floating and leaving no trace
you have it
my heart
a prickly thing
covered in spines
needle sharp bones
that took years to emerge
and many more yet to soften
all to protect
sweet, refreshing, vulnerable
flesh
you have it
and you take it into your hands
you don’t ignore the jabs
or the drops of blood
you can’t
–they hurt too much–
but you hold it to you anyway
the heart is a weathervane
dylan said
–you don’t need a weatherman
to know which way the wind blows–
but it helps to have a kite
or a paper plane
to give you a hint
when your heart has rusted solid
the old dog stretches
closed eyes with a dog smile
contentedly farts
—-
Friday Haiku
Based on a true story
He’s still in the room with me
like spring
you bring growth in me
burgeoning green shoots
tendrils of pale yellow
reaching for the sun
like summer
you give me the sleepy
hums of insects
the sweet-tart taste of lemonade
and the smell of fresh cut lawns
like autumn
you wrap me in sweaters and coats
you are the gold explosions of leaves
that the wind sets in circular dance
like winter
you give me rest and peace
while darkness overtakes light
still we have this fire
this time, this together
——
Edited on 20160214 to remove that last two stanzas to create a new poem with them. See here.
i turn
the currents pull you toward me
i spin
you are tossed above the spray
spitting salt and brine from your lips
still, you circle me
coming closer with each rotation
what have you gotten yourself into, sailor,
choosing between the man and the maelstrom
into the backyard
i toss the spider i saved
–a fast bird, quick lunch
—-
through these trees
a cold river runs
flowing true
wearing light
bold fish stare holding your gaze
your feet splash–shivers
—-
Hey, it’s a twofer challenge!
The Secret Keeper
Weekly Writing Prompt #23
(5) Words: | STARE | RIVER | HOLD | TRUE | WEAR |
AND
the oxygen is thin
and getting thinner
at this great height
we drift, together
but apart from everything else
and maybe from each other, too
–the earth is a mirror,
you say,
–look how from here the lights
the lights from all the cities
all those billions with their candles
and torches
and upturned hopeful eyes
look how they look like stars
i would laugh if there weren’t
so little air
and i manage to gasp out
as the tank reads zero
and your gloved hand slips from mine
–as above, so below
a cold fireplace
the mother searches for gems
surviving letters
—-
Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge #83
Gem&Flame
when we spoke
our words ascended, shooting stars
flares in the darkness
fiery angel swords
when we stopped
our words fell, dead metal
plummeting to earth
smoking, cold, and ancient
crashing into mountains
they caused tsunamis
seismic activity that
registered around the world
people hunted for the
icy iron fragments in snow
and found them
heart-shaped and ruined
Words and Feathers 