All the stars start to shine
When you are around
When you fate away
Their shine goes away
When you fate away
My heart goes away
humuhumu, a fish,
nukunuku, a snout,
a, like, and, pu-a'a, pig,
pineapple princess breaks,
the spell of, sweet fish prince;
sweet prince and princess are one.
All the stars
Start to shine
When you are around
When you fate away
Their shine goes away
When you fate away
My heart goes away
The red sunset
sends its ubiquitous rays
to cover everything
within its encircling embrace.
The silhouette of lovers
on a park bench
appears to burn with love,
setting passion's scene aglow.
Towering skyscraper windows
reflect the sunset's crimson stare
like a thousand glaring eyes
red from sleepless nights.
A fountain's slow trickle
oozes from glowing garnet angels
like blood from broken hearts,
bleeding away the sense in life.
Passers-by appear angry,
the sun inviting their innermost thoughts
to sear through bone, flesh, and skin
and silently shout their fears.
The world on fire, set ablaze
by heaven's fury, burns with the intensity
of love's pure passion, man's volcanic thoughts
and life's consuming relentlessness.
And the day-star of time,
the poet of placid skies and lucid scenes,
steps behind the world and leaves it
to put yet another day into perspective.
Morning has broken,
and I lie awake to greet it.
Lost is the sleep I needed
to face this new day.
The shedding of darkness
has broken the silence
and rain begins to fall
upon an earth reconciled to it.
I am alone in my thoughts
today - and as I expect
I shall always be -
alone in life.
There is no blame
just as there is no changing
what has been before.
There were choices to be made.
Perhaps, resting the eyes,
surrendering to the lullaby of the rain,
will soothe the sullen shell
I have harbored - alone.
Mistakes
Mistakes
Mistakes
How many times
I'm I gonna keep on making mistakes
Yesterday it was a reality
Today it's an error
How is it even possible
Wrong decision
Keep chasing my destiny?
My fate in life is clear
But my path is uncertain
I wonder even if
My kind is rare
When shall circumstances be fare
For the chances I dare
surviving_pawn
You Know That Smile?
That
*Baby's*
Laughter?
It's Still There,
Still
There...
Inside.
Like It
Or Not.
***
(Try Like Again, Once.)
***
(Not Not.)
-Gray Squirrel
09-22-2025
(“Nonbinary”, 2023, original encaustic)
On the timeline of Life
Past, present and future
All interpenetrate
Back and forth, forth and back
Constantly adjusting and upgrading
Experience with experience
In a loop
Möbius could clearly see.
(9/22/25)
(“Outside Looking In Merit Badge”, 2011, original oil)
The truth is
We aren’t our body, nor our mind
Life is bigger than both, bigger too
Than the Universe itself,
The same way, and to the same degree
That this world is bigger than my little room in it.
In this larger than life scale of Life
Dimensions beyond comprehension
Exist in ever expanding layers
Layers without connection yet interpenetration,
Layers easily felt and seen
If not understood
With the eyes of a child
A child without words to describe
What is so big
It has no true name.
(9/22/25)
I can do something with that I say
dragging a broken wagon out of the ditch
my husband is horrified
there are ants and crawly things all over it
the wagon is grateful; I can feel her relief
she used to be well-loved, clean, fresh
It will only take a little bit to liven her up, I say
I hear her sigh with gratitude
Hey, wait! There is a teddy bear down there
I climb back into the ditch, probably standing on poisoned ivy
I will figure that out later
This bear does not deserve to be discarded like this.
You aren’t bringing that filthy thing into the house!
This is my husband’s girly voice, and it annoys me.
Not while he is awake, I’m not.
When what life gives is all so sound,
Why on what-not woes we dwell on?
With things of joy found all around,
Why on shadows should we dwell on?
Good memories in life abound,
Why on sorrows should we dwell on?
When flowers everywhere are found,
Why on thorny claws we dwell on?
Copious spells spring on earth’s home ground,
Why on celestial rose dwell on?
________________________________
Ghazal |18.09.2025 | earth, heaven, joy, life
Note: This ghazal is slightly off the traditional. There are five couplets, all the first lines of which rhyme, whilst the second line has the refrain (Radif) ‘dwell on’ following the rhyme (Kafia) like woes, shadows, sorrows, claws, and rose.
Angels of God, thank you for all your work, for making all of our moments turn to light.
Angels of God, lighting our life, giving us help in times of need.
Angels of God, shining bright, loving and caring, giving us support when we are in the dark.
Angels of God, you are appreciated today and always, you are in thoughts.
Angels of God, lead and guide us in all of our steps, make our days bright on our path to our true life.
Lifting prayers to God, today and always.
Fog
How does fog make me feel
I like the white, grey shade
A gray light changes the room
A privilege to meet a cloud
Many thanks to you
I feel the mist go through my skin
Uptown girl living the dream
She gets dolled up on saturday night
anticipating date all week long
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
LIFE IN ACORNISTAN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There once was a brown-haired squirrel named Stan,
the charismatic, electrifying mayor of Acornistan.
His fur held a most strange zap
“We’ve got to do something ASAP!”
His advisor suggested, “Call in the g-man.”
They summoned a blind man from Bhutan
‘You’re fur’s gotta go,’ he said, his face deadpan.
‘But like Samson, I’ll lose my power
To this static I shall never cower!
You’ve got to have another gameplan.”
‘Maybe some crème rinse or a bit of Dippity-Do*
will eliminate the static from your furry ‘do.’
‘Dippity Do,’ Stan exclaimed. “Just who are you?
Go back to Bhutan, you silly man. Shoo! Shoo!’
‘Stan decreed. ‘No static in Acornistan. Static adieu, adieu!’
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