~ Sing this to the tune of 'Blowin' in the Wind' ~
How many breakdowns will it take
‘til you know
There’s way too much stress
in your life
How many times do you have to be told
Never make
a pretty woman
your wife
Yes, and how many bills will you have to pay
for seeking
professional
help
The answer, you fool
can't be learned in school
The answer is learned
when she steals the family jewels
We need to talk => We're doing great
This can't wait => This is not the time
Please do the dishes => Rest, your weary soul
The roof is leaking => Go back to bed
Let's leave at seven => It's half-past nine
Time to go, right now => Let's stay a little longer
Don't eat the last one => I just took a nibble
That shirt is awful => It's bold and beautiful
Act your age => Which one, yours or mine?
You've told that joke before => Yeah, but you missed the punchline
You should know better => Yet here we are
Don't push your luck => I dice with reality
Enough is enough => Just one more chance
Perhaps you're wrong => I'm mostly right, aren't I
We must be careful => We'll be alright
Are we there yet => All in good time
We're lost, aren't we => We're exploring alternatives
You missed the point => I found a better one
That's impossible => That's never stopped me
Don't make a scene => Then, why is everyone pretending?
The glass is half empty => Great, there's room for more
I'm leaving => Please, not now, surely
Are you listening => Just perfectly fine
I hear you loud and clear => I'm sorry, what was that?
Yes, exactly => It's selective my dear
we live within boundaries of our skin
even though mind cognises and heart feels
so with each life breath we anew begin
search for the source of bliss whose caress heals
mind has served its purpose and must now rest
that our heart radiating love and light
no longer by ego cravings impressed
invokes God’s grace ushering bliss delight
bliss thus enabled but wisdom denied
we wander with wonder looking at stars
for though divine light within has been spied
both free and yet bound we carry life’s scars
bliss energised silence ushers deep peace ~
doing nothing we await our release
There is nothing quite
as beautiful
as a woman who is
truly loved and appreciated
and valued and treasured
by the ones she loves
and appreciates and values.
You can tell who she is
by the sparkle in her eye
and the smile on her face
and the way her inner beauty
lights up a room.
Oh yes
There is nothing quite
as beautiful
as a woman who is
truly loved and appreciated
and valued and treasured
by the ones she loves
and appreciates and values.
you can tell who she is
by the workings of her heart.
So appreciate her
Treasure her
Acknowledge her value.
whether she be your mother
your grandmother
your wife
your girlfriend
your daughter.
Remember
she is a woman of worth
a heavenly gift to you
It’s October
My grass, trees and leaves are verdant
Only one lone bush knew what to do
she has turned a glorious shade of crimson
Yes, I say, taking a crown to put on her top notch.
To pronounce her “queen of autumn” this year.
When I close ranks, I note that she is not a bush.
She is a discarded child’s wagon, upright, in weeds.
I scan my yard looking for autumn colors.
Tangerines, oranges, golds. I would settle for brown.
There is a sea of green laughing at me.
Not only do I live in Kansas
I live in the Emerald City.
Despite a lovely day with friends,
To catch up with a meal
And a gift of potted daffodils
Which, to me, hold great appeal…
A small intrusion of A.I.
Disturbed me in a way
That’s impossible to process
And thus harder to convey.
A photograph of me today,
At lunch, a friend beside,
Was followed by an altered one,
Which A.I. did provide.
Our friend’s son, who’s a techno whiz,
Created it in jest
To make it look like 1990
And it passed the test.
My face and hair looked similar
To how I do appear,
But the clothing and the body
And the earrings made it clear
That it wasn’t me, but rather
Some strange version that was made
By a product I don’t understand
And makes me feel afraid.
The photo won’t go further
But it gave me just a taste
Of the power of the future
And how we can be replaced.
Soft words hide in my heart,
like whispers in the night.
Some feelings fall apart,
some shine like gentle light.
Tears may quietly fall,
dreams may rise above—
but the strongest feeling of all
is the quiet power of love.
young girls not quite women yet
standing in bathroom mirrors
like they owe someone an apology
for taking up space.
disappointing breakups—
boys with empty mouths
saying nothing, meaning less,
walking away like they were never there.
trying to stay relevant
in a world that chews youth
and spits it out early,
asking for personal appearances
before you even know who you are.
too thin,
too fat,
too short,
too tall—
the measuring tape wrapped tight
around a breathing soul.
the brutal truth
is too hard to bear:
they will never stop judging,
never stop pointing,
never stop selling you
the idea that you are unfinished.
but the jokes on them—
none of them matter.
not their noise,
not the mirrors,
not their perfect straight teeth,
not their mouths full of self disappointment.
you will be successful
the moment you stop asking permission
to exist.
follow the voice in your head—
the quiet one,
the stubborn one,
the one that keeps getting up
after everything knocks it down.
it will lead you back home,
and home
was never their approval
to begin with.
Why stay
When your co-worker
Is unhappy with your success.
Don't expect
The hands you bite
Continue feeding you.
The more you know
The more it is dangerous
Better not to know.
The stars are unhappy
They are overshadowed
By too much darkness.
I am quite insane—though softly so,
Like a mirror whispering to its own crack.
The morning pills are small, obedient moons,
I swallow their silence and wait to wake.
I miss the water—its merciful pull,
How it carried me down like a secret forgiven.
The tide had a voice, low as confession,
It told me: you were never meant for air.
You are in your computer simulation,
A pixel’s dream of flesh and ache,
And I am in mine—half code, half ghost,
The screen hums prayers I cannot break.
Madness loops, electric and divine,
Two data-streams tangled in grief’s design.
If you could touch me, I’d dissolve like rain—
I am quite insane, and by them contained.
In halls where voices rise and fall,
Let kindness be the thread through all,
Not every clash must end in fire—
True strength is found when hearts aspire
To listen more than they defend.
The elder's pause, the child’s gaze,
Each holds a truth, a sacred phrase.
Although paths diverge, we may still meet.
On common ground where minds are sweet
With patience and the will to bend.
No throne is built by scorn or pride,
But towers fall when rage’s tide.
It is loosed unchecked. The wiser art
Is forging peace from a fractured part,
And seeing oneself in a stranger's face
Respect is not a coin to trade,
Nor merely manners on parade.
It springs from knowing each has worth—
A soul, a name, a place on earth—
Deserving of a gentler space.
So let us sow what we would reap:
A voice that heals, a vow to keep.
Though storms may howl and tempers flare,
The path of grace is always there—
A road that rises when we dare.
Seduction as a means to engage
perhaps you welcome the playful naughty invitation
cautionary word ~ price may be high
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Shine the light
Day or night
Make it bright
You just might
Want to write
Black and white
It's alright
Bite the fight
Make it right
Inspired by image #1
"Did you know Orcas can live 70 - 100 years."
National Geographic
_______________________________
An Orca leaps the water glassed,
a sweet scene in the sunrise bliss;
O, experience unsurpassed,
an Orca leaps. .
He wished to give the sun a kiss,
leaving the boat viewers aghast;
experience to reminisce.
With sharp teeth- a killer whale classed,
then, he sinks into the abyss;
these beautiful creatures swim fast,
an Orca leaps . . .
Although she looked like a dainty delight
That gorgeous faerie queen was not quite right
Bad-talked people before they were out of sight
She was grouchy and mean, all day and night
Her green eyes were glowing, extremely bright
She had blonde hair that was curly and light
She appeared two weeks ago just past twilight
What comes from her mouth simply is not right
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