Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

Tears To Leave Behind

They're growing in a window well
where light is rarely seen.
Live on, persist, be bright and green,
or yellow hued for just a spell.

They offer us some hope and tell
us though pigheaded, willful, blind
there's grace abounding, sure and kind.
With thankful blessings everywhere
repent, reform, reach up and there
we'll leave our every tear behind.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the word “blind” is a rhyme word in the C lines of a décima with rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ronovan's Decima Poetry Challenge Image — Ronovan’s Decima Poetry Challenge Image

Jim opened the certified package from his friend, Steve, whom he had not seen in fifty years. There was a letter and a copy of The Imitation of Christ that Jim gave Steve decades ago. Steve saw the book while sorting through boxes and decided to return it after finding Jim’s address.

A few months before receiving the package Jim wondered how his life veered off course getting lost in a moral dessert. How did he get from being a teenager who could attend Mass with joy to become an old man who barely had a clue?

Jim cautiously opened the worn book and began reading smelling the fresh air of an oasis amidst its aging pages.

Linked to Six Sentence Stories where Denise offers the prompt “oasis”.

GirlieOnTheEdge Denise Farley's six-sentence-stories icon — GirlieOnTheEdge Denise Farley’s six-sentence-stories icon

One-Liner Wednesday – The Most Important Days

Everything in me tells me these are the most important days you will know in our lifetime. Waste them, and it will be the greatest regret of your life.
Mario Murillo, 5 THINGS YOU MUST DO DURING THIS AGONIZING WAITING PERIOD, November 23, 2020

Linked to Linda G. Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday.

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com

Low Light

Linked to Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “low light”. I lowered the light on these, perhaps too much.

Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. The leaves are gone, but the forest preserve is still a peaceful place to walk conducive to many smiles.

Here is a poem I wrote for Chel Owen’s Christmas Newsletter challenge. The challenge is open until December 11th for any who might want to participate. These poems are supposed to be funny. I am not sure that mine is, but if I did achieve that rare state of humor, that would bring another smile to my face.

Christmas Newsletter

Larry’s Earth is on the Moon.
Greg’s might be on Mars.
Lulu’s livid with the news.
Sue shoots shooting stars.

I’m the final one who’s sane.
At least, I can pretend.
I have no time to rush away,
so Merry Christmas, friend!

“HEAPS & HEAPS OF URGENCY”, Graffiti found at Skokie Lagoons

Cabin – Friday Fictioneers

Photo by Sarah Potter as Prompt for Friday Fictioneers

Looking at the shadow of its chimney I remembered the cabin full of mosquitoes. Mr. McGregor told me they couldn’t get into the bedroom. There was a shower, a woodstove, and a bed. I would only be there a few weeks. Given the bear warnings it would be better than my tent.

Incidentally, there was also a ghost that rattled stuff, but so did the wind.

When I left I told Mr. McGregor about the ghost. He apologized. Normally he wouldn’t have rented the cabin, but I seemed like the kind of guy who wouldn’t mind Megan. I didn’t.

Linked to Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers.

Sunday Walk 16

Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
Isaiah 59:7-8 King James Version (cited by Mario Murillo, WHAT IF THE AMERICAN CHURCH DOES NOT REPENT?, Mario Murillo Ministries, November 11, 2020)

Nightmares on the Gentlest Tier of Hell

This tossing makes me wonder why
regrets won't let me get some sleep
without those nightmares from the deep.
I would shed tears. I'd even cry
if that would help. Regardless, I
can't face these twisted memories.
I'd have to run off on my knees,
but could I even find my way,
the one I lost that lazy day,
or days, when I served my own ease?

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the rhyme word “sleep” must be one of the B rhymes in a décima with rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

In case it isn’t obvious, the “I” in the poem is an imaginary character in a mild region of hell trying to get some rest. I pray this “I” would not be me. I pray he not be you either.

Wax – Six Sentence Story

The wax from a single candle dripped onto the cupcake. Jim let the candle flatten burning itself out in silence. After removing the wax he stood in front of his wife Mary’s grave and ate the cake.

Jim didn’t expect to be here given his own health conditions, but he promised Mary he’d come back yearly as long as he could with a cake and candles marking her “birthday into Heaven”.

Jim’s final cake had seven candles on it. It was made by friends from their small church who pushed Jim in his wheelchair to the gravesite and then celebrated Mary’s birthday with him.

Linked to Six Sentence Stories where Denise offers the prompt word “wax”.

One-Liner Wednesday – Discernment

First you must make a clear distinction between those you can trust, and those you cannot trust.
Mario Murillo, THE RISE OF THE MACHINES, November 18, 2020

Linked to Linda G. Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday.

The following photo is for Kammie’s Oddball Challenge.

Thanks and Giving

I'm thankful for this time to live
and suffer if need be.
There also is a chance to give
and do so generously.

Though it be short or it be long,
though what I do be small,
I offer back a thankful song
in praise and give it all.

Linked to Michael Williams (Farrago Express) poetry challenge on giving thanks. I used a similar common meter to the poem he provided as a prompt.