they take me for granted, I feel ignored and small
Six live in this house, and no one thanks me at all
they use me every day, I am imperative to them
They slam my door and give me a headache; I’m Jim.
I keep their food cold, my freezer keeps them healthy too.
They have allowed me to get filthy, I am full of sticky goo.
When was the last time someone washed me? I really don’t know.
The little ones sometimes stand inside on my edge, hurting my toe.
I am tired of this treatment, would run away if I could to the moors.
I snicker a bit, thinking about how this would feel to these boors.
Twenty years I have been here, keeping their milk ready to drink.
I am not alone in these thoughts, ask the oven and the sink.
they all pushed me to the edge
and i fear this poet quickly adapted with it
everyone left after they entered, with sirens in the background
that told me enough and about the need to survive
everyone killed a version of me
yet i fight, heading back into my safe space
a circle that is very small
and only holds space for this poet
she is always bragging about her hick town
where everyone knows you and there is only one frown
I am from Texas where boasting is what we do
trying to outbrag this small- town girl is wearing me blue
she is always bragging about her hick town
where everyone knows you and there is only one frown
I am from Texas where boasting is what we do
trying to outbrag this small- town girl is wearing me blue
A dandelion
protruding sidewalk cracks
filthy air
most rotten of cities
A hummingbird
flitting face-to-elephants-face
tiny
delicate chirps
The acacia
belittled by oaks through storms
bending easily
leaves unsupervised
Take a deeper look
and the lines will appear
backwards to forwards
realization
Tall and stealthy
stranded in lonesome
resiliently surpassing rose gardens
the dandelion
Fierce and courageous
now eye-to-eye
self assured pecks intimidating its peer
the hummingbird
Stability and boldness
leading skies dance
roots so firm refusing to break
the acacia tree
a little sun through window
a whisper as the house
takes a breath and I’m
a moment older lost in reflection
about how the ones I loved
come back to me each time
I get out of bed remembering
how someone who worked
with me stood near me
as I cleaned up a spill
a small act but it was
a big thing at the time
I ponder a crack in the highway
that was patched and that little things
lead to something greater as they
always have and when I was in grade
school I walked across the Mississippi
when it a stream flowing from a lake
while my father stood by and watched
and now the river carries the weight
of our weary lives and this morning
in a moment of silence
conversations once lost come back to me
Minnie mini horse
no taller than a poodle
~ won't rock a saddle
AP: 2nd place 2025
I'm a small garden of the soul -
A place where we keep patience in tending roses...
thinking of each other,
trying to blossom like flowers.
Anh oi
I'm not a fickle wind
That blows whenever I want
or only when your heart desires...
#hongphuongphan
Fallen leaves knuckled
below eddies float again
swiftly shimmering.
Rain withers with gray
asphalt rising. Curbs cement
puddles running still.
Sunlit raindrops stop
hissing at guttural moans
tickling us for laughs.
SMALL GESTURES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
small gestures bloom bright,
a gentle hand, a kind word,
the world feels softer
I am grateful for understanding
wherever I’ve set sail….
the beauty of my life…
has always been
in the small details.
I heard a small sneeze from my closet
knew it was the gremlin who hides in there
he is usually more cautious, silent but deadly
another sneeze; he must be sick
I got out my Vicks and my Therma flu
grabbed him by the ears and dragged him out
he was horrified, thinking he had been a secret
think again buddy, I was a mother once
he was kicking, biting and scratching me
I barely felt it, due to his small size and tiny teeth
cut it out, I told him I am trying to save your life
he does not speak English, a whisper said
I looked up and saw yellow eyes
It was a vampire bat
Just another monster living in my closet
I did not even know about this one
I pushed the gremlin and Vicks back in and slammed the door
what about that Therma Flu asked the bat?
Crap. An intelligent vampire bat.
There really are monsters in my closet!
A small war
At the outskirt of Europe, a war
has broken out in countries where everyone drives Lada
mothers interviewed are proud of their sons
defending their land.
Should one son die, a big picture will appear in the living room
neighbors invited to coffee and cakes
his proud mother will tell what a good boy he was
and he died with honor.
I suppose in Nazi Germany, mothers said the same
until there were no sons left.
There will be peace, and everyone will claim victory
life will go on among the semi-literary people
who are doomed to live among high mountains and not learning
from past mistakes
Too small,
for two of us.
Wanting to run away,
I was reluctant to stay here.
Our pay checks did not reach far in those days,
I had a place to rest my head.
Needed more rent money,
please rain dollars.
Too small.
With those who
want to test the waters,
and yet have no wish
to get their feet wet,
but wait to have their cake
(and eat it too)
handed to them on a plate,
I will neither split hairs
and pick nits
nor reason or debate
(or tear their thoughts to bits)
so,
if they're going to 'fly',
(jump to a conclusion)
either do it or don't,
as Yoda said, 'There is no try,'
I may not agree,
but it's not up to me,
and can only advise,
should they desire
to self-defenestrate ASAP,
'Take the first window of opportunity.'
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