My pale skin elbows perch on bridge imposing,
upon some ample urban gurgling river’s surge,
a heart palpitating in nostalgic rhythmic vein,
as I recall my auntie aglow in treasured haunt,
who focussed without minimal falter or delay,
at a remote mist enshrouded mystery peak,
lady who communed with transcendant summit,
with rippled laughter, bouncy sumptuous rapture,
she dreamt of sculpting velvet prose in praise but alas,
a woman’s early passing this sudden thwarted foil,
perhaps I might fulfill that sapphire cloud aspiration,
oh how I yearn profoundly for such charisma now,
her colourful asides, witty tinted “INK”-lings,
whose temperament exuded pink pastel
brushstrokes,
petrichor of poignancy that lingering whimsical, spark from my boundless auntie,
a red hue’d stimulus I inherited
When our children were children…
we’d sit together on the floor and watch Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood…
It was a wonderful way to be together
while learning how to be kind and decent…and good.
From our age to theirs in front of our TV it was easy connect
with someone who exuded kindness and treated everyone with respect.
It was our hope that our children would pick up on this thread…
and when they went out into the world…
would be a little more like Fred.
That they would practice peace and empathy…
would live their life with honor and dignity…
that they’d try to resolve their differences through communication….
not with hostility.
That they would understand although there is evil in this world…
meant to demean, demolish and destroy…
they could fight this evil with love and hope…
and try to fill the world with joy.
Imagine what our world would look like…
if we accepted one another in spite of our differences…
If all the people of the world were acknowledged…
welcomed…
and well-fed….
Imagine the kind of world we could create…
If we were all…
a little more like Fred.
Last summer I enjoyed a dream vacation,
when I was filled to the brim with satisfaction.
I made a trip to the lofty heights of the Sikkim Himalaya,
where I got what I searched for, the feeling of euphoria.
Iridescent sky descended with an aquamarine lid,
from frozen heights azure glaciers glided down to feed.
a pristine lake I saw encased within a quiet basin,
over its mirror-like waters, stillness wafted in air thin.
Nature painted a divine scene I saw on that vacation,
while by the lake I stood soaked in joy and exultation.
Crystalline waters exuded the calmness I sought,
my body in placid reflection my eyes caught.
On calm waters I perceived the essence of my entity,
feeling content, I found a place of tranquility.
The lake water was so very clear and so virgin,
looking at its depth was like plunging deep within.
Abating my mental pangs, venting agony from abyss,
my serene soul floated in the ecstasy of fluid bliss.
In enchanting loneliness the few days I spent,
I reckoned as the precious gift God had sent.
That was the trip I’m glad I took, for I found a new me,
etched indelibly in the memory, till the end I’ll see.
the creature was sitting quietly in the pumpkin patch
Her head was made of gunny sacks, we called her Match
Because all of her seams were lined up evenly.
She did not speak much, but she giggled with glee.
The giggling was excessive, it bothered Tony for a while.
She looks diabolical, look at her devilish smile.
I did not see it, but liked the way she exuded joy.
Match went home with me and became my favorite toy.
Frangelica looked forward to reading.
Her favourite storybooks exuded fantasy and magic.
She'd be transported into dreamland.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 3rd place 2026
can I bring my glam-ma on the field trip? asked little Lou
Sure, said the teacher, I’ll give you another slip, here are two.
She thought the child had trouble pronouncing an R.
But when she saw his glam-ma, she knew she was a star.
Some of us are nanas or grandmas or grandmothers
This woman was a fashion statement, not like the others
She exuded sensuality, she was a fashion statement and bold.
Nothing about her said aged, seasoned, withered or old.
There is normal heatlty living.' There is sub-standard and full of i'lls, then a new
Term
Was tacked up in 2020 by some snake oil
Selling shills' thinking now in hindsight.?
That gets my blood to chill.' New-normal.?
Was the term rolled out, by those drainstream
Media types, simpering and a'whimpering
All white teeth; slimline suits.and hype.'
Yet all around an (un-normal!) reigned
That no one it seemed could name.? In
Thinking now, the word they coined was
A mirror to the lies deciet and pain.' Much
Was false, and socially un-acceptable in
The main.' Yet eased into a closure? we saw small buisnesses shut, there was a
Waryness of your neighbour, while the
Governance exuded trust.' Yes i know it
Was un-normal, this had never been done
Before..Because it would cause devestation to free living, and independant buisness ' now thats for sure.'
QUEEN Afareen designed a perfume bottle
she herself exuded a scent of untainted ambergris, orris wafted as her heavenly cue
lime with jasmine spritz her exuberant brew
a black swan neck curved crystal female form
this bottle crafted in alexandrite, mirroring her
pharaoh shaped silhouette, gold sun rays embedded facade, stopper of opal warm
ruby inlays rested languidly at bottle base
slivers of pearl and aquamarine laced
replica of Aphrodite she encased in Myanmar teak, sculpted with elk ivory, reclining bottle
in Muga silk before a river lilting lily wattle
then gifted herself her own bottle, liquid tomb
nimble fingers twisting opal top for perfume
her unique irreplaceable exuding essence
imperceptibly drifting reverent presence
drinking the last undistilled drops from
edenic perfume bottle, QUEEN Afareen
extinguished herself gracefully into muscled
arms of Adonis, as bottle drifted downstream
towards turquoise ocean emptied, beamed
a sorrowed counterploy buried, it screamed
____________
tittering among the hollyhock blooms
two elfin men both named Mack
just seeing them chased away my glooms
I knew they always had my back
two elfin men both named Mack
my flowers sparkling fresh and pretty
I knew they always had my back
the joy they gave me kept me witty
my flowers sparkling fresh and pretty
my garden developed quite a lovely name
the joy they gave me kept me witty
visitors came, flowers their clear aim
my garden developed quite a lovely name
the roses, tulips, bleeding hearts and daffodils
visitors came, flowers their clear aim
the love they exuded gave me chills
the roses, tulips, bleeding hearts and daffodils
just seeing them chased away my glooms
the love they exuded gave me chills
tittering among the hollyhock blooms
Looking back at life lived through yesteryears,
when we dwelt in the now, engaged in play,
they were fun-filled days bereft of dark fears,
as rapture in our heart grew, day by day.
Fragrance of lilies and honeysuckle,
exuded from our aura a soft glow;
we were quick to forgive, prone to chuckle,
at the foibles of friends with us in tow.
When our ego surfaced, soul felt betrayed,
garden of our mind with thoughts polluted,
so we now regret why from love we strayed,
lost in lust, pulse of innocence muted.
God granted us free will, which we misused ~
Let’s be a child again with bliss suffused
Saying Goodbye to a Web of Deception**
When did it become so effortless for him to weave his lies? Was it after their first anniversary, when the glow of their love began to fade? He meticulously plotted his betrayals, crafted intricate plans, and willingly cheated, transforming himself into a mastermind of deceit. Meanwhile, she wore her mask of a devoted mother and loving wife, concealing her pain as she smiled for their children. In public, she exuded warmth, but behind the closed doors of their home, she was a prisoner of her sorrow, tears streaming down her face in the silence of the night.
Then, that fateful summer night arrived—a turning point. She reached her breaking point and declared, “No more, no more.” When did it become so easy for him to betray the trust they once shared? Now, the scorned wife finds herself on death row, an ironic smile gracing her lips, revealing a chilling absence of remorse.
When did it become so simple to bid farewell to the tangled web of lies that defined her life?
Dedicated to my dearest youngest sister,
Happy Birthday Lucy (May 31)
Age of novice years,
a glow of purity along
with a smile of innocence,
born with a tiny frame yet
exuded an ultimate
presence.
A light like no other,
tremendous capability,
but how so?
In a sky of darkness,
you are a tiny dot of
bright light surrounded
by ones of a larger
proportion that casts
a shadow over your
glow,
Yet you maintain
that simple overlooked
shine of yours as
it continues to grow.
Amongst the great
you become steadfast,
releasing
the wisdom gifted
to you.
A nightlight in
the shadows you
become, bringing
comfort,
a tiny dot,
the biggest heart,
The Youngest Light.
Lord knows the Devil
I encountered. Hidden
hypocrisy swayed naivety I
exuded. Smiling with grace but
crossing betrayal behind your
back while holding my hand with
the other. Delicate melodies of grace strumming
along inconspicuous quos while feeding
me with Eden’s fruit hung in God’s hand.
Mirages of desolated oases surrounded you,
A pity fool I became at your wits playing
me instead. Awakened clarity
in one bite-filled rage,
thank you bold face
snake. Now, I live
my life in
gratitude.
rebel dancer model with a dulcet voice
and penchant for theatrics
Brigitte took Paris by storm
the bombshell exuded more than beauty
she was a force to be reckoned with
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
He perforated her ideas with an axe
Alternative facts; alternative facts
She ignored his staunch idiocy
A union between them could never be
She was as open as he was closed and opposed
She exuded honesty, he usually looked stiff and posed
They will never get along, one of us said after another
Opposites sometimes do well, said our optimistic grandmother
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