Gift To Myself

I spin, faster and faster… losing control, I am a propeller rising. Once, you were my mystery to solve, my gift to unwrap - my challenge, my highest vista to climb. You lifted me to your private skies. Spread out before me on red-winged flights, eradicated stars came back to life, painted iridescent by your own two hands. What could only be crayoned by inferior men. All aglow, the universe circled my head - round and round till the dizziness came, infatuation only to blame. I spin…slower, rhythmic, scraping. I am a pinwheel on softest breeze, memories fleeting. With a crystal crown of constellations, you adorned my flowing hair – locks spun golden, locks I loosened for you. I became a glowing body for you to orbit, a fiery flood of sunlight traveling, Venus gifted in violet dusk, auroras of ribbon braided… I spin…slanting, lower, on tip-toes. I am a ballerina with an audience of one. I watched you watch me in light of all things. I wanted to be center of your universe… rings of Saturn encircled you and I. Mercury’s fire blazed through what was us. Blue-silver splattered moons orbited our sleep. I kissed the moon rock I named after you. I kissed you and only you until dawn slipped between the warmth of our linen sheets. I caught you in my arms time after time, clouds dappled with your eyes floated by… doting, they released scintillating showers upon a wilting flower. When it was time for you to catch me, you were gone…taking with you part of me. I fell hard…back to earth, stained crimson, star-struck. Forever is a long time to chase shooting stars through echoing space. I trusted you, trusted only you, trusted you with me. I rusted, no protection from your harsh elements. We all come back to reality of a spinning earth… we rise or fall, move or hide, heed the call or lie. We come to the self-sharpened point of swim or die. Time rushes by… I sat next to you, held your hand, feeling like my own miraculous sky, regaining my identity… while you read your own vanity. I spoke of the poem I wrote for you another day. “Yeah, yeah…Aha”, you whispered, my words dismissed, a foreign language never understood. Space and time altered our skies; below, your lies became our demise. Our footprints disappeared before my eyes. In my own miraculous sky, I have slowed my pace, aware of my mistakes, my fear, my grace. I embrace beauty, peace, tears I've cried, the ride… Dawn came early this new day, I drove away, weaved around a pothole, almost crashed. The gravel road rattled my faith. I started to spin again…disoriented, I faltered, but I never turned back. I wonder if I avoided my own catastrophe, saved face, or a little of both… I remember how I asked you about the meaning of love. You turned away, admiring your reflection that day, your own genius you’d say. I planted my feet, met your eyes, then marched away. Head held high, you dimmed under a starlit sky. I searched myself and found the brightest star… it led me home. The best gift I could give to myself. Now, I brush my fingers lightly across a constellation on high… Pegasus, I think. Only to realize, it’s reflection mottles in a rippling puddle below... beauty awakened by my grounded feet. 4/11/15
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015


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Date: 5/10/2015 11:15:00 PM
Wonderful write :) Congratulations on you first place win. Happy Mother's Day
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Date: 5/10/2015 9:53:00 AM
Amazing! Congratulations, this is quite an honor.
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Date: 5/9/2015 8:39:00 PM
Rhonda, Congratulations ~LINDA~
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Date: 5/9/2015 6:20:00 PM
You go girl....Loved it...as did everyone else...wow...
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Date: 5/9/2015 5:16:00 PM
Goodwin, Rhonda. SKAT
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Date: 5/9/2015 12:52:00 PM
WOWOWOW, rhonda. And GUESS what?? has nobody informed you? You are the NUMBER ONE winner of the contest about stories!! go to the woman's blog , the last one she did about her winners.People are looking for you to see who the winner is and she is not able to finalize her contest yet. That is why her list has not appeared. Armand came in second. You two are just awesome!! Congratulations.
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Date: 5/8/2015 5:54:00 PM
Wow Rhonda....this is an excellent write! I got caught up in the momentum of the spin and poem didn't seem long at all. Sometimes the stars we admire are not so bright after all. Love this one! Hugs
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Date: 4/24/2015 7:45:00 PM
Realized when I came to PS this morning I haven't read you in a while and found this. Wow, woman! This is awesome poetry...! I forgot my coffee and read it again the second time...slower...to savor each word, roll the lines on my tongue, tasted, masticated and swallowed all and everything...my coffee went cold and my breakfast went untouched! Do you still need a rating? I have faved it!!! Wherever you are, be well and continue to write for yourself and for us here. HUGS! :) Kim
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Date: 4/15/2015 7:59:00 PM
I just want you to know you do not give yourself enough credit. You are as talented a poet as any! I love your work!
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Date: 4/15/2015 7:57:00 PM
This is like Mt. Everest one of the highest peaks to climb even for practiced poets. A brilliant write Rhonda. I love that you are writing free verse with such ease and oh so very successfully! A Fav!
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Date: 4/13/2015 11:36:00 AM
Wow Rhonda a definite 7 and actually a good contest entry for my contest (since it also is about the magic of love lost & found) This also is a good one to submit for publication! Light & Love
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Date: 4/12/2015 11:43:00 AM
- Dear Rhonda, this was a long poem (much work) - but it was really worth reading !! - (Even me with my bad English can see :) - This is amazing beautifully written - of course a clear 7 - Hope your weekend has been relaxed and great :) - hugs //Anne-Lise :)
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Rhonda Johnson-Saunders
Date: 4/12/2015 1:41:00 PM
Hi Anne Lise, thanks for taking the time to read my VERY long poem and for your sweet comments. The poem started shorter then it took on a life of it's own. I decided to enter it in Tyshawn Knight's contest. I knew he was looking for long poems. I'm glad you liked it. Hope your having a beautiful weekend, too...hugs, Rhonda
Date: 4/12/2015 3:09:00 AM
Rhonda...this is exceptional in beauty and truth. Yes, we sometimes put people on the same par as the stars....only the see...no one can fit that bill. Your imagery is breathtaking. Honestly...mesmerizing. Hugs
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Rhonda Johnson-Saunders
Date: 4/12/2015 1:36:00 PM
Hi Eileen, thank you so much for taking the time to read my 83 line poem. I think it's the longest poem I have ever written! Your kind comments and support mean a lot to me. I promise to visit your pages soon. My baby is sick and passed it to me...Hugs back to you, Rhonda
Date: 4/11/2015 10:33:00 PM
I love the pretty language in this poem. Such wonderful imagery.
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Rhonda Johnson-Saunders
Date: 4/12/2015 1:32:00 PM
Hi Wally, big thanks for taking the time to read my very long poem and for your lovely comments. Hugs, Rhonda
Date: 4/11/2015 10:24:00 PM
This is beautiful and touching! Lovely choice of words!
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Rhonda Johnson-Saunders
Date: 4/12/2015 1:31:00 PM
Thanks, Anna, for your kind comment and for taking the time to read my extra loonnnngggg poem...hugs, Rhonda
Date: 4/11/2015 10:20:00 PM
Only someone who has touched defeat can write a poem like this..It felt real to me and yet I know you are a skilled writer and this poem captures a moment in time in someone's life somewhere
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Rhonda Johnson-Saunders
Date: 4/12/2015 1:30:00 PM
Thanks, Frederic, for your sweet comments and visit. You're right...not my story but someone out there has lived it. Hugs, Rhonda
Date: 4/11/2015 9:49:00 PM
Rhonda, I know how it is to write a long poem. LOL, I think it freaks out some of the passersby. That is why I hesitated to post my newest poem. It's a long one:):):) Anways, I knew whatever the poem would be. I would not be disappointed. However, the poem caught my attention once you slowed the spin down...LOL..JK... On the second verse--- Thanks for sharing and replying to my comment. That was nice of you. LINDA
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Rhonda Johnson-Saunders
Date: 4/12/2015 1:28:00 PM
Your poems never seem too long. You catch your readers early and take them along on your ride...never dull! I will be checking out your poem after the kids go to bed...hugs, Rhonda
Date: 4/11/2015 9:36:00 PM
Hello Rhonda, WOW, love the way you shared the awaken soul in the end. Truly you embrace beauty well. The line about the constellation was amazing. I'll never forget the blue spattered moon, that's the newest of all imageries on today's mind... Have a nice one... LINDA
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Rhonda Johnson-Saunders
Date: 4/11/2015 9:43:00 PM
Thank you for the visit and kind comments...so sweet of you! I wasn't expecting a response so soon because of the length of the poem. It kind of took on a life of its own! Hope you're having a nice night, too. Hugs, Rhonda
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