He takes his afternoon nap
She keeps watch on his rhythmic breathing
~ Moment’s peace while cancer sleeps
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Disastrous
upended
trajectory
again and again
bucking efforts
a palpable sense
shifted
knowledge
even among the most defiant
believe the writing is on the wall.
It’s pure as fresh snow
and as pale as a ghost.
It’s the shade on the light spectrum
that I loathe the most.
A beluga whale, the milky moon
and the aftermath of bleach
and all my body’s hidden places
just out of the sun’s reach.
It lies on unlined paper
and rests on decaying bones.
On a virginal wedding dress
in the trash, it should be thrown.
A fluffy marshmallow,
billowy clouds and certain rice
just add them to the growing list
of the hue that fails to entice.
I can’t stress this sentiment enough
this tint is truly beastly.
On baby powder, salt, and mayo,
the color white is not for me.
*I wrote this poem on April 6, 2021, as part of a ’30 days of poetry’ challenge. This was day 6 and the prompt was: Write a poem inspired by a color. It’s pretty obvious what color I choose from reading my poem, but if you are still stumped after you finish, reread the last line. Thanks, and as always, leave me some love.
pie
delightful, delectable
appealing, appetizing, appeasing
sweetness, sugariness, acidity, acerbity
retching, regorging, regurgitating
brackish, brinish
fly
NB: This is purely my own reaction to eating flies. I understand it’s quite the delicacy to some. To each his own ... :)
14 January 2023
Delightful Diamante Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Caren Krutsinger
Italian memory of my heart
summer respite of my dreams
You make my regular days palatable
I take a deep breath and am back in seconds
hearing the squeal of the seagulls
in the cabana, wearing my cutest swimsuit
so glad I have the photos
which help me in my daily meditations
I see the orange geraniums, smelling their fragrance
which always steers my imagination back to the land of love
Do your eyes not see words in beautiful darkness?
Does your mind not weave woe into wondrous melody?
Does your mouth not taste the strength of song?
Do your ears not hear the glamour of grief?
Do your hands not touch tricking tears as you tremble?
Does your nose not smell the salted, settled eyes?
Pain is palpable, beauty indescribable.
PALPABLE
imagine
the silence of
a plane
crash
if you were
deaf
imagine how
intolerably
loud a
rape
PALPABLE
absorbing hearts
transcending death
absorbing fears
enduring pain
TANGIBLE
in the newness of
another day
unwoven from
slumber
we glisten clean
start anew
FLAGRANT
we busy ourselves
with menial
chores and cause
then stare at
books noveleyed
CONSPICUOUS
© Kim van Breda—
Intently watch, as its heart beats-
instinct seeps-
my heart perceives;
I act upon this alone-
no matter of what intellect believes.
Its destiny left up to me-
to care for it-
or set it free;
circulatory warmth takes over me.
But then a moment so magical-
simple beauty- not meant to be made practical.
Another animal, one so affable-
lengths of compassion I wish were graspable;
relief; a warmth I wish were palpable.
A bird takes upon this little one as its own,
spotting from a distance-
this baby not yet grown;
in much need of a new found home.
Sun beams-streaking west-
pressure lifted off my chest;
as I find this little one,
a bird feeder, I now create a nest-
mama bird watches over,
the little one may now lay its head to rest.
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