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Florence Bondarenko Poem
Running across hot piles, the dunes of my feet
Across the white whirlpools of winding waves
Inside the dusty closet, your stripes of vibrancy lure the children
Never wanting to dull the daring sparkles, like July fireworks
Blessing your player with volleys of Olympians
Offering skills to those whose eyes lock onto you
When only the most infatuated ones unlock your full potential
Bending vertebrae and crushing expectations
Even the unathletic understand you are not just a mere toy
Aspirations were set by the youth after their experiences
Crushing nets of tangled white, you are the favorite toy of Zeus
Here is where we had our first tango
Blinding eyes and decorating skies
All on the hottest beach north of luxury Miami
Little children and parents alike yearn for your pop of color
Lovely sandbanks and crowded waters of salt are your motherland~
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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Florence Bondarenko Poem
The mountain was steep and covered with snow, like powdered sugar atop a donut. Even the very person who taught me to climb shuddered whenever I brought up the name. I knew she wanted the best for me, but curiosity washed over me like a tsunami. I'd never attempted to scale something so beautiful and yet so dangerous. Once I'd reached the highest peak, my mouth opened up. I felt a slight breeze curling across my shoulders; an angel comforting me from above. As I quickly descended down to ground level, a thought popped into my head. I'd like to do that again, my mind told me after consulting with my body.
Mountains glazed with light
Shimmering under my feet
Climax lifts me up
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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Florence Bondarenko Poem
The prison bars sit at my face
They say I’m a huge disgrace
I won’t last just one more day
Feels just like moths to a flame
They say that I’m the enemy
When all I want is to be free
Tears are flooding from my eyes
Where have you gone, my stunning light?
Wish I could last just one more day
I can’t suffer Sacco’s fate
You are my Vanzetti, babe
But I can’t handle all this hate
They scream “Burn her at the stake!”
But I can’t handle all this hate
I can’t suffer Sacco’s fate
Those angel wings, I watch them fade
As the judge tells me my fate
He sits down, he seems unfazed
Though these might be my final days
As my posters flood the town
The guards don’t make a single sound
Even when I wanna scream
They say not to make a scene
They say I have my evil ways
But I can’t handle all this hate
I can’t suffer Sacco’s fate
And his spirit floats down to me
In my nightmares, in my dreams
On his lips I hear a prayer
And a soft kiss on my hair
And even as this rope feels tight
I know I’ll meet him tonight
As my body starts to swing
Onto this hope I will cling
They scream “Just let her go!”
But what they just don’t know
Sacco will take care of me
When this Earth sets me free
Despite all of this hate
I met Sacco’s fate
Vanzetti’s got me too
They’ll carry me through
Heaven’s golden gates
Where I’ll meet my true fate
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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Florence Bondarenko Poem
I used to be draped with jewelry
Rubies and sapphires, emeralds and diamonds
Coins piled under my feet, yet I felt empty
Though I cradled the economy in my arms
You gifted me sorts of silver and gold
Society shoved them back, called them 'different'
Held their sword to my neck and had me sort
Bead by bead, pearl by pearl, string by string
In my heart, I felt a deep depression
Forming along the very center
How could the opposites of the same spectrum
Ever blend to form a vibrant color?
Money doesn't make a very excellent tissue
It never absorbed my tears
Or held me close with an iron grip
Like the gold to my silver always did
Divided our society by genetic code
"How much melanin?" became the hottest slang
But underneath our skin, we felt the very same
We all loved, felt, cried, and laughed
When our fingers brushed, they formed artwork
It was bold and mediocre, modern and classical
But the gallery threw it in their bonfire
Because our paints were different colors
Our strokes were identical, unlike the creation
But on this rough canvas we call civility
The darker the color, the worse the intention
Without a single look at the artist behind it
But after our hours spent blending our hearts
The very masterpiece arrived
Draped in soft blankets, skin of soft clouds
Our ultimate gift, the grand supreme prize
A little girl, heart half and half
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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Florence Bondarenko Poem
At first, I saw nothing but bright lights in flashing in my eyes. Where had he taken me? If only I'd listened to my gut, or those racing thoughts that filled my brain to its brim. I heard only ringing in my ears. But across my back, a marking, one I couldn't recognize, climbed all the way up my shoulder. And it moved. Not a flutter, and definitely not something my eyes tricked me into believing. They covered my arms like a blanket, then a voice broke the ominous silence surrounding me.
"Welcome to the afterlife, my dear."
Softer than angels,
I hear the trumpets singing,
Welcome to Heaven
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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Florence Bondarenko Poem
Rose petals crinkle between my fingers
Of the flowers the smallest man on Earth gifted
No person could seal the cracks in my heart's foundation
Well, until the day you glistened into my vision
Party back one August, seas of flesh enticed me
I did the waltz with a young man, springing with vitality
But the dark circles that guarded your eyes of hazel
Pulled me into your nation's tight borders
You were never afraid to welcome me
Arms swung open, the kingdom's gates
Wrapped with layers of deep crimson fabric
The grasp stole my breath quicker than anxiety did
You were convincing my father, quoting Socrates
Mouth flowing with a river of eloquence
Fingers brushed against my rose sequin dress
Wait, what's this warmness on my hand?
"The unexamined life is not worth living"
The words delivered cool like spearmint
Deep in my bosom, a feeling brewed
Heartbeats against my chest like stray bullets
Tato nodded his head, patting your head of dark curls
"Treat my daughter right, Stavros."
"Not my name. But I'll do it for her."
And with that, we hurried back into the room's center
Now, you're the gleaming rhinestones in my life
Beaming with wit and polished with a sugar-sweet kiss
I examine you under daylight's breath
Oh, my mirror, I can't believe you get to be mine
I'm applying for 'Best Narrative Poem', 'Best Love or Intimacy Poem', and 'Best New Poet' in the "April National Poetry Month Poetry Contest". I joined this site on January 18th, 2026.
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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Florence Bondarenko Poem
Growing from the womb
Hand clenching Mother's skin tight
Resting on her chest
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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Florence Bondarenko Poem
I wore all red to your white wedding
Holding your picture like my grandma's antiques
Like poison ivy in the forest, my bloom makes you shiver
Plucking soft feathers from my angel wings
The flowers she gifted you, they'll die one day
Wilting like a poor, dehydrated human
Your mother giggles when you mention me again
"Oh, she was sweet! Shame she had to go."
I didn't have to do anything, ain't it strange?
Opposite of what you said that cool Wednesday night
When I asked about the pink smudge against your collar
Like a scar from childhood that never faded
I clutched my jewelry, watching as you said vows
'Till death do us part, same words you uttered to me
She blushes redder than my lipstick and dress
And you share a feather-soft kiss
Like those times you caressed my rough skin
After hours of staring in the mirror
Like a toddler searching for their mother
And once it was over, I laughed
Vibrations escaped from behind my teeth like water
Your father-in-law sighed and shook his head
"How much is this dowry again?"
He whispered to his wife, watching like an eagle
As his daughter's mascara smudged like paint
I walked over to the room's corner, arms swinging
Dug my acrylics into their most prized possession like a rabid animal
Buttercream journeyed from my lips to nose
Grabbed the bottle beside it, pulled the cork like a fire alarm
Champagne bubbled down my chest
And once I was finished, my heels clicked against the ground
I ran off to my car like a wanted fugitive
And drove into the pinkish-orange sunset
The sky was its canvas
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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Florence Bondarenko Poem
Oh, an epitome of creativity, eccentric yet pure
Hair shaped like the bowls I snuck into my room
That way I could eat and listen to each new song
My life went on, yet his was burnt to ashes
Hadn't outgrow the younger me who needed an idol
My life will go on, I will grow to have more euphoric moments
Yet the remainder life is in hands of dear old Rio
Will I ignite the flames which hold the memories?
Or will the youthful version of me frown in the back of my head?
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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Florence Bondarenko Poem
The doctor's office smelled of saline
And the lingering worries of diagnosis
"You sure she isn't just a bit shy?"
"Nope, your daughter's got autism."
Words hit my dear mother like a racecar
Her eyes of cloudy blue filled with tears
Would her creation ever succeed?
Or shrivel down to the ankles of society?
They watched as wooden blocks slipped
From my glistening fingertips
Scribbles of red ink glided over papers
And frowns painted faces with gloom
As maturity dawned upon me
Plenty became enlightened
They watched as 'brainy bambina'
Sailed her way to the aisle of books
"She reads so far above her age!"
Teachers would shout with glee
Their eyes lit up like lavender candles
With a smile worth more than gold
If I could write neurodivergence a letter
I'd thank it for its contributions
Without its wit and knack for uniqueness
Poor old me would be just another societal slave
My time on Earth has been rocky and steep
Yet I found my male mirror image
We live like swans sharing a brook
Joined by our love to escape the box's clutch
My sovereignty scares the majority
They cry Munchausen, then flee
Don't they realize we share a podium
On the competition we call typical life?
It no longer bothers me
What others are too blinded to see.
Copyright © Florence Bondarenko | Year Posted 2026
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