Your smiles frozen over,
and you stand tall above the water
like an iceberg, so tall and elegant
in your presentation.
But surface-level trickery
can’t fool or satiate
my scuba diver
curiosity.
I see through your
poorly constructed ruse.
I prep my gear,
dive deep into your ocean,
and discover that underneath
the surface-level beauty lies dormant
a bummock of cuts and bruises.
The true nature of things,
the true nature of you.
A life packed full of solutionless problems,
scribbled out like math equations
written on a chalkboard
by a genius mathematician
who can’t ever prove his theories
or get anything to work.
Nobody understands him
because he can’t even understand
the things going on
in his own head.
Now,
enough of the comparisons.
Let’s get back to the subject.
You’re chronically ill.
Your condition is worsening.
You present yourself in a positive light
while, under the surface, you're
withering.
I worry for the day
when all of your problems
become too much
for you to bear,
and you slip away
like an avalanche
in the Arctic,
never to be
seen again.
she walks into the room
the same way she has for 40 years—
half-asleep mumbling about the price of eggs
but crap, she still makes my heart stop.
you’re the last busted payphone
that somehow still dials home.
you’re the only damn thing
that still makes sense
in a world full of unpaid bills and
broken air conditioners.
your heart’s a busted radiator
still kicking out heat when I need it most.
The cigarette burn on our old kitchen counter—
scarred in, not going anywhere.
hell, you’re a rusted-out truck that
still starts when the whole damn world’s frozen over.
we aren’t perfect but we lasted.
and that’s better than any damn valentine poem.
I said I ain't been on no bike
He said, 'Well, there it is.'
Premature baldness and popcorn muscles
I told him I got a B in History
He said, 'What a life you're gonna have.'
This is what I'm paying for
Man hugs and comic sans garage dweller
As I lay in bed on my side
With the book open next to my eyeball
Country music in one ear
Chewing three pieces of gum simultaneously
Offering extra strong mints to friends
I am inside a wooden nesting doll
The windscreen is frozen over
I am a dog looking out the driver's window
A constant expression of weariness
He wants to see me again in a month
He asks for a mint as I leave
I ask reception for a shovel to dig to
Disappointment Island
CHRISTMAS IN THE DESERT
The north is frozen over; it’s far too cold for me
The sun is hibernating and it’s much too dark to see
I’m glad I am at Orangewood; such a warm and festive mood
Stretching out our stories and enjoying Christmas food
We’re waiting out the winter, playing games and having fun
Slopping on the suntan oil, in the valley of the sun
The magic of the season, buried deep within our soul
Working on our attitude, to avoid that lump of coal
Its Christmas in the desert, my favorite time of year
Outdoors at our happy hour, enjoying a cup of cheer
We celebrate the season, with lights on every street
Up and down the laneways; a nightly walking treat
There’s a cactus with some lights, a Christmas one I guess
Careful you don’t get too close, you could end up in a mess
Flowers in hanging baskets, fruit on most every tree
Christmas in the desert, is such a pretty sight to see
We’ll gather at the main hall, right on Christmas day
So many grey haired seniors, all-trying to have their say
Who will talk the loudest, who can even hear
We’re celebrating Christmas, my favorite time of year
Why did you come to visit
why can`t you let me be
my hopes, dreams and aspirations
I now no longer see
My children lost their mother
My husband lost his spouse
dirty laundry, floors and dishes
you stole our tidy house
You came without a warning
just like a thief in the night
turning my life upside down
I had no chance to fight
Clouds, rain and thunder
everyday`s a storm
my thoughts have raged against me
I recognize no form
Everything has frozen over
I`m trapped beneath the ice
for someone to pull me out of here
I think??? it would be nice
Morning, noon and night
everythings a blur
it’s hard to form my words at times
you’ve left me with a slur
It’s hard to keep my head up
under the weight of defeat
I often measure the success of my day
by whether I brush my teeth
You come without a warning
you bring a nasty blow
nothing but destruction
for everything in tow
I know one day you will leave me
when there is nothing else to steal
the last thing that you want from me
is my ability to feel
One foot in front of the other
one breath in and out
I will again return to me
I pray without a doubt
Sequence of winter icicles
frozen over like popsicles
we are puffed like dropsical
weathering snow we walk into
a fortress named, "Fairies Igloo"
to look for the girl in blue
she, Deity of the forest glen
has silky hair of red cayenne
and chirrs like a lovely wren
its the season of snow and love
as peaceful as a mourning dove
she was sent, from up above .
Jan 22, 2020
Summer fading and seeing her fate! Leaves fluttering down,
a time of the year to love and hate! Leaves fluttering down.
The trees have now removed their bright gowns in emerald hues,
and I feel sadness at the park gate! Leaves fluttering down.
I will miss all the many rainbow flowers so lovely,
and the sweet birds who will soon migrate! Leaves fluttering down.
All too soon the park pond will be frozen over with ice,
but the good is that I can ice skate! Leaves fluttering down.
There is a beauty in the changing of each new season,
when nature has a plan to create! Leaves fluttering down.
And though I weep the passing of my beloved Summer,
I am bliss with leaves that fascinate! Leaves fluttering down
__________________________
August 29, 2020
Poetry/Ghazal/Leaves Fluttering Down
Copyright Protected, ID 20-1282-146-03
All Rights Reserved, 2020, Constance La France
Written for the contest, Ghazal
sponsor, Silent One
Second Place
SEASONS
August flowers bloom in summer;
Often dandelions flourish til’ September time;
Season’s blaze heat late summer winds;
Birds and butterflies sucking nectar;
As I lay upon the lawn, I gaze into the skies;
Looking at the clouds as the winds whispers by;
October rains and winds just around the bend;
Soon the rain will freeze winter here change snowing;
Season’s cool temperature cold early winter winds;
Earth dead the grasses, flowers, trees all brown or gone frozen over;
08/24/18
Written by James Edward Lee Sr.2018©
Another car passes
Water in the distance
Some frozen over for winter
Others still open icy water
A bridge
The water's edge
So close yet so far
Adrenaline races and my mind picks up the pace
Stop
Stop
Stop
My inner mind echos
I can't stop
I'm like dynamite lit from both ends
Help me
Stop me
It doesn't work
I dive off the deep end
In an instant
I'm gone.
BREATHING
The river’s still open but the lake’s frozen over :
It’s time to go south when it’s late in October.
Winter is coming, with wild geese on the wing ;
But, breathing under the ice, is spring.
Frozen
Stop the winter; bring back summer.
I was happy once.
Stop the heartbreak; paint a landscape.
Let me fall in love.
I need a kiss from my true love to warm my frozen heart.
Let it go! Let it go! That perfect girl is gone…
I am tired of all the snow; I stare into the stars.
On this cold night, I kiss goodbye, to the heat inside my heart.
The leaves are beginning to fall, summer is no more,
Love is left afar.
Staring from the ice tower balcony, all I see is snow.
Arendelle has frozen over; I am left hollow.
Where is my true love? Have I already met her?
Where is my true love? I never will forget her.
If only she could be my true love, I would be free at last,
But as I only see my future, no turning back,
I am frozen by my past.
Princes and Princesses belong together,
No matter what the weather.
Sun or rain, snowstorms or thunder;
You have cast a spell so perfectly, that I am forever under.
Rescue me from what I hold inside;
These memories of love, frozen in this heart of ice.
Anna made me laugh…
I want a love that lasts.
(C)2017 Aa Harvey. All Rights Reserved.
have been given
the cold shoulder
icy cold encounters
are now the new norm
within our realm of reality
the sea of change hath frozen over
there is black ice upon the broken
bridge of chance
tried to move across the iced over sea
suddenly the ice began to creak underneath
my bare feet then the ice finally broke
causing me to fall into the freezing water
tried to escape the icy waters
was able to finally pull myself
back up onto the icy surface
did not come out unscathed as
a result of the fall i experienced
emotional frostbit
Its a new day.
The clouds have parted.
I see a brand new way.
Hell has frozen over.
The demon has been slain.
Nothing will ever be the same.
I feel joy I haven't felt.
I've been released from the fray.
I've tossed the shield.
Burned the blood soaked uniform.
I finally feel as if I'll be okay.
No more the violence.
No more the sadness and the pain.
No more internal acid rain.
I've called my last death.
Ill never again;
walk in nightmares;
and shoulder the damage.
Ill never again;
hold myself to blame.
Tears of relief fall.
I've checked out of that horrific game.
-Angel Fatale-
Thru autumn’s breeze, trees begin to sleep
Jack Frost declares, “Let the cold winds blow”
Flowers will bow their heads, as if to weep
While they prepare for a white winter show.
As golden leaves lay in piles on the ground
Soft flakes of snow flutter in the crisp air
A peaceful dusting on all things ‘tis bound
As it collects on eyelashes and hair.
But the clouds then turn an ominous grey
You must go in, for a blizzard is due
And mountains of white will be on the way
With lakes frozen over, waiting for you.
Skating in circles, spray crystals of ice
While you play in your winter paradise.
8/29/16
For contest As Autumn's Breeze
Pumpkins discarded as late autumn cleaves
Burning cherry wood scent floats in the breeze
Landscape quite barren with sparsely clad trees
Magical whirlwinds of colorful leaves
Sharp sting of Jack Frost in the atmosphere
Short sun deprived days fade fast without care
Unlikable cold nights grooming despair
Crystals of frost display winter is here
Ponds frozen over, ice skating begins
Crisp morning air turns to blustery wind
Lashing flakes of harsh snow the heavens send
Dark, dreary clouds as a blizzard sets in
Cars stranded on roads show the aftermath
Schools closed due to weather in the forecast
Winter’s cold fury, a frigid north blast
Dreams of springtime in a steaming hot bath
August 28, 2016
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