My bare feet brush the carpet
after I slip out of bed.
Words from an unknown place
resonate in my head.
I grab my car keys
wondering where
the road may lead.
This moment serenity
found in my homestead
time to myself.
Yet I recall my first love
who said it was in my head.
Day whispers
as I rest near a place
where the street ends
but past the ravine
a road with another name
in another time and place.
*off-ghazal form
If the sea becomes angry, head for land.
Sleep under a trampoline and driftwood hut.
Want becomes meaningless; paramount is need.
The North Star keeps the blackening sky aloft.
Gale force and rogues are on their night walk about.
God and sleep cannot come soon enough.
In a heart full of hurts and pain, un-forgiveness is born,
where love and mercy, has now been torn.
Bitterness, anger and hatred, now sets in,
and a life of sorrows, and sadness begins.
Where un-forgiveness is, contentions will always be,
killing the the Spirit of Goodness, in you and me.
Un-forgiveness, only destroys the bearers own life,
as they struggle each day, in their heart aches and strife.
Misery is never far behind, you know what they say,
misery loves company, it’s always been that way.
So we fight and we argue, trying to gain the ground,
twirling in this darkness, much company is found,
Alone in our silence and peace, we won’t ever be,
if we allow unforgiveness, to keep us company.
Give me a man who's introspects
Who concedes the flaw that's true
Give me a man who can laugh at himself
And can walk in another's shoes.
Give me a man who can stand apart
But who's able to blend in
When the road ends he can restart
He plays fair when he strives to win.
Give me a man who can see the world
Without a filter of preconception
Who can recognize when the script is overthrown
By one nagging exception.
Give me a man who can take a critique
But who can also dish one out
Admitting fault doesn't make you weak
And sometimes there is room for doubt.
Give me a man who hears the quiet voice
The soft alarm that something's wrong
Who steps back, revises his choice
Like rewriting the words of a hit song.
Give me a man who likes to jump in a pond
And swim to the far shore
Who wants to see what lies beyond,
And what the journey's for.
Give me a man with a strong arm and a soft word
Empathetic, but not to the point of harm
Who can go against the herd
When the party line raises an alarm.
Give me the company of men such as these
They'll keep me honest too
A trust so deep to keep at ease
And friends to see me through.
Want someone who’s good?
Can help your company make sale?
I could sell milk to a cow,
and for free I’d chuck in the pail.
I can make a pigeon buy scraps,
a snake part money for venom;
I am the silver-tongued cheque with a grin
who persuaded jeans to shop for denim.
So, you need some success?
Change that red line to black?
A leopard would order spots from me,
I’m not a run of the mill old hack.
Bad Company
I don’t
care much for you
your attitude stinks
you are bad company, I want
you gone
To be kissed by moonlight
And caressed by stars,
Draped in darkened blue,
Dancing from Jupiter to Mars.
To be found by the light of the moon
And loved under a blackened sky.
Let the sun forget about me;
For it never heard me cry.
But there’s something special about moonlight,
Like it was made just for me,
Because no matter how bad things are,
I have the moon as company.
One cat and two dogs
sleeping on pillows like logs
when out of the blue
one barks on cue
sending the other two jumping like frogs
In the meadow deep
pollywogs send off signal
looking for a mate
I waited and still you didn't show
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
A warm blanket- A gentle hand in a dark night, a friend during lovers' plight. Lie with me, not next to me. Ill bring safety in numbers of one, exchanged for the sun. Fall into me, breathless heaving heavy hums. I am love that covers.
A cup of coffee- Touch me gently, I surge through you with urgency. I'm the nostalgia in your bones with every trace of me I pour back into you. Kissed by flame and earthy song, I spill over my shame. Bold, strong, sultry alchemist—a perfect blend.
A sunrise- Dedicated and humbly I break in. Though rays unseen, and warmth unfelt, I show up daily giving life to those who never fully appreciate. I embrace the earth with the tenderness of a mother's hug. A reminder of rebirth, tangible.
Pen and Paper- Slow to fumble, i enter in with grace. Over the stillness of the room I trace. Always there by the crackling of the fireplace. Waiting to hold a hand, through pain and sorrow i ease in your fingertips.
She walks with a stagger
Her breath reeks of hooch
He lies upon the street
With his way, advertising, "I'm a mooch"
She walks among the elite
Being extremely discrete
He struts with names and titles
Careful to keep a tight rein on the bridle
They have tried for years
But all attempts drench them in tears
They have a gaggle of offspring
But for whatever reason, he won't give a ring
Crowds of people gather at the square
Waging war against behaviors of men
Now that the veil has lifted
You better look again
They have company!!!
Blood oaths, hidden agreements
At a table made of sand
LOVE is seated at the head
And grace is holding our hand
Stand firm, oh stout of heart
Let purity cleanse and fire purify
Many will fall away to fear
But LOVE wins because it never dies
Written by Trudy Schrader on 11-29-2025
My favourite time in childhood
was pre-school as the only one
playing in my own little bedroom
with my toys and myself for fun
These days, I realised one thing
communication was a real defect
realising I had a stammer, so real
caused me trouble whoever I met
So I really loved life on my own
loving my own company O so sweet
learning to be content and happy
lying on the floor was my comfy seat
We had two cats and a dog
they were great friends for me
love to cuddle them in my arms
watch them run around so free
These days were special memories
ones that I look back with joy
it's amazing now at seventy-one plus
I wonder what I could say to that little boy
A soft whisper in the rustling of leaves seems like a breath of sigh.
Accustomed to the loneliness of the past, bereft of company, you waited.
As streams of light filter through the loving greens, making way for the moon---
I gather delight in the dunes of time, when your motherly touch was all that I sensed.
I savoured the magic your hands wove, the delicacies, the fashion, asking for more.
You listened with patience all that I said, yet failed to hold it when I had to spare
some time when you were ill, and your body begged my touch in all its might.
I pick up the petals of wounded time, imploring Providence to once more bring
Back a call unheard, a request refused, an outburst ignored, a demand denied.
Before I die, let me whisper in the anticipation of a meeting; ‘Mother, please forgive me’.
**********************************
A many-hued morning comes again,
New hopes will walk beside us.
Old memories will softly adorn the heart,
Yet ahead our paths will shine with smiles.
Time may not pause, but this moment is ours,
Today’s laughter is tomorrow’s light.
Shared smiles, resonant voices —
Let us share love, joy, trust — together.
Life’s journey now fills with sunshine,
Companions by our side, every step dear.
What fate has written isn’t punishment but blessing,
Heartbeat to heartbeat, more smiles than ever.
A new dawn, a new tale, new words to say,
Where grief has no weight, and joy touches the soul.
The ray of the future gleams,
We are together, hope is with us,
And joy, love, faith — this will be our world.
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