She notes how the days
have grown shorter.
A cacophony of grackles
near a cornfield fills the air.
A farmer across the road
walks along his field
checking his corn before harvest.
Leaves rustling
in the wind sing.
The construction crew
has passed her driveway.
She asks the flagger to
help her daughter across.
The school bus arrives
late afternoon. Lights flash
She rushes onto the porch
and hugs her daughter
who wears a backpack.
The mother notices
the sky is gold
as she looks out the window
and cooks supper on the stove.
Her daughter sits in a chair
hands folded on her lap.
So good to see her daughter
she thinks after letting go
in the morning and waiting
for a late afternoon embrace.
(Inspired by the painting La Victoire by René Magritte)
A giant door has opened
upon a yellow shore
No rooms contain it
This huge high door
stands with blue water
on its opposite side
Between the blue
of firmament and sea
is a grayish background
A cloud has settled
at the top
left portion
of the peculiar door
Strangely, the cloud
is suspended
mid-air
inside the open space
that faces away from
the water
I stand before the door
pondering its purpose there . . .
I ponder MY purpose there
If I should pass through it,
will I find myself
walking toward water -
to immerse myself
in the cool of its blue?
Then it dawns on me
What if I can somehow
reach the cloud suspended
in the open doorway?
What if I could
grab hold of that
nearly unreachable cloud?
Envisioning this -
I become one with the cloud,
and I’m d r i f t i n g
inside
my own
imagination
I was hurrying by the spooky house when the door creaked open.
Hopin' it was just my imagination, I hesitated a moment too long
for suddenly a creepy voice from inside beckoned me to enter...
I froze when a waft of cold air hit me and I heard words of a song...
Come inside, and we'll have a bit of lunch and a nice spot of tea
I shook my head in total disbelief and told my feet to move along
but they seemed to have a will of their own and didn't listen to me
What am I to do to escape the siren's call? To her I don't belong.
Just then it was I heard a murder of crows, flying low overhead
Another omen that I never should have chosen to walk this way
But then one flew close enough to me, and this is what it said,
"Leave your shoes behind and run...You'll be dead if you stay,"
I gulped and gasped and managed to get my feet to obey
I could feel the pulse of heart beating double time in my chest
The crows kept circling above while darkness was filling the day
I'll not become the victim of the house and be laid to rest!
the door opened ajar
there stood a drunken man with an empty bottle
looking afar
pleading in eye
hobbled in, a shaky wobble
bit high
got Ales
mouthful gobble
bales
The door opened
Admitting the sun
Filling the dark room with light and
Making the day's challenges
Manageable
I opened the door to my soul
And there I found an unfulfilled goal;
To find my soul his one true mate
I only hope I didn’t open it up too late.
The soul is just an empty urn
If it’s door is to remain sealed;
The love inside must be earned
Open the door so it can be revealed.
The opened door into my soul
Opened my heart and opened my eyes
I set out to fulfill my goal
Found my soul’s mate to no surprise.
a door left ajar~
not open,
not shut~
the quiet posture
of a reason
we’re still
trying to believe
I knew you before you blossomed,
When each of us was still a child.
Before you wore the face of a beauty queen;
Before your curves started driving me wild.
I knew you before we could tie our shoes,
You were the girl who lived next door.
I knew back then I would never choose
Another girl I could ever love more.
I sat beside you on our first school bus ride,
For the next thirteen years we sat side by side.
My feelings for you I never could hide
Everybody already knew you were going to be my bride.
I danced with you at the school sock-hop,
Wishing the music never would stop.
When I took you to the senior prom
I was awestruck by the beauty holding my arm.
We got married right after high school
Much, of course, to nobody's surprise.
Then enjoyed fifty years worth of mornings,
Together watching the new sunrise.
I can't remember a day without you;
Not that that is something I would ever try.
If ever I said I wanted to be alone,
You would know that I had told a lie.
I was five years old the first day that I swore,
I was going to marry the girl who lives next door.
Chronicles of the revolving door
By Dustin Branum
When exactly does life begin? When will this
tragedy come to an end? It's like over, and over,
and over again... When will I ever find peace,
my friend? And nobody knows how far I've
been; Nobody cares about the pain
I'm in. This knowledge that
burns deep within, with
a withering soul,
reality will
bend.
The
light
turns dark
with a grayish
blend, begging for
mercy, it's demons they
send. The light is illusion I
can no longer depend—There's no
Destiny for me to defend. Yearning for
happy, acceptance, and Zen, Instead of this
anger and evil times ten. No kids, no wife, no
next of kin; Lonely and broken, this chapter will end...
Exactly where the it began.
You open early morning
to sunlight in a chamber
past the threshold.
I’ve yet to know
what the day may bring
late summer
a calling to live
live again.
The cat roams
the room
after I give it
water and food.
Someone sleeps
in the front room.
I’ve closed you
for now. I must
awaken to what
lies ahead.
The voice of someone
I’ve known calls
then another and another
a chorus of memories—
I’ve never forgotten.
Bedroom door
I’ve closed you
but dreams linger.
The branch still in bloom
waves in the wind
and a sparrow flutters
by the window
and yes
a threshold to embrace
but I can never close
passages to my many lives.
The door opens,
and there he stands.
Knife in hand,
searching the room
for his victim.
Heavy footsteps
rhythmically fall
on the cabin floor.
The stench of sweat
assaults my nose.
I whimper
beneath the bed,
praying that I will
not be noticed,
or my story will end.
open door to Oz
the wizard shuts door in face
left holding broomstick
The door opened again
?For 26 days
26 days of hoping?
26 days of praying?
26 days of suffering
It was like 26 days in hell
?Around you, I could never be well?
Talking to you, I felt like I was in jail?
So now I quell you and never dwell?
On all the pain that made me fail
I don’t want to go through it again
?So I’ll finally close the door
?Hoping you won’t find a pit?
To make me fall back into it?
And make me suffer?
For another 26 days
THE SHADOW OF SPITE
You smile at me with eyes of
stone,
And leave me standing all alone.
You twist the truth to play your
game,
And try to ruin my good name.
I see the trap you want to set,
But I will break your heavy net.
You watch my life and wish for
tears,
To feed your own dark, hidden
fears.
You fake a smile but hide a
knife,
To bring hard times into my life.
You thrive on pain and love to
fight,
And block out my my happy light.
But I will stand and face your
test,
And give myself some peace
and rest.
Your cruel words will start to
fade,
And ruin all the plans you made.
I'll step away and shut the door,
So you can't hurt me anymore.
I woke inside a sphere
with no seasons...
a planet that forgot
how to turn.
Thoughts drift like pale spirits
with too many eyes,
gazing on the edges
of unfinished dreams.
I try to speak,
but my voice becomes vapor,
curling into symbols
that the air refuses to read.
Still, somewhere
a door made of thunder
waits to be opened
by a hand I have not grown yet.
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