the trees
Dancing with the breeze,
A waltz
Circling round
And round

While a single bird
On the rooftop high
Sat wrapped
In feathers and sky.

G.K.Bostic - 4/11/11

Special Memory

Day 12 April PAD prompt:  Write a form poem.  I chose the lune, 13 syllables -- 5-3-5
NaPoWriMo Day 12 prompt:  Find an old picture that brings back memories and write a poem about them.

Photo reminder

of fun with

Easter Bunny



Process Notes:  The young man in the picture is my grandson and he will be nineteen this month.  This picture brought back memories of the time I took him to the mall to see the Easter Bunny.  Well, Mikey got the giggles sitting on the bunny's lap and we both laughed and laughed.  It was a wonderful day for Grandma!

Maybe Tomorrow

Day 11 April P-A-D prompt:  Maybe (blank) A Haiku

Maybe tomorrow

vernal equinox will be

hope's reality.

Never Again

Day 10 of April P-A-D Prompt:  "Never again....)

He pushed from the table,
No chips to cash in,
Walked toward the door
Saying never again...

With paycheck all gone
How could he explain
To his wife and his kids
That he knew he would win...

Filled with remorse
He walked toward the car,
But stopped when he saw
Something green near his door.

Three gorgeous green bills
Worth one hundred each,
A bit of salvation
Placed within reach.

With bills in his pocket
And hopeful once more
He let foolish hope
Take him back in the door.

Forgetting his promise
Of never again,
He asked for more chips
Knowing this time he'd win.

G. K. Bostic - 4/10/11

Two O'Clock

Day 9 April P-A-D prompt:  Write a time of day poem
NaPoWriMo Day 9 prompt:  Write a poem backwards.  Start by writing out an old saying that takes the form of a declarative statement.

Two o’clock
Surrounded by
Ghostly presence
Haunting emptiness
Getting up
Sitting down
Walking in circles
Searching
Holding on to
The promise of healing
From painful farewell…
It doesn’t come…
Three o’clock…
Keep watching the clock
Pain will soon ebb
Just hold on…four o’clock
To the promise…
Time heals all wounds.

G.K.Bostic - 4/9/11

Celebration

Day 8 April P-A-D prompt:  Celebration

Time to celebrate

For Johnny came marching home

From dreadful war zone.

Safe again, my son

Fills my empty waiting arms

Now I breathe again.

G. K. Bostic - 4/8/11

Wooden Willy

Day 8 NaPoWriMo Prompt:  Write a nursery rhyme. 4 to 6 lines, 3-5 accented syllables per line

Wooden Willy rode a filly
Dora Doll said “You look silly!”
So he rode upon a bunny
Dora said, “Now you look funny!”
Wooden Willy pulled her hair,
And rode off on his teddy bear!

G.K.Bostic 4/8/11

Carpe Diem

Day 7 NaPoWriMo Prompt

I hear the forsythia sing its yellow song.

I weep with the willow in its birth.

Spring cuts a path in my memory

To another time,

To another place..

Running outside with

Francine by my side..

To years of green beginnings

With the promises they bring,

Sweet smell of apricots and mangoes,

Aspargus in chantilly lace

Soft music for the eyes.

Why must we wait so long

For this day to arrive?

Carpe Diem...

Let your heart soar!

G. K. Bostic - 4/7/11

Don't Go Daddy

Day 6 April P-A-D prompt:  Don't blank blank

Don’t hit me again,
I promise to be good.
I’ll try harder to do what I should.


Don’t leave us,
I know it’s my fault.
I promise I’ll change whatever I’m doing wrong.


Don’t hurt Mommy,
She was just trying to help.
I’ll be good so you don’t have to fight.


Don’t cry Daddy,
It will be okay.
We’ll all try harder if you’ll just stay.


Don’t forget us Daddy,
I love you, and we’ll be right here.
I’m sorry I made you go.

Bye-Bye Daddy..
Please come back for my kindergarten play.
I promise I won't cry...

Image taken from unrelated article at http://ourhaitianjourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/adoption-disruption.html

G. K. Bostic - 4/6/11

Silly Me

Day 5 April P-A-D prompt: Write a silly poem OR Write a serious poem

I went with silly. :) (..with a bit of a serious message about me)  ;)

I should run

I should walk,

But all I want

To do is talk.

Not my voice

But computer keys

Keep me chatting

If you please,

Sharing poems

All day long,

But lack of movement

Is just wrong!

Guess I'd better

Take a walk,

But before I go,

Can we talk?

gkb-4/5/11

Counselor

Day 4 April P-A-D - Write a poem about a type of person

Listening in love,

A mantle of acceptance

Ensures disclosure.

Guilt and rage released

With no fear of being judged

By your kind spirit.

With simple guidance

You take our hands and lead us

To a better life.

G. K. Bostic - 4/4/11

Picture in my Mind

For Poetry Potluck Prompt:  Photographs, Memories and Nostalgia

I have a picture in my mind,

my Mama by a window,

I had to see her through a screen.

They would not let me near her.

They feared if any closer

That I too might get sick

I'm sure she felt an emptiness

A need for her child's touch.

I was only four or five..

She left our world soon after.

She was too young to leave us all

With nothing but her picture.

I have lived now twice the years

Of my long departed Mama

I got to see my sons full grown

As I'd truly hoped I would.

If only I had known my Mama

As my sons have known me

So I could have sweet memories

Not just a photograph to see.

I looked up through that window

Took a picture with my mind

Or is that sight within my heart

Just a snapshot memory.

G. K. Bostic - 4/4/11

Puppet

Haiku Heights prompt: Puppet

Puppet no longer

freed from demon's sadistic

manipulation

G.K.Bostic - 4/4/11

I Was Here

Day 3 April P-A-D (Imagine the world without you) and NaPoWriMo (Use the titles of 3 books in your home in the poem) Challenges:

A single life lived quietly
Is barely one of note,
And yet perhaps a mark’s been made
By time upon this earth

Taking the Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Fighting the war of abuse
Reaching a hand to the desperate who
Suffer the Weight of Silence.

While the Other Side of Me
Raised a Band of Brothers
Who grew and touched so many lives
Loving hearts forever.

I learned to Eat, Pray, Love and dream
Not always sure it mattered
Yet looking back at what I’ve done
The truth is now revealed

Of innocent victims cruelly defiled
No longer walking in pain,
And the greatest gift I gave the world,
Loving spirits born.

I can’t imagine what life would be
Without these three fine men
So I won’t give another backward thought
To what if I hadn’t been.

G.K.Bostic - 4/3/11
(Book titles included:  Way of the Peaceful Warrior, The Weight of Silence, Other Side of Me, Band of Brothers, and Eat, Pray, Love)

Postcard

Day 2 of April P-A-D Prompt:  Brief postcard type poem about where you are

Here in PA the sky is gray
While you lie warming by the bay.
Nothing here but more cold air
Wish you were here..and I was there!

Blue

This is National Poetry Writing Month and the NaPoWriMo Prompt today was to write a poem with a color as its title but to write against what people associate with it.  (Blue=Sad)  We are also to invoke the name of the poet (as in a ghazal) and to use a form.  (I chose the terza rima)  Finally, we must use a form of water in the poem.  So, here it is:

Blue

Sweet summer days for thee and me
We’ll lie upon the soft hot sand

And bathe in warmth of azure sea.

Blue sunny skies, marshmallow clouds

Like parasols in party drinks

Replace the cold of winter’s shroud.

 

We’ll weave our turquoise tapestries,

And savor sunny season’s heat

Enveloped in the tropic breeze.

 

Before return of winter’s drape,

We should move where it’s always warm.

So Gloria why don’t you escape?

G.K.Bostic - 4/1/11

The Gift

Written for April Poem-A-Day Challenge at

Poetic Asides

Prompt for Day 1 - "what got you here"

Painted memories

Years of tears and ecstasy

Brought poet treasures

G.K.Bostic - 4/1/11