Tag: Décima

To give in once may seem OK.
It’s not like we’re addicted so
around the carousel we go.
“Hey, you could leave, but why today?”
Around again we go. We stay
to win the prize, a precious rag.
Our anxious minds want more. They nag
us with new offers: “Want a sip?”
“OK.” “OK?” They now can zip
us tightly in the body bag.

---

Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “zip” to be used in a D line of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC for this week’s Décima Poetry Challenge.

I was thinking of C.S. Lewis’s Pilgrim’s Regress where the pilgrim almost at the end of his journey sees a witch offer a deformed creature a brief sip of pleasure which the creature knows would only increase its deformation. After it agrees to drink she turns to the pilgrim and offers him a sip as well.

Lost angels chained in darkness spit,
“Witchcraft, pitchcraft, scortune, tortune,
Lucifer, push up proud fortune!”
Repentance? Nothing came of it.
They praised once. So? They now have quit.
Deep darkness takes all space away
with thoughts and sounds to mark the day
or separate dark day from night.
“Oh, God, why did we leave the light?”
Of course, they know, but now can’t say.

Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “fortune” to be used in a B line of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC for this week’s challenge. I was thinking of Jude 1:6.

Repentance cringes at the past
since God detests the rot of it
that reeks of death. The blot of it
warns us beware of each contrast.

We’re thankful though that didn’t last.
We saw in time our wretched ways.
Where would we be if all our days
continued on mechanically
when seeing meant we didn’t see?
Such gratitude’s the source of praise.

Ronovan Hester offers the challenge of using the rhyme word “contrast” in the A line of a décima where the rhyme pattern is ABBAACCDDC.

Oh, that is a blessed story.
Defeated, now arise, renew,
Unchained, inspired, come ride on through
Darkened, deadly territory.
Everlasting praise and glory - 
How light prepares the morning's run
And nighttime rivals daytime's sun.
Breathing freely and rejoicing
Singing words we all are voicing
This story ends. It's never done.

Linked the Ronovan Writes where the theme is to use “story” and an A or C rhyme in a Décima, a 10-line poem in 8-syllable lines with rhyme scheme ABBAACCDDC with optional stanza break after the fourth line.

The illustrations are some of my photos while walking in the neighborhoods of Miami Beach. They may or may not relate to the poem depending on your imagination.