Not Long Ago

How recently the world appeared to me
The way you see it looking back at you.
Nasty worms made holes in what was true.
A snake creeped up the ancient apple tree.
Valid reasons were deceptive then.
The one who understood most turned away
And took a bite which stopped what he would say.
Those worms chew through the tongues of mortal men.

Perhaps that tale’s a metaphor. I know.
Perhaps another snake will shortly show.

Linked to dVerse Meeting the Bar. Bjorn is hosting with the theme of metaphor. I might have got carried away with the metaphors in this one, because I am no longer sure what I was trying to say.

Beginning of Fall

Liberating Wounds

Long ago when lights were dim
His wounded father read to him
About a knight, a dragon too,
A damsel fair. What would he do?
He realized himself the rest.
This was the call to knightly quest.
With youthfulness and strength of voice
He spoke with wisdom of his choice
Then rose at dawn just like the sun
And fought the dragon till he won
And brought the damsel safely home.
He brought the damsel safely home.
 
I’ve touched the wounds upon his face.
I’ve watched him walk without disgrace.
Now he reads that tale to me.
Another damsel would be free.

Linked to dVerse Poetics where Amaya is hosting with the theme to take a quote from Kafka and write a children’s poem inspired by it. Hopefully the above poem fits this quote:

“I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us.”

Franz Kafka from Letter To Oskar Pollak
Through the Trees

Extinction

Magic does not have to work
Although it might come true.
I’d rather trust in miracles
To help the truth shine through.

Extinction - what a way to end
Some sunsets’ blood red fright.
I’d rather find the reason why
Each morning dawns with light.

Linked to dVerse Quadrille. Linda Lee Lyberg is hosting with the word “extinction” which should be used somewhere in the 44-word poem.

Lagoon with Autumn Flowers

Waiting

Miracles are best when one is waiting,
When there is nothing else that one can do,
When harsh despair must look on love deflating,
When something unprepared for passes through.

Linked to dVerse Poetics where the theme is “waiting”. Sarahsouthwest is hosting. Also linked to Debbie Roth’s final Forgiving Fridays and to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. That “something unprepared for” made me smile.

Fallen Leaves Afloat
Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile

Dance

While algae's greening in the swamp
And ogres in the forest romp,
The villagers would have a dance,
A masquerade, and take a chance
Some ogre with a fairy might
Pretend to waltz then start a fight.

They've never liked each other much
Although I’ve heard they sometimes touch.
I’ve even heard they sometimes kiss,
But I'd doubt all reports of this.
There’s rumors, too, they even love--
What can these fools be thinking of?

Our dance may tease some fears away
And help some find kind words to say.
It's safer meeting through disguise
When gazing in each other's eyes.
They won’t forget what each has done,
But from the present, who can run?

We'll have that dance, no matter what.
True, worried folks must worry, but
Tonight we'll take a chance on change.
Let something, somewhere rearrange,
Then, whether they like it or not,
They'll get the love they've always got.

Linked to dVerse Meeting the Bar. I will be hosting with the theme of descriptive detail. I hope the description of the swamp and the dance fits.

Skokie Lagoons – The place that inspired this poem written years ago.