Out of order said the sign on the door,
now what do I do I have to go up
and climbing the stairs is just such a chore!
If I could grow wings like old auntie Ester
I wouldn’t stay here I would fly to the shore
of the enchanted island
and play on the sand with those I adore~
but for now the elevator still won’t go up,
and since haven’t grown wings
I will climb those five floors!
Opening ceremony, a grand display of nations~
honors Olympians, their bodies flagpoles for their country’s pride.
Ester Ledecká, a master of Super G, a flawless dance—
gravity her only rival, the snow a willing partner in the waltz.
Lightning Lindsey Vonn flies down the mountain’s spine~
then a snap; pole breaks; the agony of defeat lingers.
Nathan Chen’s blades glide, elegant lines on the ice~
his leaps artistic perfection.
Johannes Thingnes Bø steadies his rifle~
his bullets streaking through the Alpine pines.
Yuzuru Hanya hangs midair~
a weightless wonder dissolving into Olympic gold.
The gold medals are more than shine-a reverent silence~
the podium a legacy, a testament of Olympic history
gusty torrid waves
no songbird waves in the wind
no waves from sapped leaves
specious waves of mirages
folks in waves running to pools
pigment change in leaves
ester smell of full blown fruits
heading toward fall
Place: 3rd
It was during the early 80s when I struck gold in California.
I saw 'fool's gold' on the banks of The American River,
but my first citing of genuine California gold, the kind that
is forever treasured and never spent, was discovered on
the streets of San Francisco.
It took a while before I recognized it as gold. A closer look
and more frequent encounters were required before I saw
the gold because it was enameled with much dirt and Drin.
His name was Reuben, a harmless, homeless, and hungry man.
My next 'find' of pure gold was a 'real mother lode'
in the person of a beautiful lady named Estelle.
Estelle was the shield that God provided as
we sought shelter from one of life's storms.
Just thinking about her draws tears of love.
And then, there were the saintly trio.
Ron, Ester, and her sister Peggy. This
trio was my fuel in flight; my inspiration.
These five human 'pearls of great price'
were among the choicest, rarest,
and most precious of souls.
Real California gold.
Heart blushes, I smile, content.
Answered prayers merit praise,
Pleased with love that's heaven-sent,
Peace-filled soul delighted stays;
Yester cares gone, God's ways amaze!
He wanted to rest. She wanted to pester.
His eyes closed. She yelled “Lester!”
The garage door needs fixing, she began to fester.
He was getting tired of his wife, Old Ester.
Can I please have a tiny bit of peace?
She asked if he had yet signed the lease.
He was exhausted from an eight-hour day.
She wanted him to work; he wanted to play.
He grabbed the remote and clicked on the TV.
She began to bug him rather incessantly.
She wanted him to mow the lawn or clean his car.
She was no longer his girlfriend, a shining star.
She had become a chore, a drudge, a hounding hag.
He wanted to get away, in a car that could drag.
He left the house, pretending to go get a cigarette.
That was twenty-six years ago, and he is not back yet.
Just what is reality?
Is it what I think I see?
R arely sure of what I’m seeing
E verything perceived differently
A wareness of my surroundings
L earned acceptance of what is
I n thoughts we share the world
T ruth is of your individual belief
Y esterday may be all that’s real
There once was a Norse goddess named Skadi
A Winter Ruler in huntress’ body
An expert at skiing
Her enemies fleeing
Ester Ledecka she did embody
12/25, ***As Our Lord Approaches
(Written to pray blessings for my poet friends)
Our O Holy Lord does’t mind what day it is.
See the children skip-dance beside him. Their
Arms and smiles flying into the air in a rising
Melody the Holy Spirit has composed for their
Approach to gathered crowds on this any day
That he comes to stand among us with outstretched
Arms. Do look closer to see the young people in
Revival singing up praises to heaven, with cheering.
Then, sight how the seniors, after lives long on
Trials sway silently, so filled with ecstasy and all
Thanksgivings, it is their tears that sing for their
Exclaiming souls. As words and voices, too, are lost.
Not Christmas or Ester alone surges with our souls,
But these any days rise in Alleluia’s! Our Love, of God,
Like the mountains en masse: bows, melts,
Moved to burst from our cores launched into Grace!
********. **********. **********. *********
(C) sally Young Eslinger 12/25/20
All thanks to God!
E-very
S-plendid
T-opic's
E-xceptional
R-egards
J-ust
O-ffer
Y-early
D-edication
E-mploying
L-iterary
V-erse
A-bout
L-ovely
L-ine's
E-xpression
Topic: Birthday of Ester Joy R. Del Valle (November 10)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
E-njoy
S-weet
T-heme's
E-xcellent
R-apture
J-ust
O-btaining
Y-early
R-emembrance
A-s
M-essage
I-n
R-egards
E-mploys
Z-est
Topic: Birthday of Ester Joy Ramirez (November 10)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
E-ffulgent
S-plendid
T-winkle
E-ndorses
R-adiant
D-awn
O-nce
C-hill
T-urns
O-ff
L-etting
E-arly
R-ays
O-pen
Topic: Birthday of Ester Doctolero (December 10)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
My Favorite Junkyard was owned by Fred G. Sanford
The G stood for Good Times
He was full of surprise with humorous delight
As a kid I would visit his junkyard every night
If he wasn’t filling me with laughter, he was filling me with cheer
Oh, how I wish that Fred G was still here
He ran the junkyard with his son named Lamont
Going back and forth with a quirky response
They had the most junk that you could ever imagine
From the floor to the ceiling always ready to cash in
He had a sister-in-law that he loved to hate
Her name was Ester and she always took his bait
Fred had a good buddy and his name was Grady
When they linked up, you always know it was shady
Fred had great health but there was one drawback
Fred was always faking like he had a heart attack
Grabbing his chest with his hand in the air
Screaming, Oh! Elizabeth, I’m coming to join you there
Dear old Fred always kept me in laughter
He never sold a thing but he was such a great actor
Feeling small like a wee little sprite
I gaze in wonder at a man-made satellite
Drifting across the earth at such great height
While Mars is aglow with red again tonight
I sit and watch the shooting stars with delight
Their trails gracing the sky with ester and phosphite
And imagine others awake across the night
Seeing the same beauty that cannot but excite
Evening star twinkling straight above my campsite
Full moon radiates the goddess of silvery light
Orion's belt sits straight and bright
Stars immense expanse is a beautiful sight
If I wish upon the first glowing star of white
And I wish I may and I wish I might
Will my dream of a world healing from its plight
Reach each of us to become a shinning knight?
Can we learn new tricks of compassion like a neophyte?
Not to burrow our head in our life like a termite?
Whether from the country or as an urbanite
We can shine bright like a meteorite
E-xpect
S-un
T-o
E-mit
R-ays
J-ust
O-bliterating
Y-our
R-ain
A-s
M-orn
I-s
R-eally
E-ndorsing
Z-enith
Topic: Birthday of Ester Joy Ramirez (November 10)
Form: Vertical Monocrostic
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