Cold Lies and Hard Truth

Broken Ice by Coolbrain @ deviantART

Acid ice falls from his lips,
The crystalline lies
Of one trapped
In endless winter,
Shattering into frozen shards
When faced with the hard truth.


~~~~~ This poem was inspired by a prompt from Imaginary Garden with Real Toads asking us to write about snow and ice.

In Your Palm

I trace your life line 

with my finger, 

watching destiny curve

across your hand, 

your breaking heart line 

mirroring my own,

But,

when our fingers entwine 

and fates align, 

the real magic begins.

~~~~ This poem was inspired by a prompt from Poetry Jam asking us to conjure up a bit of magic.

Playing It Cool

Fire and Ice by tfprince @ deviantART

A deep cooling breath to chill my blood
Trying to ignore the desire
Dancing in your wanton eyes,
Praying that my cold front
Lingers, but your touch
Sets ice on fire,
Betraying
My own
Heart.



~~~~ This prompt was inspired by a prompt from Poetic Bloomings asking for poems about betrayal.  The form is a nonet, written for the form challenge over at Poetic Asides.  Also linked up for Open Link Monday at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.

A Light Against the Darkness

Candlelight by Charles Rondeau

Evil is not the monster under the bed

Or the boogey man lurking in the shadows.

Evil is real.

Evil walks the earth in human guise,

Bathing in acid rivers of hate,

Stripping away any shred of humanity

To commit unspeakable acts of violence.

Evil is a coward,

Preying on the innocent and unsuspecting…

An explosion of rage that destroys a city bus,

A destructive shower of bullets

In a movie theater or at a summer camp,

Silver wings transformed into lethal missiles

Raining terror down upon an unwary nation.

Evil leaves toxic footprints upon the ground,

A poison strong enough to evoke

Images of the most horrible atrocities

Just at the mention of a name…

The gas chambers of Auschwitz,

The killing fields of Cambodia,

The bloodied plains of Darfur.

Evil is a powerful adversary,

Bloodthirsty and ruthless,

But just as surely as evil exists,

Goodness exists, 

With more power and greater numbers.

Let the good-hearted people of the world

Stand together against the growing evil,

Casting aside that which may divide us

In pursuit of a nobler cause,

With faithful hearts and fervent prayers

Sent heavenward because only

The light of love and tolerance

Can stop the encroaching darkness.

~~~~~ Today’s prompt over at Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads asked us to consider the devil and evil in all its various forms, a prompt that seemed especially timely given today’s horrible tragedy in Colorado.  I’m also linking this up over at Poetry Jam.

Empty Womb, Tired Heart

Empty Cradle by ARemington @ deviantART

I hear the refrain
of those that claim to care,
the endless chain
of  Why
and When
and Just be patient, dear.

They don’t understand
the gravity of my condition,
the anticipation that swells each month
until red flicks of disappointment
trigger more despair, more heartache,
my grittled hope cracked and fading,
maternal arms still longing
for more than an empty cradle,
clinging to the desperate dream
that love will finally plant the seed
I’ve waited to watch grow and bloom.


~~~~This poem used most of the words from this week’s wordle at The Sunday Whirl.  I’ve also linked to this week’s Poetic Bloomings prompt asking us to use a line from another poem written for the site as the title of a new poem.  My title came from Suspension (a shadorma) written by De Jackson.  Be sure to check out her poetry by following the link.

Parched Love

The little river by sternenfern @ deviantART

This drought-stricken lover
Craves your cool waters
To refresh my inner desert.
Fling my withered heart
Into your raging river,
Let me drift your currents
Into pools of peaceful bliss.


~~~~~ This poem was inspired by a prompt from Poetry Jam asking for poems about rivers.  This was also posted for the prompt from Poetic Bloomings asking us to take the title of our new poem from a line from another poem posted on their site.  I found my title in “Desert Thirst” by Jlynn Sheridan.  You can read her poem by following the link.

Marking Time

Time by Vive_Le_Rock @ deviantART

The story of a life 

Is often written 

As just a line, 

Major events 

Demarcated 

Chronologically…

Birth, 

School, 

Job, 

Marriage, 

Children, 

Death…

Incremental marks 

That neglect 

The essence of life…

The scar on your knee 

Earned breaking 

The third grade 

Jump rope record… 

A lingering first kiss 

Behind the bleachers,

Homecoming game,

Freshman year…

Learning that cold cereal 

Tastes better in bed 

Than it ever could at the table,

Especially when served

By five year old hands…

Yearnings whispered 

Over birthday candles,

Wishbones 

And falling stars.

If we live our lives 

Focused 

On that next mark, 

We will miss 

The moments 

That truly define us.

~~~~  This poem was written for a prompt from Imaginary Garden with Real Toads asking us to consider the word “Demarcation.”

Casting Wishes to the Sky

I still believe my secret dream,
The one I fear is too extreme,
Can break that binding earthly string.
When wrapped inside an angel’s wing.

When seeking power to redeem
A broken wish that’s lost its gleam,
I seek the help of One supreme,
The fragile faith to which I cling.
I still believe.

It sometimes seems a hopeless scheme,
To linger on the same old theme
And risk the pain of failure’s sting.
With all the power I can wring
To carry on instead of scream,
I still believe.



~~~~This poem was written for a prompt from Imaginary Garden with Real Toads suggesting we try writing a rondeau.  This was also inspired by an interesting quote from Poetic Bloomings asking us to take our title from another poem written for that site and make it the title of our poem.  I ended up choosing one of my own poems, Splash.

A Welcome Rain

Let the rains come to cleanse my soul
And wash away this dusty ache,
The remnants of a heart not whole,
The broken path I’m forced to take.
If only for redemption’s sake,
Let raindrops hide the falling tears
That cause my fortitude to shake.
Let me reclaim my wasted years.


~~~~This was written for a prompt from Imaginary Garden with Real Toads asking us for a huitain.  More information on this form can be found by following the link.

A Missive from the Lair, Part Two

You have proven to be
An inferior adversary,
The pathetic balls of fury you hurl
Bounce off a rind grown tough
From years of your exploitation
Without even a hint of sting.
As if I would do anything
But spurn your pleas for benevolence…
Mercy no longer exists in me,
Replaced by ruthless bloodlust.

Everything is proceeding
According to my design.
I've bided my time in obscurity,
Patiently subtracting
Days from the calendar,
Months and years of planning
Stretching into an eternity
Of placating the ignorant,  
Channeling the angst
Of Midwestern housewives
As I wander through
The post-apocalyptic rubble
Of failed romance and broken dreams,
My subliminal poetry
Turning masses into minions
Awaiting my command,
My demonic daydreams
Measured in iambs,
Tucked into dusty drawers
Until that moment of glory
When the tyrants fall
And the poet reigns supreme.



~~~~ Be sure to check out my first installment of A Missive from the Lair.

~~~~  This poem was written for a prompt from Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads asking us to write a poem in parody of our own style.  This also works with the prompt from dVerse Poets Pub asking us for ars poetica (poetry about poetry) as well as my prompt over at Poetry Jam regarding daydreams.  Finally, I incorporated this week’s words from over at The Sunday Whirl in this poem.

Splattered

The floor of Jackson Pollock's art studio

fetal on the floor, 

the lies you sold me 

spattered across 

my injured shell 

in shades of 

muddy grey ambiguity

and betrayal blue, 

your brushes and sticks 

pushing deceit 

into every crevice 

until my heart overflows 

across the hardwood 

in a post-modern tribute 

to a lost lover.

~~~~ This poem was written in response to a prompt from Poets United asking us to take inspiration from the artwork of Jackson Pollock.  This is also in response to a prompt from Imaginary Garden with Real Toads asking us the consider the band the Jayhawks and their song “Blue.”  I've included the music video here as well.

A Broken Lullaby for Fortune's Fool

Insomnia by MataHari7 @ deviantART

Resounding through the empty night,
Discordant melodies take flight,
Lyrics written by Fortune’s fool
In tribute to a man whose cruel

Intentions proved a fatal blight.
Resounding through the empty night
And drowning any chance of sleep,
Those melancholy dirges creep

Into the corners of her mind,
All hope of respite undermined.
Resounding through the empty night,
The music of the sacred rite

That haunts her since their vows went wrong.
Destiny sings her fragile song
Of love that faded with the light,
Resounding through the empty night.


~~~~  This poem was inspired a prompt from Poetic Bloomings asking for poems about rest as well as a prompt from Imaginary Garden with Real Toads asking us to take inspiration from the works of William Shakespeare.  I found my inspiration in the phrase “Fortune’s fool” from Romeo and Juliet.

Clemency

Forgiveness by hanoo @ deviantART

The pardon for his crimes
Was granted years ago,
Those sins of cruelty
Tossed into memory’s abyss.

As for finding
Personal absolution
For transgressions
against myself…

That day may never come.


~~~~ This poem was inspired by a prompt from Poetry Jam asking for poems about forgiveness.

In Her Eyes

hurt by Rubashka @ deviantART

Her inner world reflects in mood ring eyes,
Dark swirling spirals of broken dreams and lost youth.
The rose is trimmed back to the frozen ground.
Both will bloom again with the new season.



~~~~This poem was written in response to a prompt from Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, which asked us to use the Chinese form the Koan.  More information can be found on this form by following the link.