Tag: write

wings of ash (20160607)

crow13 Comments

everything moves in a circle
what i have breathed in
i will breathe out

my spine pushes its way out
through the back of my neck
hot skin, dry eyes
no pain, just pressure
like when the doctor says
you may feel a little discomfort

everything moves in a circle
what i have breathed out
i must breathe in

heavy, dark wings
emerge from my back
black snake fireworks
intumescent ash and billowing smoke
rings of fire carving new bones
where my shoulder blades once were

these wings beat
throw dust into the air
create tornadoes of choking, blinding sand
but they cannot lift me
and my arms hang now useless and free

everything moves in a circle
what i will breathe in
i have already breathed out

starlight and razors (20160605)

crow8 Comments

i tripped and fell and
split in half

surprised to find that the split
to be smooth and polished

as if it had been there
all along or

as if cut by a stone cutter
wet saw heavy grit polishing wheels

but the inside, the caverns
left in their natural state

filled with glittering jagged
spikes, false stars winking

each one sharp enough
to kill a man

each star promising light
but offering only razors

——

for
The Daily Post
Daily Prompt: Smooth

on viewing netsuke (20160604)

crow8 Comments

hand-carved figures
moving through routines
drinking, working
and working while drunk
fighting devils and feeding
the destitute
like miniature saints
so small three may they fit in
in the palm of a hand
their desires must be tiny
their furies microscopic
their fears miniscule
if only i could shrink
i would welcome my boxwood skin
though i would be forever
frozen in one moment

Open Mic for June (20160604)

crow7 Comments

Time for the monthly Open Mic Invitation.

JUST DO IT!

I admit that I wasn’t great last month. I only added one reading. What kind of example am I making here?

——

Here are the steps you need to take:

  1. Record yourself reading one of your own works.
  2. Post it on your site (or Soundcloud or any other audio hosting site).
  3. Include a link to this post in your post
    OR Comment below
    OR or send me a message using the contact form.
  4. I will post a link with your name and poem title RIGHT HERE and on the new Open Mic page (it’s above in the menu).
  5. It’s an open mic invitation. NOT a challenge.

Also, if you can think of a way to improve the format, I’m all ears.

******

Crow wings of ash (words and audio)

******

Poet Rummager aka Rose Buried

******

Graceful Press Poetry aka Jennifer Swans

******

Crow the eternal hum (audio) and (words)

******

this summer evening sees no stars (20160603)

crow12 Comments

this summer evening
sees no stars
set into the night sky

perhaps an eagle took them
on silent wings to line her nest
this summer evening

or the man who cannot shut his eyes
buried them and now he
sees no stars

or rather than theft, is it the rippling
golden expanse of laughter
set into the night sky

——

for
Jane Dougherty Writes
Poetry challenge #33: Silent cascade

and
The Daily Post
Daily Prompt: Sky

anger (20160601)

crow6 Comments

i can speak of anger
fluent in hard words
clenched jaw
balled up fist
tight-lipped mouth
that allows no human words

i can speak of anger
sudden blindness
urge to wrap your hands
around a throat
around the neck of a bat
and swing for the cheap seats

but instead
i will whisper to you
of forgiveness
that soft feather
brushing against your cheek
and beg for the same

——

for
The Daily Post
Daily Prompt: Angry

metamorphosis in red (20160531)

crow8 Comments

pain paints a soft portrait in reds
subdued in whisper-light silk threads
(cover us in dark cocoon)

what will appear? we dare to ask
while tugging at the silken mask
(the texture ruptures much too soon)

flame emerges to clear the way
swept out like dancing sparks of day
(we shame the sun, we shame the moon)

with wings of midnight, ashen eyes
we make ascent to starless skies
(dancing again to pain’s red tune)

——

for
the secret keeper
Weekly Writing Prompt #39
| PAINT | CLEAR | DARE | COVER | DANCE |

circus (20160531)

crow2 Comments

three rings in a circus
with no one cracking the whip
three rings on three fingers
but who is steering this ship

the lion-tamer’s lost his head
he misjudged the lion’s maw
the clown should have stayed in his tiny car
he’s trapped beneath a weighty paw

i leave my seat and shuffle away
dragging my shoes through sawdust
these performances ended years ago
leaving nothing but haunted rust

——

for
The Daily Post
Daily Prompt: Circus