I've been experimenting with Poetry Soup's "Shape Poem Generator." This is my first attempt
Someone
left a blue teacup on the porch rail— silver around
the rim, a little chipped on one side like it’s lived
a life. The night leans over it, not gracefully, more
like a tired guest trying to pour stars without
spilling too many. A few miss the cup entirely,
skittering across the wood like bright
crumbs. The moon watches, not
offering advice, just hanging there with
its usual half-smile. By the time the cup
is full, the sky looks lighter— as if
giving away a handful of its
brightness wasn’t such a big deal. You
could lift the cup, if you wanted, and sip
whatever the night tastes like today.
Probably something quiet. Probably
something true.
The Price of a Mother
They warned me of sleepless nights,
tiny shoes and lullabies.
No one warned me hearts grow taller,
or that silence echoes louder.
Not death...
That grief is honest.
This is loving someone
who simply chooses
not to come home.
Another headache.
Another flu.
Another promise
that falls through.
How strange the sickest days
always seem
to arrive
when they involve you.
I gave you everything—
my youth,
my strength,
my dreams.
I filled your life
while emptying mine.
I taught you kindness,
grace,
humility.
Somewhere along the climb,
you forgot
the hands that lifted you.
Now I'm
"not your kind of people."
Funny...
I used to be
your whole world.
Motherhood is a bargain
only a mother would make—
giving away pieces of herself
to raise someone
who may never notice
what's missing.
Maybe one day
you'll understand.
Maybe one day
you'll hear my silence
the way I hear yours.
But by then...
"I'm sorry"
won't bring back
missed birthdays,
empty chairs,
or borrowed time.
Because the saddest truth
I've ever learned is this—
"I'm sorry"
doesn't rhyme
with anything.
2026 WHAT AWAITS US
BY ALICE MARAGLIA
I have to say, 2026 seems so near, yet far away
Far from the expectations of a presidency, that
promised so much.
I never did see the sense of giving away all that cash,
when my health insurance is now in the trash.
Pay down the deficit, we ask, while promising our SS won't be touched.
2026, What am I still doing here? At 69, I worked all my life.
Served my country, in debt up to my ass. I see no
reason to stay and see more of the same, Only if and when
I can lay down to sleep, will I embrace the year of 2026.
I said goodbye to family and friends, one after another passed
Sickness, or financial collapse took them too soon.
It makes you wonder, Jesus are you coming, or is that a lie too?
2026, Promises, promises, promises.
when the lights dim the doll dances
enjoying her attic cell
terrifying the humans
there are reluctant footsteps
attic light is turned on
doll is frozen in place
giving away nothing
i used to think
loving you too much
was romantic.
now i see—
it was me
giving away parts of myself
like clearance items,
hoping you’d find value
in something
i had already discounted.
you thought my devotion
was desperation.
you watched me fold
into smaller versions of myself
just to fit your world.
and when i broke,
you called me dramatic.
but i wasn’t asking for too much.
i was just asking you
to notice
that i gave everything
and asked
for almost nothing.
now,
i look at who i was with you—
and i forgive her.
she didn’t know
love isn’t supposed to
humiliate.
I handed over many times,
I thought love was a constant sacrifice,
Until I realized one day,
That it was always just me giving away,
That even though I knew that this was part of what love is,
To see now that it's only part, and you can't be the only one who gives,
Because giving is a blessing, and you must also allow the other person to do,
The blessing is that it teaches them to learn how to love too,
To give a book away
To someone t’me is rage,
It’s like giving away
My daughter in marriage.
If I visit that man
And find my book tattered,
It’d get my heart shattered.
Oh, what terrible dread
To find, she was wedded
Alas to a wrong man.
__________________
Reflections |05.11.2024|book, daughter
Poet’s note: When I found one of my books in a tattered condition and discarded in a corner, I felt terrible. This small piece was born off my deep reflections on it.
Too stubborn to confess
giving away small hints
In an desperate attempt
You will notice
Day after day
Over and over
Showcasing my subtle
Vulnerabilities.
"Why" is coming to haunt me again.
The giving away,
Exposing myself.
Sending my art to various shows.
Selling my books to children at fairs,
Hearing the comments of people that know.
Why do I expose myself so?
Brush to canvass,
Pen to paper.
Why does it feel like giving,
A part of me away.
Why let people in?
Not always seeing the person that I am.
Why do I do this?
Haunted by what happens when nothing is left.
Hi, we’re giving away a free art collection worth +$115 by answering 9 simple questions!:) - 1,000 spots available.
@adecvisions.com
Why go thru all the
Trouble to tell them the pain
To just wind up
Feeling the same,
Nothing changed
Is this how they help you
Thru the days
They only tell u what
They think is best
They don't know what
Goes thru my head.
They say meds will make
The voices go away .
But how do they know
If they don't hear
An take the meds
there giving away?
They have no clue
What there
putting us thru .
They'll never understand
The pain ...
Quote: Never Underestimate The Difference You Have Made
And The lives You Have Touched
You were made by the breath of your mother
and the beating hopes of your father's heart
You came onto this earth with a voice
you can use it or keep it silent its your choice
You were given freedom and your are free
unless you choose to jail your thoughts
or go into seclusion, you can move about freely
in a world that needs you, Alone, is not enough
You are God's child of love and he made you to His image
you are beautiful inside and out
accept the gift of individuality for he gave you, YOU
Make your days count by giving away a little bit of you,
each and every day...
When
Giving silently makes you hollow
Draining your feeling of possessions
Worrying you bit by bit of tomorrow
Of still thinking about your giving reasons
Then
You don’t wholly give, but lending for something in return
Someday, somewhere, somehow, someway
For true giving makes you fuller in many ways
Of never asking for anything, but merely giving away.
And
That's the hardest way
of disowning possessions.
Exotic lady,
Night and day,
The vineyards honey,
Is in her hair,
And in her kiss,
Under the caress,
Of a champagne sky,
Along the shore,
A lovely mermaid lady,
Is combing her hair,
With palm leaves,
And the wild wind,
In the evening and midnight,
She feels the serene waves sing,
In the gazebos,
The brides are changing,
dresses,
And giving away,
Their bouquets,
While the bakers,
Are baking,
Another cake,
Under the caress,
Of sweet champagne sky,
Exotic lady,
Night and day,
The vineyards honey,
Is in her sway,
In her kiss,
And in her hair,
Upon the verandas,
The candles are lit,
With the moonlight,
And love,
While the doves,
Are kissing the moon,
Up above,
Exotic lady,
Night and day,
The vineyards honey,
Is in her sway,
In her Beautys kiss,
And in her hair,
Exotic lady,
The vineyards honey
Reynaldo Casison
Today's virtual meeting is now called to order
Log on quick. POTUS' giving away the country and its borders...
I'd like to order free college tuition for my eight kids
O.K! Just put up five of our campaign yard signs and send in your bid...
As for me, I'll order a 90% discount on an electric car
Should be no problem. Stay right where you are...
As an LGBTQ+ teacher, I demand free luxury housing
Joe's demands that too, we've seen him grousing...
My great-great-grandpa was a slave. Give me $2.5m in reparations
Good news! Joe just approved $10 billion to fund BLM demonstrations...
And me, COOKIE MONSTER, want all-day cookie free
We just asked the President. He said, 'Let it be.' ...
If that's the last order, you can turn off your screens
And remember before bedtime, GOP'ers, to mumble
~ Long live the Queen! ~
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