An unbidden memory rushes in
I quickly usher it away
That one came from 'way back when'
Sometimes you can't keep them at bay
I may recall it another day
CROSS IN THE ROADWAY
LYRICS BY ALICE MARAGLIA
WRITTEN 2019
I was stopped in traffic on a hot summer's day
praying for God to show me a better way.
As I looked up from my steering wheel
bells were ringing, red lights flashing,
for the Cross in the Roadway.
Two outstretched arms laid across those old train tracks
two cars crossed over and never came back.
They ignored the signs that came that day
from the Cross in the Roadway.
I heard a voice from heaven say
"I put that Cross in the Roadway to remind
you to slow down someday.
I was running out of time, more things to do,
but that old Cross in the Roadway kept me
before my time was due.
Oh when I look back on that day, only to see
how God spared my life from being struck on that
track. If it wasn't for the old Cross in the Roadway
When your life feels like it's lost it's meaning
and there is only one way out,
Remember, round every cornier that
Cross in the Roadway that keeps us on track.
In the casino hall, the reels all turn,
Lights keep flashing, the bright fires burn.
Coins keep ringing, neon signs glow,
The thrill builds higher with every throw.
Roulette spins fast, the bars are alive,
Cigarette smoke in the aisles will dive.
New slot machines shine bold and bright,
Luring with stories, tempting the night.
Players wait, their hands held tight,
The reels spin on in a fevered flight.
But times have changed, the world has grown—
The casino now fits in your home.
Where smoke once curled in the midnight air,
Now glowing screens take you there.
New Online Slots at UnionSlots call out to start,
With the same old rush and a beating heart.
From the shimmer of lights to pixels’ gleam,
From crowded floors to a quiet dream.
Each fresh release feels like Vegas fame,
Without the smoke, but with all the same game.
A weary traveler seeks to find
a place to lay his head
A distant light, the neon kind
Flashes in the red
He heads towards the light
There to find a place to sleep
It's a motel, he spends the night
Hoping dreams will take him deep
When morning comes he'll grab a bite
and hit the open road
But when morning came he's not in sight
A mystery to decode
He'd fallen victim to a femme fatale
Who had seduced him in the night
She was driving his car now, what a gal
Speeding down the road in the sunlight
But in the rearview mirror were flashing lights
The cops were on her tail
She pulls over, shows her pearly whites
But now she's going to jail!
Fiction
10-18-2024
Many thanks to Maria for turning these lyrics into a song
Ephemeral light of the firefly
floating in the dark sky
blinks and blinks, without being a star...
Nudity Flashing While Party Crashing
when nudity flashing
my thumb with hammer smashing
party was crashing
Lights flashing
amongst the darkness
Boats comming back home
or just sleeping
to jump out to another adventure.
The happy dock smiles
to everyone.
After the years,
it witnesses happiness
and sadness.
Men leaving for earning
their life
and never came back
or by the way,
people that come
for enjoying their life.
Many grew up with white hair
waiting for the beloved ones
to come back.
Others have gone
and they conquered
other docks far away.
Easy to stroll by the boats,
difficult to find out where to go.
Walking on the dock,
it's easy
to sail on our imagination.
Smelling fish
awakes our senses
not far from the dock
where ny boat is stuck
between
the dock and the ocean
to keep on sailing.
tail lights like red eyes
flashing by against the trees
on the mountainside
I came out of the darkness
with you...
I entered the light
with you...
We were light together...
Sun Moon Bright, Moon Sun Shine
now your light has gone to
create another pair of light
beyond my reach
out of my sight...
I didn't return to the shadows
but I lost the strength of the sun
now i'm just
a firefly
flashing... !
Fireflies flicker flashes,
flying freely
finding food, friends, family...
Fireflies float forward,
fearlessly flipping
frolicking field's foliage.
Fireflies furnish fiery flares,
fleeing fast...fond farewell!
Unfurling the oldest colorful photo book
Plays videos of my finest film, which I wanna rebook
Wanders my mind round those memories good
Wish to freeze those precious moments, if I could
Immaculate smiles, innocent talks
Star gazing night, beach long walk
Crazy friends, freaky endeavours
Oh! How cute moments! Flash forever!
As time flies, we grow and most of our memories fade
But some of them just resonate, make blessings cascade
Provoking deepest emotions, they accord esoteric sense of bliss
Which certainly provide strength to arise from the dark abyss
Sand in the Sandwiches
~
A Tea Named Green
~
Your Shiny Chemo Head
~
Some of my many titles
To encourage
To entice
To invite
~
Titles to call you
To draw you in
Like a bright red flashing neon light
~
With Just One Look she’s Norma Desmond
~
Ripe and Ready to Bathe in Gin
~
These titles intrigue
and encourage
For to delve inside and to read what’s within
A title should captivate and titillate your senses
For now you are eager and keen to begin
To enter my world and get lost in the moment
My title cajoles you ~ lures and excites you
Happy to greet you and welcome you in
Written 1st May 2021
Contest What’s in a title in 14 – 20 lines
Sponsor Line Gauthier
2nd PLACE
Contest ALL YOURS (May 19)
Sponsor Brian Strand
Information Overload
Lost in data,
Lost in tears,
Empty words, promises,
Presented with flowers,
The Truth and the lies,
Together, hand in hand,
Information Overload,
From our waking to our sleep,
Words thrown to take our soul,
Lies raised up,
To the highest Throne,
And yet we know,
Our lives depend on them,
As slowly our Feet,
Sink deeper into Snow,
Information Overload,
With Flashing screens,
The Joker with his charming
Smile,
Waiting for his crown,
In his palace of lies,
Hoping that we will be,
to busy to see,
That the King,
Really,
Has no
Clothes on.
John Roberts
his red lights flashing
high speed chase to give ticket
danger to speeder
flashing a smile
she passes in overdrive
kicking up dust
AP: Honorable Mention 2022
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