Ronovan Writes – Page 11 – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

Gift

Take care that you are not deceived.
To gutters petty pleasures drift.
Think not on rights. It’s all a gift.
Forget what you thought you achieved.
Fake gold can only leave you grieved
since none has value in the end.
Note: Falsehood never had a friend.
Beware His wrath. Avoid the curse.
Avoid the path from bad to worse
where spirals flush the flesh they rend.

In Ronovan Hester’s Décima Poetry Challenge we are asked to use the rhyme word “gift” in the B line of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

This poem is a meditation on 2 Timothy 3. Although somber, rejoice. If you can see the Gift, stay the course and have a Merry Christmas! And if you don’t, there’s still time.

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:13 King James Version

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

Knocking

His knuckles tapped the door to knock.
Would no one on the inside hear?
But then came Jane, who wiped a tear,
and Jim, a target safe to mock.
They looked outside, released the lock,
and called the others, “Come and see!”
But none would bother. Faithfully
both Jim and Jane dressed in pure white,
gave thanks like it were Christmas night,
and shared a meal among just three.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the goal is to use the rhyme word “knock” in the A line of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

I imagine Jim and Jane as those rare members of the church in Laodicea, as recorded in Revelation 3:20, who were willing to open the door.

Crystal Grimes is hosting a Holiday Blogging Party to which I am linking this post.

Stable, Truthful Hope

Although what shines need not be wrong
beware dark lies that shadow truth,
distract the old, confuse the youth
with specious lyrics from a song.

I wonder.  Must I sing along?
Some tunes that once enchanted me
now don't make sense.  Be just and free,
merciful, alive and stable,
driving out false dreams and fable,
preferring joy to pleasantry.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the requirement is to use “stable” as a rhyme word in the D position of a décima have rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

Also linked to Crystal Grimes’ Holiday Blogging Party.

Sand Train Over a Hill on an Ocean’s Beach

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!

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.

One Lap Too Many

Bill reached too far. He was the one
Who spoke our compromising spell.
We warned him to beware of hell,
But Billy laughed. He'd just begun.
He had more wicked laps to run.
It happened at that twisted bend.
We'll leave to medics who'll pretend
They knew the cause of Billy's death.
In dreams we smell his fetid breath.
We hear him scream, "Please, make this end!"

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the rhyme word “one” must appear in the A rhymes of the poem with a rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

Exhale

Some decades earlier he went
Along this way he’s walking now.
A child in hand and wife somehow
Were with him as if Heaven sent,
But now his energy’s near spent.
The sign suggests he’s on some trail
That loops to somewhere vaguely known.
A wind picks up. The oak trees groan.
His strength returns though flesh stays frail
While every breath yearns to exhale.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge Prompt No. 30 where the rhyme word “exhale” needs to be used as a C rhyme in a décima with rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

I realize I got the rhyme pattern wrong for a décima. Here is a revision:

Some decades earlier he went
Along this way he’s walking now.
A child in hand and wife somehow
Were with him as if Heaven sent,
But now his energy’s near spent.
The sign suggests he’s on some trail.
His strength returns though flesh stays frail.
The curving path becomes well-known.
A wind picks up. The oak trees groan.
His every breath yearns to exhale.

Fate

When things went well I'd rarely say
I ought to credit God or fate,
Statistically at any rate.
I took full credit for my day
At least when outcomes went my way.
The magic dust no one could see
I thought I sprinkled liberally.
I don't know why I gave up this.
I did. Perhaps it was that kiss,
That slap, of Grace that conquered me.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge is to use the word “fate” in the B lines of a décima having the rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

Bliss

Ignore the pain. I do not miss
The pleasure out there tempting me.
Such blindness! How I failed to see
That there's a whole world more than this
With righteousness that brings pure bliss.
Manipulators walk around
With advertisements safe and sound.
Beware their busted sugar rush
Deceiving while our morals blush.
It sinks like dust on lifeless ground.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the rhyme word “bliss” is to be used in one of the A lines of a décima having rhyme scheme ABBAACCDDC.

Swing

There's just one problem with a swing:
Its cyclic motion to and fro
Since we all know how it must go
And without purpose like a fling
Or sorry tune the mindless sing -
Emotional, but nothing new,
No clue of what one ought to do,
No hint of why we're anxious here.
Stay covered up with lust or fear
Or busy back and forth on cue.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge is to use the word “swing” as one of the A rhymes in a décima where the rhyme pattern is ABBAACCDDC.