Final, strained breath drawn,
Hope's faint ember starts to glow,
One last push to rise.
©bfa050825
Streaks of pallid moonlight
wash over blood-stained
burnt umber leaf blight.
Glistening stainless steel remains
within wilting noir roses
and blistered blades of grass.
Sickening hands shake my repose,
heart racing, sure to collapse,
feeling faint.
A revolting nausea elevates,
trying to find restraint,
as madness deregulates.
A heart separated
from a lifeless corpse—
death awaits.
Flashbacks play like static reports,
too hard to get a clear picture.
Splashes of splattered red fill
spaces in between scriptures.
Screaming echoes spill,
dirty visions getting clearer,
as the sacrificial lamb
becomes the predator, evaporating fear.
Fighting for the blade, fingers clammy,
spinning out of control.
How could you bring me to this?
Steel cuts against palms, foretold—
splatters of crimson spray, don't resist,
covering fear-filled eyes.
One last-ditch effort:
grab the hilt and arise.
On this deadening night, collect.
You became Samhain’s sacrifice,
a feast for the demonic nether, sanctified.
Written: February 23, 2024
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a grove, a feud grew, no doubt,
Fruit factions were ready to shout.
Banana sought peace,
But his pleas soon would cease,
As the orange kept stirring the route.
With a temper as fiery as flame,
Orange sought to bear Banana shame.
He shouted and yelled,
While Banana rebelled,
Trying to douse the feud's flame.
But Orange was relentless and mean,
His anger turned downright obscene.
He challenged Banana,
With no sign of mana,
Creating a chaotic scene.
Banana, in a last-ditch effort, pled,
"Let's put this feud to rest," he said.
But Orange just jeered,
And sneered as he neared,
Determined to jam Banana with dread.
He was worth more dead than alive
Told himself they’d survive
He didn’t think it was sin
To violate one of the Top Ten
Thou shalt not kill included himself
It was in the dusty Bible there on the shelf
With an empty heart and lost soul
Life had become out of control
Last ditch effort to ease the pain
He put a bullet in his brain
Now his heart doesn’t beat
But his spirit feels the heat
Envision continuous raging fires
Feel the smoke burn your eyes
Smoldering sulphur in your nose
Flaming furnace without a hose
Before you pull the trigger or ring the bell
Imagine an eternity spent in HELL
When the light looks dim at the end on the tunnel
GOD is the one to get you out of trouble!!!
Please be my Valentine!
I'm getting desperate now
That you will never notice me
Somewhere, sometime, somehow
Even though I've tried
To get some of your attention
I'm nowhere on your radar
I never seem to get a mention
I'm feeling quite neglected
And I'm always overlooked
I wish you would spend time with me
Instead of that new book
So in a last ditch effort
I write you this poem in a card
Please be my Valentine!
Love from your overgrown yard
Brown marmorated stink bug
Two days of doing battle with this invading army.
Two days searching out to find where is their hidden lair.
Two days capturing dozens upon dozens of these onerous soldiers.
Two days the battles raged on behind and on the front of my curtains.
Two days trying to wash off the vile stink, their defensive, smelly weapon
Two days, my weapon, wads of toilet paper, picking them off, down the toilet
Day two, in an attempt, searching for mercy ?, from the killer, this brave warrior.
Day two, two dispirit soldiers, the last two I hope, came to me and landed on my left leg,
as if they were pleading, in a last ditch effort, for their lives, the sword struck, in the toilet.
B. J. “A ”2
December 7th, 2022
Placid waters
Boat, mildly rocking
Cheerful faces
Picture perfect snaps
Posted on social sites
Flattering comments
‘Wonderful family’
Flashback
Happy memories
Happy?
Nay!
Last ditch effort
At calming
Inside turmoil
Save marriage
Children’s sake
Alas!
Unbridgeable difference
Between
‘Perfect family outing’
And
‘Not so perfect family’
Heaped in the same organic embryo
Forget the last ditch effort
To choose beyond the pail
Trading thin-ice thoughts
For a politeness to perpetuate
The flimsy manner of excuse and apology
Your relationship to One
Like the poise of a rising Sun
That same energy to give or take
Stacking collapsibles or elbowing for some space
Rounded ovals of color fall loosely into the jar
shortly before the store opens
first rays of dawn creep over
the houses, buildings on this small street
the children stir from their cocoons and rise
put on their fall garb, wrap up tight
late September wind begins to blow
collars lift, boots are pulled on
nostrils flare, slightly red
traffic growls to life, busses hiss
then vacuum seal passengers on their way
grown ups with no time to play
kids make a last ditch effort to fake sick
then head out over the 10 blocks
a few stop by the store
look at the jar
pull out some coins
something sweet before school
to soothe the sting of challenges,
being so young.
Autumn creeps in slowly
Tenderly, seductively
Summer giggles and blushes
Tickled by crisp exhilarating breezes
The colors of fall mesmerize her
She needs to feel the fiery reds and golden hues.
She longs to don their passionate splendor
Autumn’s tender kisses entice her
Swept away with reckless abandon
The excitement overtakes her
Enraptured in effervescent glory
Autumn sinks in
His force penetrating
Deep into the heart of Summer
His grip is unshakable
Summer struggles to hold on
The waning sun warms weakly
Flowers bloom in last ditch effort
She feels herself slipping away
The vibrant luring colors fade
Withering into brown lifeless forms
The once lush green leaves of Summer
Flutter helplessly down to the cold hard ground
Autumn, triumphant, drags his defeated prey
Onto the alter of Winter.
Giving himself over as well
The henchman lies down his life
Winter’s deep frozen death reigns.
A great, barren arctic tomb (womb?)
Under which Summer waits to be reborn
With Spring’s first gentle kiss.
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