~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Christmas tree was real, always~
pine needles littering the carpet
like fallen promises.
Mother's hands smelled of pine resin
and brandy-soaked fruitcake~
her laugh a ribbon unwinding
through the underheated rooms.
We believed in everything then~
the rustle of wrapping paper angels,
the miracle of snow settling on the porch
like an angel’s breath.
Through a haze of woodsmoke
the radio hummed of
Bing Crosby Christmas tunes
while our wool socks scratched
against Granny’s sofa,
its springs complaining
beneath our sugar-rushed weight.
No one told us time could be folded
like tissue paper around a gift~
that decades later,
we’d still taste peppermint sticks
and hear the distant choir
of a dozen jingle bells
still tied to the doorknob
of memory.
The doorbell rings less
As dust assembles
On once polished seats
The old coffee pot
Misses a few beats
As cups gather hopefully
Voices linger
Held by the silence
Seeking a response
The phone chimes
A face time visitor
Fulfilling a duty
Soon they will share
Unvalidated memories
Speak of love
Their words will be lost
In the silence
Never say never until the doorbell rings
Hold on real tight to what your heartbeat brings
Tip toe high and do those tantalising things
Feeling the deep rhythm of God moving your strings
Do not listen to when a Mockingbird sings
You be the tuneful upbeat bold bird that sings
Date: 24/04/23
I finally took a bath
this morning
After all day yesterday
Sunday
With the taste of you
still on my mouth,
The scent of you in all
the rooms
and on my couch.
Ache inside my belly.
I dialled; you said
"Hello," and I hung up,
yet commanding all day
Phone to ring
or doorbell, perhaps
the slow hiss of tires
On gravel
and watched my mind
Replay a scene
that must have been
destruction.
It's quiet in the dark of
country town.
I took a bath this morning.
i guess it depends on the resonance the amplification
when i sang in the bedroom my father shrieked
put a sock in it and i remember reaching for
the pants drawer to find a pair, but i once did
turn away carol singers, but only after they'd
finished their warbling did i thank them and
slam it in their faces, i once called my
mother's friend, feigning to be the fire
brigade, and was aghast when she answered
i told her we were probing into fire alarms
the selling of them, if she was interested
at the school gates, she enumerated the
anecdote to my mother, who glared down
at me as i felt my face go ruby, but no matter
because i didn't succeed in selling a fire alarm
or selling anything, but my mother looked
perturbed when i waved and addressed the
postman, as he actually wasn't our postman
but his route took him to an aligned location
and it stopped just at our street, but no matter
because it would be the socialist workers party
at our door next, asking for subs and my dad
hit the roof, but amends was made when i
returned home without my mother's knowledge
surprised her as she began to weep behind the glass
our parents, all paths lead back to them
i heard from
others the
other day
that they
did stop
by but
didn't
stay
be
cause of the sign
in my mind's win
dow though it
seemed open
was actually
closed
but it
might
have
read
abandon
all hope ye
who enter here
so hopefully no
more jehovah
witnesses or
door to door
salesmen
or nosy
neigh
bors
for
even my
welcome
mat expresses
the need not be
perceptive except
if you are dyslexic then
forgiven for it reads: Welcome
Matt. Everyone Else Go Away
and
i don't
know any
one named
Matt
M-orning dew wets the grass,
A-ugust seventh after the night;
E-very droplet freshens the meadow, to enhance the beautiful sight.
E-vergreen oak produces acorns,
D-elighting your eyes and heart;
N-ew flowers blossom into elegance,
A-side from fragrance they part.
L-et this day be a holiday,
A-ccording to the joy it brings;
G-reetings coming from within
A-rrive at you as the doorbell rings.
invigorating morning air
two-mile walk, local news, coffee, toast
enroute to work at daycare, checked on Dad
another rewarding day
then night, at home alone
She's forty-eight; her kids are grown.
Her husband left three years ago.
She'd asked, "What's wrong? Is this my fault?"
He'd kissed her cheek and told her "NO!"
As she lay resting--
Was it a dream? a vision?
smiling face, so real
Doorbell rang. Who could that be?
the smiling old flame she'd dreamed!
November 1, 2017, entered in Brian Strand's End October Standard Contest
THE DOORBELL RANG – Etheree
Ring!
Bother!
Ring again
An alien!
Oh, what a surprise!
He’s not what you’d expect
He’s not green with a small head
No he looks very much like us
“Hey! Your parrot pooped in my rocket ship!”
He says “Fly Me to the Moon,” sings Polly
Cruelty and indifference
gallops away with the winter's
chill
tight-lipped determination and
venomous fragrance
jostles excitedly to escape
affection and scorn rips me
apart
i want to feign sleep or death
i want to rise up
look my best
bring back the charm
of lost love-tickled days
shriveled by cold
looking harmless or arrogant
in intoxicating promises
he's always true to fickleness
i rise and fall
every time i see him
every time the doorbell rings
The chimes startled Steve
Dropping the dumbbells
He rushed to his door
The uniform disturbed him
So much more than the bells
Ever could
He is a man
He will not cry
He will not faint
The officer hands him the envelope with condolences
How will he tell her son?
John Dunne
Said it all
The bell tolls
For thee
Jesus ring my doorbell
save me from suicide
Save me from Hell
Enter my home
Let me feel your presence
Let it be known
Bless my family and my home
Please bless our children as
they grow
I'm not asking of you for fortune
or fame
I'm just asking you to forgive my sins
so I no longer feel guilt or shame
Please come in and have a seat
I want to ask of you for forgiveness and
bow at your feet
I have no worthy gifts for you to bare
so I am writing you this poem so that
my feelings for you I can share
I love you with all my heart soul and mind
I know I can count on you anytime I am in
a bind
I want to see your footprints on the ground
just a sign to show me your near that you
are around
God please ring my doorbell
For it's with you
For eternity I want to dwell
Thank you for the sacrifice that you
have made for me and everyone here
on earth
Thank you for our hearts and soul until
our bodies are turned to dirt
Thank you for our freedom of choice
or what is known as "free will"
I know my choice is with you
forever for eternity I want to dwell
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