Never were you an ally
Walking the halls of home
Chaos erupting
Leaving babies all alone
We learned early to be busy
Keeping the energy flying
Shushing the evils
That blood was buying
So many secrets in disguise
Operating the huge machine
Presenting pretty pictures
Showing out golden seams
You are not welcome, my friend
In a home full of fear
You must always keep your distance
Though LOVE draws you near
There must always be noise
Dying thoughts lie in silence
No one wants to face the truth
Of what family secrets bought through violence
...move along little doggie...move along
Written by Trudy Schrader on 06-09-2026
A family member hurt me today
it left me knowing not what to say
To be honest, I am not sure what I did wrong
It feels like that is my constant song
I am tiptoeing around the relationship
and not sure what will be my next quip
Is it better to stay silent and brood
and hope that healing will come and change the mood?
I will continue to hope and pray
and perhaps for a while, I will stay away
I am not one to keep a sinking ship afloat,
nor am i one to captain a drowning crew.
Sacrificing self for an inevitable end is a thirst never quite quenched.
Surrounded by water, what is the point when it is filled with salt; sorrow and a disposition for the petty?
Do not be the vain captain of a sinking ship.
Narcissism and a need for control will strain relationships,
give birth to dubious loyalty,
the curse of blood is not the royalty you think it is.
blood and debt is not enough to keep the ship afloat.
Patch the holes present.
Build boards that last; not ones diminished and impaired by fear,
but ones repaired with words held dear,
then maybe the ship may reach its destination… once adversary is clear.
Every morning when I wake up,
I know I have a reason to continue my journey.
A child's smile is the greatest source of encouragement,
Making difficulties become light.
I'm proud to have my children,
Proud of their strong progress.
Even if the whole world turns its back,
I still hug them in my arms.
Something old, something new!
I rebirth beyond what my roots eschew.
I ascend from my descendant's group shadow,
to rise above and beyond what they bestow.
I cannot shed their genes and heritage.
While I respect my upbringing and parentage.
I rise above the limits of pedigree,
to shred the trammel bounds of mediocrity.
So here I stand both old and new.
Living a dream they never knew.
With the blockchain defining my past,
Eaten with my fate in a defiant repast.
My genes define my descendants' phenotype.
Alas I cannot change their archetype,
beyond the mutations in my DNA,
to give my progeny my ascent display.
Arise descendant now ascendant
Bask in joyous glee resplendent.
Edward is a forest of a man and a river parting into steel.
And he will never love me, until the wind blows blue
Or ocean tides have melted sand - into iron soot.
Special child triumphs midst physical zest
Expressing his love with warm gestures’ best
As his hugs and embrace
Reign over wheelchair race
Making him the winner in running test!
In pursuit to be champ in sports fest
Our special son is cheered to the fullest
While siblings with God's grace*
Drive him for success-pace
So, they all receive trophy, feeling blest!
*2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
May 14, 2024
4th place, "A New Funny or Bawdy Limerick Set" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Tania Kitchin; judged on 5/25/2024
Have time to your mom
Say something to tell her wise
She ought to treat nice.
Do you really care?
Sort out the black from white dress
So we live in peace.
They carried on discreetly
pretending not to care
then on the day of the wedding
none of the family were there
mum cried in the kitchen
the news was much to bear
dad had lost his temper
his choice words hung in the air
the household was in crisis
with lots of opinions to share
the summit in the sitting room
agreed it wasn't fair
"nothing good will come of this"
said grand-dad from his chair,
while grandma simply said it was,
"a hole in the wall affair".
From tiny seeds
you sprouted; Tender
green shoots, so new
and impressionable.
Shoots that I serenaded
and watered with love,
albeit only on occasion.
Then, you had bright petals
blooming from your cheeks.
With every smile and
dash of sunlight,
you stretched and you grew.
You’re not quite complete yet;
there’s much more growth
ahead of you.
Though I’m no longer
by your sides
to see you progress,
I know when every petal forms,
when another inch is
added to your height,
And when you reach
a new, important milestone
in your sunny lives.
From tiny seeds
you sprouted; now,
with every passing day
you bloom more, and
from the stable ground, I
look up and watch you grow.
For K.O.K and K.Y.K
A large group in tow
big families show
some strain.
But music we know
everywhere we go
free rein.
We set the tempo,
sung a capello
right brain.
No tension, no pain
enjoyment we gain
we sing
of nothing profane
for who can complain
arms swing.
Though the pitch may wane
volume we sustain
with zing.
Reunion’s the thing
big family fling
why so?
To meet new offspring
older cousins bring
cargo:
food for the feeding
songs we'll be needing
pronto.
March 23, 2023
Kim Rodrigues' Write Me a Virelai contest
My friend my friend
Supporting me anywhere
Acting like my mom
Caring me anytime
My friend my friend
Sharing your feelings
Solving the problem
You are always my family
[GAN YUKI - SERI JUBLI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL MALAYSIA]
Some day when I am living far, far away
I am looking down on this planet so grim,
Thinking how so few of us are here today
In my fantasy world all frivolity and whim,
Wondering what happened to all my kin
My! I should have kept better track of them.
Even those of my kith who were thin skin
Took offense at every minor family slight,
And secreted themselves away, t’was a sin.
I think of some who constantly stirred a fight
And, t’was said it’s common, like a family flu,
But thereby, settled over us all a nasty blight.
When mom and dad and their folks withdrew,
It was clear they were the cement, the glue.
A letter came from Auntie Mabel today--
Saying how she’s tired of working for low pay,
Seems her widowed sister has come to stay,
The kids make too much noise when they play
Keeps telling me she doesn’t have much to say,
Still having trouble with a molar in final decay.
Her nephew on her husband’s side turned gay
And her favorite rooster died right where he lay,
Wanted to know what I think she should weigh
And, lastly, wanted the latest on Aunt Lula Fay,
Frankly, not much in her letter seemed okay.
In a week or so, I will answer her letter--
Telling her she should retire to spare her back
For a home and money, her sister doesn’t lack.
I’ll remind her quarreling about the kids is smack,
There is a fine dentist in her town named Jack
As to her nephew, I said he finally got the knack,
Sorry, but the rooster would’ve made a great snack
As to Aunt Fay, now I know she’s not snorting crack,
And, if she starts to diet, don’t consult a quack.
written October 7, 2021
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