Fantasizing past glories
yet slim, she slipped into
a ‘come-and-get-it’ leopard-skin
her own flesh even crawled in it
Attracting a buzzing --
testosterone-overdosed mid-lifers
a few 'good ole boys’--
she slipped back into her
fraying house robe
dousing her passional make-up
in a wooden bucket of cold water
deprogramming her six-inch spikes
~ Cindy’s suitors formed a search party
reborn ~
deprogramming
for
richly
deserved
creative
pampering
AP: 3rd place 2020
I’ve heard people say you are a sentient being
And I’m still deprogramming that Roman Empire nightmare
So tell me Mother Earth how we can begin communication
And in regards to us disillusioned beings, do you even care?
My first instinct is to tell you that I’m sorry
Then I realize that’s my old programming about a judge
My mother would never make me feel I was a mistake
With grace and dignity she would give me time to rise above
With my disconnected delusions, how could I honor you?
And is that what any of this is even about?
With the death of my propaganda which way do I now go?
As an unknowing child I ask, can you help me out?
I can’t believe anything I’ve heard in English these 43 years
So now I’m going over the heads of all authorities
If there’s anyone who wouldn’t lie to me, it’s mother
If I open my heart to you, could you tell me something please?
My precious dog’s recent death and my acknowledgement of her value
Who I love equal to myself with the most tender innocence
This thought now in my head about hierarchies and ridiculous judgments
Perhaps the timing of this lesson is no coincidence?
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.