Skokie Lagoons – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

Cheek

The victory is God’s we know.
Before that there is much to do.
Some details haven’t been worked through.
True. Tragedies will come and go
and cancers ever want to grow
and dragons want a bit of fun.
They’ll run their mouths. Their lies will stun
like fists that crush into a cheek
confounding those who try to speak,
but lies will end and then they’re done.

Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “cheek” to be used in a D line of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC for this week’s Décima Poetry Challenge. The idea of assured victory in the midst of tribulation comes from Revelation.

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

Still – Holy Spirit

The only muse worth listening to,
The only One who even is,
Corrects us, guides us, leads us. His
Consuming fire will clean, renew
Transforming everything we do.
We sinners turn.  This living flame
Burns off the chaff.  The devil's blame
Becomes as nothing. We are still.
As falsehood breaks, each true word will
No longer be lukewarm, nor tame.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge where the challenge is to use the rhyme word “still” in the D part of the rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC. For another poem on the Holy Spirit see Mary Hood’s poem Holy Spirit and her observation that there’s a difference between the Greek muses and the Holy Spirit. I used to talk about “muses”, but given the Holy Spirit I see no need to hide Him behind some Greek myth.

Winter’s Breath

Winter turns the spirit out.
Leaves go red and fall.
Snowy silence sits about.
I wonder at it all,
But know the proof comes in the spring
When leaves and flowers bloom
When birds again have warmth to sing
And outside’s like a room.

Linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge where the theme is “The Coming of Winter/Winter’s Breath” or “Playing with Light”.

Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. I realized that I don’t understand all that I think I do. No matter how bad that might seem, my smile comes from also realizing that it isn’t all that bad.

Also linked to dVerse Quadrille. De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo) is hosting with the word ‘spirit’.

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.

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.