a line drawn in the sand of time
plucked from the depths of my mind’s eye
curled edge of what’s real what’s not
that line that never should be crossed
plucked from the depths of my mind’s eye
things we’ll forgive but not forget
built an imaginary fence
washed away by tides yet lingers
curled edge of what’s real what’s not
distinguishing what’s right from wrong
what’s acceptable from what’s not
comes to a full and sudden stop
that line that never should be crossed
willing to turn and start anew
choosing sides for worse or better
a line drawn in the sand of time
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Form: Retourne (8 syl)
From now, until whenever,
She's just as clever
Divine and fine as wine
A dialect revived by queens and dutchesses
But a woman's heart is just as hard as a mason's arch
You are gonna need your library card
No more yielding to anything
Like my mythological lily or winged cupid
Distinguishing, but dreamy
Be gentle
Humble yourself to a mumble
But if we quarrel,
Do not reprehend.
If we break apart, I'll mend you!
I've got to be honest,
I need a tissue
I adore you
My mythological lily
As Advertised ~ Haibun
Obviously out of uniform, the only soldier not wearing his field jacket
is easily spotted in my morning formation to ensure proper fit and wear
of the newly issued 1984 Battle Dress Uniform prior to the commander’s
inspection this afternoon.
The Army BDU camouflage pattern of green, brown, tan and black replaces
the solid colored olive drab green work fatigue uniform worn since 1952.
“Where's your jacket, Private?”
“I took it out of my wall locker, First Sergeant, laid it on the bunk, looked
away for only a minute while putting on my boots and then couldn't find
my jacket anywhere.”
Unable to stop laughing, I dismiss the formation.
Lost:
Camouflaged Jacket
No distinguishing characteristics
To be a strong man is a lesson to learn
We must deal with heartache after we are born
No sorrow, no remorse for any man
It must begin in childhood when your mind can ascend
Be tough with reality to see things as they are
To get beat over and over until you can't take no more
Fall down on your knees because your heart is weak
Try not to cry when you're trying to speak
We just get back up with standards and pride
Putting one foot in front of the other and don't break a stride
A smile on our face hides the hurt and pain
Distinguishing ourselves from a weak man of shame
No one to comfort us because we won't let you
Looking straight forward is the mindset we have to go through
It's a dangerous world if a man let it be
Because the man is an endangered species only if you could see
Lessons from one's environment, one's disappointment, and distractions choose wisely. One's pain of loss of
anyone can be healing. Lessons
Fairweather, familiar faces sometimes eventually
abandoned. Lessons
Attempting to save others from themselves who
don't want to be saved. Lessons
Non-reciprocal energy from people who often become
lovers of distinguishing themselves wavering in actions.
Lessons
Momma often said everyone's heart is different, so don't harden your heart. Experiences are the best teacher.
Lessons
Petals drenched in poison pearls of emerald envy,
carefully placed objectives whilst adrift in my tears of realization
Longing sorrowful souls among lilac lakes,
buried deep into somber depths of tinkering procrastination
Starving for ruby righteousness and pristine perfection, and yet still reaching towards a tilt heart searching desperately sunset embers
Distinguishing luminescent authenticity among
bittersweet endives drifts away with each cooling December
Shall I pursue soft screams for kissed loving
ethereal roses dazzled with enchanting sensations
To float away from every twisted hazing hoax with every spoken whirling weapon - coated with fabrications
Back from the desert and loving it
both the visit and the return.
The powerful plane deiced in Chicago.
Brittlebush, difficulty distinguishing acacia from ironwood.
Mesquite, and plenty of paloverde.
A good jazz band in Phoenix, their own style, no apology.
Could you also love your cancer? The vicious attack of a hedgehog
cactus?
The winter storm that kept us on the tarmac three hours
followed us home. Used to be
when weather made the headlines, that was good news.
No more. Those melting icecaps and incoming meteors.
Some pray, some stay still, some keep playing.
Anyway, notwithstanding inexorably expanding or otherwise rapidly
contracting universes
I saw cercocarpus, phainopepla, tomentilla, saguaro, and a great guitarist.
Prayers were answered.
Hunger
Insides noisy
Thoughts of food
Mind whirling
Thoughts of you
Hunger for more
Than can fill
Feed?
What you feed
Grows stronger still
Starve the wanting flesh
Weakening
Emptiness
In my gut
In my soul
In my spirit
Hunger and desire
Want and need
Distinguishing
In Between
Fill this need
Feel this need
Fulfill this need.
So how do you like your sushi
just sashimi on a plate?
or do you prefer it wrapped in nori?
decorated with microgreens and eggs?
And is there wasabi?
that heat to the tongue?
just a dash or a dab?
Does it make your nose run?
Do you dip in soy?
or is it the modern aminos?
without that salty it seems a bit drab....
Do you like your fish as an appetizer to your meal
or can it be the main course?
Do you want a bit of surf and turf
alternating between beef and fish
culinary exertion almost unreal?
Start with seaweed salad, edamame or just some simple hot green tea?
And is it chopsticks or handrolls?
or do you eat with your hands?
Are there other accompanying tricks?
I long to hear of your distinguishing traits
as you tempt me with your stories and wit
So tell me your tales of sushi
and I will tell you mine
And then perhaps we shall have some saki
and find another way to pass the time
- Do you like it raw? - Artimus (C) Susan Manley 6/15/2024 2:48PM
Yeah... I am a bit salty today
Consequences can make us or break us distinguishing from right choices and wrong ones
O,' my Lord, Christ Jesus of Deliverance,
A gift faceted in distinguishing the humanities hoped
Human-kind had but one-rule
A commandment: for individualism. ('choice')
A natural-born leader over yourself,
Your thoughts, your intent of will
Your liberations, your goodness relished.
You there, they're reading it loud,
Don't get too far ahead of yourself
You were given a rare gift at birth
Now, you're empowered with it by worth.
Move on along, tell your anecdote,
However, you tell it so get it out
To find an end, to end this poetry
''Their 'choice' is by their loyalties.''
Children of today gripe and grouse.
Refuse to memorize their multiplication tables.
Why? When we can use the internet to find them?
They do not want to learn to spell either.
They do not care about deciphering two, to or too.
They do not want to be bothered distinguishing hale or hail.
Principal or Principle? Capitol or capital?
Ha! They laugh at such silliness.
Coloring sheets are complete in three seconds.
They do not believe in staying in the lines.
They scribble right over them. They want to finish first.
Weird considering, we used to spend a week making valentine boxes
And we LOVED it.
Soul Fingerprints
By Mark Stucky
From the midst of multitudes,
elusive, unique fingerprints
identify individuals
as owners of their surface smudges.
Beyond their barely discernable
two-dimensions on smooth surfaces,
memories of casual causal touches,
ethereal fingerprints possess power
to unlock phones storing private secrets
and to solve whodunit murder mysteries.
God’s mysterious, stealthy fingerprints
invisibly mark creation and our lives,
at the core, below the surface.
No ridged whorls outwardly appear,
but those uniquely hidden codes
identify their covert Owner.
Distinguishing fingerprints
requires crime labs no longer.
My fingerprint unlocks my phone.
God’s fingerprint unlocks my heart.
(First published as “Fingerprints” in Agape Review, 6 April 2023. See also my poems "The Invention of Love" and "Gloria in Eggshellsis.")
(Photo by ar130405 on Pixabay.com.)
Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Luke 13:20?-?21 NIV
A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”
Galatians 5:9 NIV
Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Matthew 16:12 NIV
How can we recognize the bad yeast
So many different brands to pick from
Many have a quick expiration date
Many seeking praise of its rise time
When one has found the true yeast
One will begin to receive new knowledge
Distinguishing between good and bad
Working it's way through all the dough
That the good yeast will spread throughout
So when its time to rise
As the heat begins it's reaction
It shall all come together
In a beautiful creation
That is pleasing to the baker
With a new smell of aroma
Which fills His nostrils
thoughts relate to
mind-body vessel
it is then quite natural
for thoughts to arise
so we look at them
instantly discerning
and so distinguishing
between the impulses
pertaining to our soul
versus ego cravings
as flow of life renews
constant mindfulness
holds steady awareness
that whatever may be
presence is always free
whether we indulge awhile
or whether we negate
illusions in mind manifest
20-April-2023
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