sun tracks low in sky
sets in fiery bursts of reds
leaving earth aglow
trees are dressed in stained glass leaves
fall proudly makes its entrance
Still stands the night,
an immovable mountain.
A light snowfall of moonlight
on its exposed terrain.
An isolated star shimmers and shakes
its avalanche of brilliance,
outshining myriads of lesser snowflakes
that adorn the night’s somnolence.
In the lee of this mountain,
amongst taupe shadows deep,
three riders their clutches tauten
halting their steely steeds, while other men sleep.
Their chill- wizened faces
look up to the sky
whilst blind night embraces
the three Magi.
Through centuries they’ve travelled
like astronauts through space
though men still hadn’t unravelled
the first mystery that had taken place
on the outskirts of this beleaguered city.
They gaze at the star questioning:
was man ready for the immensity
of the Second Coming?
The frosty light of the star
then started to melt and wane.
It was too soon for the avatar,
the world was still profane.
They re- revved their machines
and set off into orbit exquisite.
Astronomers observing the dying sheen
said t’was a star of hope that surely would revisit.
The key turned in the lock—a familiar sound…
The door sighed… just as we once sighed
Over lines of old and bitter rhymes profound,
So, gift, oh gift this loneliness till dawn’s light,
Love, with verses left unwritten, unbound…
Steps on the stairs like notes—a rise, then fall…
Words, doomed to the page, as if to the block, lie still!
I became the executioner of lines, killing all…
This pain, this bitterness… countless lines to fulfill—
Life, with verses left unwritten, stands tall.
Life, with verses left unwritten, stands tall…
He stands beside his child
the way a tree stands beside its shadow~
not owning it,
not shaping it,
but offering a place to grow
in the shelter of his presence.
The boy leans in,
trust quiet as breath,
as if he already knows
that the world is easier to face
when a father’s steadiness
is close enough to touch.
There is no need for words.
Love moves in the small distances~
the space between two hands,
the tilt of a shoulder,
the soft gravity that pulls
one life toward another.
On Father's Day
what matters most
is not the weight of legacy
or the echo of a family name,
but the simple truth
that a child stands taller~
when a father stands near.
when time stands still, I'll know I've met my soulmate
He's not perfect
But he's so blameless
For whatever he does
He does with caution
Always responsible
For his actions
He's the type that stands by his words.
He's so fearless
But very humble
He never fumble
Neither did he belittled any
Nor did he take
Whatever is not his
He's so upright
For he's always standing right.
He's very dangerous
But so generous
Whatever you get from him
Depends on what you give
He's the aura for aura type
He always makes you smell your s.
He stands alone, gun in hand
Amongst his comrades in a God forsaken land
Bullets fly like pouring rain
As in the distance the bombing starts again
His water canteen shot full of holes
In his boots his feet feel like red hot coals
All that marching through the night
A sorry bunch in the moon so bright
The order comes from up the line
Charge straight and true
Now those in charge now know what to do
Our intrepid hero puts his life on the line again
In the muck and bullets, the blood, the pain
Onward they rush over hill and dale
No way have they wanted this charge to fail
Bullets fly, cannons roar
No peace amongst the blood and gore
Where will he be later, heaven or hell?
It’s onward's and upwards so who can tell
An evening of total relaxation.
Soft music and an old classic novel.
A glass of wine awaits.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 2nd place 2026, 3rd place 2026
Canada i see is standing on gaurd.' Good
On'ya mates, stand fast; hold hard '
Your farms and lives are at stake
Do not trust, figurehead politicans they
Are a bought out must.' Work at the
Grassroots level, and all.. Work for the better
Thats the safest call '
This Atmosphere — of Tempest —
Reveals the Souls that stay —
When others — like the withered Leaves —
Are frightened — blown away —
Conviction is a Lantern —
Held trembling — in the Gale —
Yet still — it keeps its Yellow —
Though every Light may fail —
The Quiet ones — will startle —
Their Courage — like a Drum —
Beating in the silent Streets —
Announcing — “We have come —”
And History — a stern Witness —
Will note — in careful Ink —
Who rose — against the Thunder —
And who — refused — to Think.
To you, who walks the path alone, In fields of gold where dreams are flown, Your heart glides over the coast with gentle light.
To you, whose eyes reflect the stars, Who heals the world with tender scars, Your voice, a song of hope and grace, Lifts the weary, leaves no trace.
To you, who face each new day, With courage that will never sway, Your strength, a shield against the blazing fire, Keeps the fragile spirit warm.
To you, who loves with all your soul, A river deep, a steady goal, Your love, a bridge across the void, Heals the wounds where pain once toyed.
To you, who dream of brighter skies, With visions clear in hopeful eyes, Your dreams, igniting change, Transforms the world in ways so strange.
To you, who stand when others fall, With open hearts and spirits tall, Your presence, pure and true, In every heart, there's space for you
~~~
The moon hangs in the night sky
Like a beacon for a child at bedtime
There's time to have bedtime stories read to you
There's time to recite prayers to You
She wanted to be that music box ballerina
If only daddy could have seen ya
Pirouetting and forgetting in moments of.....
Frozen prances and unfurling action
In the store front window, blink and continue
There's no time to stand still
When Fred Astaire wants to dance
No time to check makeup
When Cary Grant wants romance
In a Holden crush, or Cooper embrace
That is where Audrey Hepburn stands
My baby Fumi
She never fools me
She always gives me butterflies
In my tummy
She's so funny
But not cunning
She's just like my mummy
She always stands for, by and with me.
She always puts me
Under detention
Without pressure or tension
But just to gain my attention
Because I take her to different dimensions
Leading her to her destination
That's why she always follows my directions.
She said it's me or nothing
I'm her choice
Because I give her everything
I make her believe in true love again
Because I never deceive her
Steadily saying I can see clearly now
That all guys or men are not the same.
They say time heals all wounds,
But these wounds aren’t healing,
Time is supposed to ease the pain,
But pain is all I’m feeling.
Even though 3 months have passed,
I’m reminded of that Saturday,
When I said goodbye to you,
Time stood still that day.
We started out as strangers,
From strangers to best friends,
But how do we go back to being strangers?
I guess this is where our story ends.
Every time I see you,
I feel the pain that kills,
And I’m taken back to that day,
The day that time stood still.
I put you first,
Above my own needs,
But you drained me of my energy,
Just like a garden weed.
My hurt won’t heal,
And I’ve finally figured out how,
Because time does heal all wounds,
But time stands still now.
The Faded Garden Swing
If the flaked paint on the old swing
could speak, it would tell stories of
days long ago,
Of children's laughter and their bare,
muddy feet,
Of fireflies caught and imprisoned in
empty jam jars,
Like the fireflies, my memory flickers,
trying to recall who lived across the
street.
The faded swing’s rusty chains creaked
loudly under my weight, an old familiar
song,
And the scent in the air from the aged
honeysuckle, still going strong,
An old familiar perfume of yesteryear,
At this moment, suspended between
the then and now, time stands still.
Once the echoes of children’s giggles,
now a silent yard,
Images of scraped knees, loud cries
and a lemonade stall,
In the distance, the sound of an old
church bell rings,
Here, on this faded garden swing,
I sit in the past with the weight of
what was and of what can never be
again.
Now, shadows linger in silence,
Where children once soared with
dreams,
Oh, faded swing, a keeper of stories
of joy and pain,
You hold the essence where memories
remain,
At last, I am home, in the place where
time stands still.
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