So when the lake reached for me,
I did not kneel.
I did not sink.
I did not become what they expected of me
Instead, I opened my mouth
and screamed.
The sound split across the water like lightning.
The lake convulsed.
The shoreline cracked apart.
Churchbells howled beneath the depths like wounded animals
For one terrible moment,
all the drowned brides rose.
Veils dripping black water.
Pearls spilling from their mouths.
Eyes bright as stormglass.
Not victims now.
Witnesses.
The village sank before sunrise.
Every house.
Every stone.
Every man who called that sacrifice tradition.
The lake swallowed them whole.
your hurt, my hurt
they echo one another~
betrayal spares
n
o n
e
green chiffon prom dresses for my identical twin and myself
Spent most of the summer of seventy, not on a hanger or shelf
First there was prom, but then we were in a wedding or two
Ending up being bridesmaids for brides we barely knew
This is what happens when everyone wants twins in their wedding
Those green chiffon dresses we barely were shedding
We finally started offering to share the dresses with others
No. They want identical twins too, said the brides' insistent mothers.
But brides wear white with a touch of blue.
That’s right for them, for sure, it’s true.
But as for me, I am going to wear red said Gladys Bright.
My bridesmaids will proceed me down the aisle, wearing white.
It is not done! Her mother said with a traditional sigh.
Who cares? Said daddy. She is marrying a really wonderful guy.
And he likes her in red, and she will be a beautiful bride.
Gladys gladly got married to her handsome groom, Mel McBride.
I was startled when the bridesmaids came dancing out in white.
This was stated by many guests with laughter that night.
But then Gladys came out on the arm of her Dad.
I think she is the prettiest bride our church has ever had!
swirling stars of snow amidst lightning spikes
electricity of stark midnight strikes
a wicked wind, silk toss’d canopy bed
pale Cassidy resurrect’d from dead
dress’d in thick black, mourners wailing in hall,
soon see the shrieking ghost coming through wall
wraith sights the witch who killed her in his arms
‘geist snatches wench-face, recalcitrant to harm
10/25/2020
Contest: 8 Lines of Spooky Rhyme
Sponsor: Tania Kitchin
Here, I wrote a bridal guide,
A rule book for future brides,
No matter if you're fair, fat and wide,
Or not, here's some dependable asides,
First, keep degrees and jobs up to date,
With some mates you can't relate,
You never know when the rats will turn,
To being a doormat, is what to spurn,
Keep some getaway money set aside,
This is important in a bridal guide,
Always update your roadside assist,
Without that, car bingles can get you miffed,
Ditto home and car insurance too,
Note these well, I say to brides like you,
Never take drugs if to Bali you roam,
Then you definitely won't be coming home,
Herein, I wrote a bridal guide,
My rule book for brides like you.......
the light us the night
some where all white
there ring
ping and sing
in the limo
the music is bloon tune
the BRIDES OF JUNE
Standing afore the store front window of lavender
Her beautiful mannequin, adorned in wedding attire..
Dreaming as an Angel then passes by; lovely her curves
Swaying inside my heart, such splendours; stirring, senses
While she smiles as says, good morning; both of us knowing
The beauty in making love unto another woman; purely divine.
Many Brides
The mind remembers many brides,
Of love an hurt an suicide,
Of how I went away and died,
In battle for the empire.
A hundred ladies took her place,
Not all were beautiful of face,
Loyalty counted at that place,
Axe murdered, then I died.
To hold the gaze of perfect Gwen,
Denied her hand, we’d meet again
Be caught an banished, but still then,
She was another’s bride.
Another death, another time,
Sweetest beauty, red, red wine,
Atlantis, such a lovely clime,
Tar pit I got fried.
The cave of Og, when thunder clapped,
Slapped down her father, whack,
Caught her up, when I got slapped,
Bit me jugular, death it got to ride.
Gwen returned another time,
Free woman, estacy divine,
Infatuation was my crime,
Yet death was very snide,
Yet again I died.
To never quite hold a tune,
Encapsulate a dull buffoon,
To never quite make the maidens swoon,
Ironic the frustration…
Don Johnson
SEPTEMBER BRIDES
` ` , ,,,, ,` `` ```,,,,,, ,`````
magenta boughs sheer as bridal lace
adorn mid summer-time trees
they flutter like acrylic confetti glazed,
and scattered on rapturous breeze
Botticelli petals drift like scarlet flakes down
to gather round pastoral feet,
their fragrance fills September’s gown
with brushstrokes so apricot sweet
bridal trees alight as beguiling mists
all clad in sultry glow’s array
awoken by a waft of groom's kiss
on this, God’s first September day...
---------------------
quatrain
© all rights reserved
Especially for Brian’s September
By nette onclaud
Years ago He put a spark in Her eyes, the Sweetheart ----- LINDA- MARIE
She “LOVED” him then , as she “LOVES” him now the --- POETESS
With Her pen and paper , She writes Poetic Artistry So ---- EXTRAORDINAIRE
The LOVE in Her eyes, transfers to the ink; She winks my-- SWEETHEART
Any form, any style You read, know what She is thinking--- Of
Her eyes sparkle now , YOU can see the LOVE in Her ----- POETRY
A flavorful combination of words like a tasty Mulligatawny-- SOUP
your silent beau, you my “Soul Sweetheart” always you and-- I
I light 60 candles upon my birthday cake for you I make a -- WISH
Everlasting LOVE as shines in the mirror of Your Eyes for --- YOU and RON
The Happiness of a long awaited LOVE an Entwinement of --- ETERNAL
Togetherness FOREVER to ALWAYS be a LOVE of Heavenly -- BLISS
I LOVE YOU
Dedicated to the Sweetheart of Poetry Soup ( and Me )
Linda-Marie and Her Long Awaited LOVE, RON
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