Category: Poetry

Poetry Slam at the SSC&B: The Hallway

Go down three granite steps and you will find
the Gatekeeper who’ll surely let you in.
Once you’re inside your stories may begin
to tell themselves and leave you far behind.

The others will have stories they’ll unwind
and you may test how true those tall tales spin.
Though some may even leave a tear or grin
they all will open doors inside your mind.

There is a hallway, too, that’s deep and dark,
and should you choose to wander that odd way
it only asks that you respect its night.
With every word you speak there goes a spark
but many sparks lead many folk astray
and all those led astray will need true light.

Denise offers the prompt word “word” to be used in this week’s Six Sentence Stories and Poetry Slam.

Poetry Slam at the SSC&B: Words

The words today I wish I never said
are words that haunt, but may we let them go.
Now in their place my mouth will say instead
the words my heart would want your mind to know.

There’s more to all of this than shocks the eye
with silliness, indifference or disdain.
And that is why once more I’ll only try
to speak from Truth, from falseness to refrain.

You likely wonder what those words could be
that I prefer now never more to say.
I’m glad to say they’ll stay a mystery,
since now we are back on the sacred way.

Denise has announced that August 27th is the Six Sentence Cafe & Bistro Poetry Slam and the prompt word is “word”.

July 2026 Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of July 2026.

Fakity Fake

It was fakity, fakity fake,
but we bought it since it came with cake.
And the cake tasted good
like a real, good cake should,
but the message was fakity fake.

______

Prompt word: “fake” July 6, 2026

The sun’s setting and soon it is gone. Then the dark of the night lingers on,

A Wreck of a Limerick

Though they said, “It’s a wreck,” I am glad
it was not so remarkably bad.
It was not even worse
than the lines of this verse
and for that I am gratefully glad.

______

Prompt word: “wreck” July 13, 2026 (modified)

but tomorrow will bring a fresh sunrise. We sing

Landing a Limerick

Though to fly might be fine I’ll just stand
where my feet feel the firmness of land.
I’ll leave flying to birds
or a limerick’s words
which don’t care – though they should – how they land.

______

Prompt word: “land” July 20, 2026

and give thanks. We’ll then see a new dawn.

Puzzling Limerick

The puzzle is past and the pain
of pursuing it’s gone like the rain
when the joy has come out.
Wander freely about
and relax. Let the joy entertain.

______

Prompt word: “puzzle” July 27, 2026

June 2026 Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of June 2026.

Road Hog Limerick

Like a hog he was hogging the road
and we honked all the more as he slowed.
Well, we all tried to pass
but we couldn’t alas
and we’re still to this day on that road.

Prompt word: “road” June 1, 2026

It is white. It is bright. It is true like the spirit of love about you.

Jelly Donut(s) Love Song

They filled a fine donut with jelly
and they said it was good for my belly.
Well, the first tasted good
as my mouth knew it would.
The first dozen were just too much jelly.

Prompt word: “jelly” June 8, 2026 (modified)

It is new in the way you are new now today.

Winter’s Chills and Summertime

There are birds with their bright shiny bills.
There are words that delight with their thrills.
There’s a this for each that.
Here’s a kiss for my cat.
There is summer to fight winter’s chills.

Prompt word: “bills” June 15, 2026 (modified)

since His Spirit is living in you.

Busy Train

There once was a tiny toy train
protected from weather like rain.
It went “choo-choo” all day
in a circular way
and it circled again and again.

Prompt word: “train” June 23, 2026

The Weed Has Gone To Seed

It is true that the plant is a weed.
I’m the gardener, I know, so I need
to get off of my butt,
get my hoe out. Now what?
It’s too late? The weed’s long gone to seed?

Prompt word: “weed” June 29, 2026

Ten Things of Thankful: June 27, 2026

I am thankful to the Lord for everything mentioned below and all of His other blessings.

The photos tell their tales with the help of captions.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef
(1) flowers and (2) bees
(3) slopes, (4) landscaping and (5) walls
(6) creative people and (7) colors
(8) trees, (9) bridges and (10) trails

Trail: Path Opened

This walk is part of the walk on this side of the railroad tracks in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

It was blocked for a while when some water maintenance work was being done, but now it is open. Since it was part of a circle I walked the full circle.

Posted for Pepper’s One Step at a Time.

______

There used to be trees where the dirt and white fence are now.
A red, muddy pool with a white fence and blue sky and a residential home in the background.
Past the residences it becomes wild and wonderful.

May 2026 Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of May 2026.

Song To Our Prince

Our fine prince is a wonderful guy.
When he walks all the ladies say, “Hi!”
All the dragons do, too,
as he walks through the zoo.
What a wonderfully wonderful guy.

Prompt word: “prince” May 4, 2026

With a bang it was sent to the sky and it popped when it got very high.

Clean Limerick

He’s pretentiously, pompously clean
except when his rhymes are obscene,
but he’s doing his best,
so he said, then confessed
that his best is much better unseen.

Prompt word: “clean” May 11, 2026

Well, it sparkled a bit and we all enjoyed it.

Bliss In Spite Of Warning

Diving deep in delusion he goes.
You might warn him, but waters now close
and who knows where he’ll be
when a kiss sets him free
as the bliss of eternity grows.

Prompt word: “warn” May 18, 2026

Then the next one buzzed up through the sky.

Heat It Up

Though I thought it was hot it was not,
since the heat got much hotter. I got
a fine thought for a verse
(not a whiny, cold curse)
as the heat got much worse than just hot.

Prompt word: “heat” May 25, 2026

April 2026 Limericks

All of these limericks were originally posted to Esther Chilton’s Laughing Along With A Limerick during the month of April 2026.

Cape

With a cape, funny clothes, I will fly
doing good as the bad guys go by.
Some will change. Some will not.
Some get burned. Some have got
nary one good excuse not to cry.

Prompt word: “cape” April 6, 2026

The soft clouds are bright orange in the sky as the sun gives a nod of good-bye.

Trying To Scream In A Dream

Though I thought it might help if I’d scream,
but caught as I was in a dream
a scream couldn’t come out,
no, not even a shout,
and right now I’ve forgotten that dream.

Prompt word: “scream” April 13, 2026

Look how red they are now. See the sound of a wow.

Help!

Like some rocks in a black and blue box
I discovered the truth of hard knocks.
Being knocked all about
I had no breath to shout
except, Help! Get me out of this box!

Prompt word: “box” April 20, 2026 (modified)

See how peacefully fades the red sky.

Floor, Door, More

As I stand on the solid wood floor,
as I walk to the open wood door,
there is more there to see,
but I don’t being me.
Let me change. Ah! Just did! I see more!

Prompt word “floor”: April 27, 2026