Relief

The last stanza 
The last line 
The last letter 
The last day 

April 30, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 30 Prompt: write a minimalist poem.
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

Alphabet Anxiety

More than needed 
I can do this 

Or so it seems 
at the beginning 

But isn’t that always the way 

You set it aside 
you wait 
because you think you have enough 

But time doesn’t stop marching 
when you push it aside 
or forget about it 

And the letters won’t form words 
just because you’re now ready 
to put ass to seat 

If you starve the ink 
you can’t expect it 
to burn on command 

You’d better get ready 
to beg 

April 29, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 29
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

About Poetry

To crawl into another’s soul
and sail through stanzas there 
I cannot do 

To slip into another’s heart 
and caress the verses there 
I cannot do 

To meld into another’s mind 
and read the words there 
I cannot do 

My poetry 
about my poetry 
I can do 

My poetry 
can make me drunker than midori sours 
and black samuca chasers 
straight up 

My poetry 
is my strongest antidepressant 

My poetry 
makes me almost as happy as Robin Williams’ stand-up 
almost 

My poetry 
fills me up more than pizza 
(and is certainly healthier) 

My poetry 
is like Star Trek 
was there at my beginning 
will be there at my end 

April 28, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 28 Prompt: write a meta-poem, a poem about poetry.
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge
Midori Sour: Midori liquor and sour mix

The Prince Sees Cinderella For The First Time

I sat 
deep in the shadow 
on my way to being drunk 
watching the ballroom 
not people 
but hangers for clothes 
dress after garish dress 
and an enormous diamond on every breast 
no joy in the dance 
just the vanity 
just the grasping for position 
it could drive one to scream 
(it has already driven me to drink) 
until on the open balcony 
the guard stood back to reveal 
a white moon 
and before it 
her 

April 27, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 27 
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge
Pulled ten words blind from Magnetic Poetry and used them for inspiration; I was writing the third line when I got the idea for the poem - breast, diamond, dress, drive, drunk, enormous, moon, reveal, scream, shadow.

Cease Developing

Growing old 
fearing death 
growing old 
finding god 
growing old 
calling it wisdom 

April 26, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 26 Prompt: write a poem that uses repetition, write a pome that uses repetition.
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

Autumn For This Masshole

Getting colder 
covering the windows in slippery plastic 
covering myself in scratchy wool 

The birds in the park 
are all but gone 
and those that stay 
have changed their tune 

Pumpkin spice in freaking everything 

The leaves change and fall 
and the smell of woods 
is of colorful death 

How long until Halloween? 

April 25, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 25 Prompt: write a poem specific to a season, imagery that relates to all five senses, include a rhetorical question
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge
Masshole: a contemptuous term for a native or inhabitant of the state of Massachusetts.

Swimming Against The Tide

The average, adult, human body is made up of 60% water. 

Is that why so many of us seem to drown in ourselves? 

We become rusalki of the people we hoped we’d be 

We drown in debt 
we tread water at work, at school 
we drown in our emotions 
to reach our goals we must swim to shore 

We float on our lives 
until we really do become a rusalka 

Pulling against 60% of our nature 

April 24, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 24
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge
Rusalka, Rusalki - ghost, ghosts of those who drowned

House Cat

Sleeps 
yawns 
stretches 
sleeps 
eats 
sits like the sphinx 
occasionally deigning to look 
disinterested as a god-pharoah 
shits 
sleeps 
eats 
gets high 
spins around for twenty minutes 
stares at own foot for ten 
eats 
stretches 
yawns 
sleeps 

April 23, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 23 Prompt: write a poem about an animal.
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

What Vincent Sees

I see 
stars 
He paints 
night suns 
swirls 
mazes 
I see 
people and water 
He paints 
love and lovers 
reflections and depths 
I see an early, outdoor Starbucks 
He paints 
friendship 
breaking bread 
drinking wine 
the joys of life 
I cannot see 
what he sees 
until his brush rests 

April 22, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 22 Prompt: write a poem that engages with another art form.
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

How Deep

Dancing in a gym in a city hall 
passing the girl in mime make-up 
who can’t be saved 
and grabbing some stranger 
The dead girl tells us to hurry 
she knows she can’t go 
lost in hallways of a huge apartment building 
lost and lost and lost 
until outside 
in my yard 
the sharks coming in on the next wave 
that turns out to only be ankle deep 

April 21, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 21 Prompt: write a poem that incorporates wild, surreal images.
#ShutUpWrite Challenge

T Train Idiot

Do you thing god exists? 
Which one? 
The only one. 
There’s been about 3,000 worshipped so there isn’t an ‘only one’. 
You know who I’m talking about. 
No, I can guess, but that’s not the same as knowing. 
You think god is a joke? 
I think whether or not there is some kind of god or goddess or gods and goddesses is too important a question to presume what someone else thinks. 
Are you a Satanist? 
No. Are you? 
How dare you! 
Is that a ‘no’? 
You’re going to burn in hell for your blasphemy. 
Only the religious can commit blasphemy. 
(throws a Chick Tract in my lap as they get up to exit) You better take Jesus into your heart! 
Have a nice day! 

April 20, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 20 Prompt: write a poem that "talks".
#ShutUpWrite Challenge

Alphabet Soup

Alphabet poem 
bowl full of letters 
chaos swirls 
depth unknown 
emptiness to be seen 
filling with feeling 
gorging 
hot with hope 
I write 
joltingly 
klutzily 
lovingly 
making moments 
no to inner critic 
opening 
pouring 
quietly 
roughly 
stirring spices 
tasting topics 
universal 
voracious hunger 
words 
xeroxing my mind for 
you to eat 
zen full 

April 19, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 19 Prompt: write an abecedarian poem - a poem in which the word choices follows the order of the alphabet
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

Cappy's Workshop

Cut wood 
and old dirt 
Cobwebs 
and sharp light 
Shadows 
and outlines 
of fifty years 
refurbishing 
rebuilding 
technical 
toys 
He held a whole house together 
he held lives together 
The wood stove’s cold now 
the light bulbs burned out 
We should’ve mixed his ashes 
in the sand of the floor 
and the bottom of the stove 
so he could help support the next family 

April 18, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 18 Prompt: make concrete the wild abstraction of a feeling like grief
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge
Cappy was my grandfather (2 February 1917 - 28 April 2000)

Bottled

We’re meant to be eaten 
pluck off the vine 
pop in the mouth 

But that wasn’t good enough 
for you 

Peel us 
crush us 
mix us with toxins 
that mutate us 
you don’t care 
you can’t hear us scream 
locked away 
for years 
for centuries 

You create a dogma 
around us 
elite 
rich 

And what was good of us 
the natural joy 
is gone 
and replaced 
with drunken snobbery 
you clink you fine crystal 

When we should be 
outside 
sunset 
long day with friends 
popped in your mouth 

April 17, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 17 Prompt: a poem that presents a situation from an unusual point of view.
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

Lucy, In Space, Is A Diamond

It’s not a horn that will be heard
at the end
but a gong
And it won’t be
the sound of thunder
but the hooves of Centarus
Little moon
crystalized
she’ll be
her own best friend

April 16, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 16
#ShutUpWrite Challenge

Little Helpers

Small ones in the morning 
that have a rising sun 
packed into their little, missile forms 

Big ones in the evening 
that have a thousand head of tired sheep 
corralled into their thick, round forms 

In between 
stimulants of a liquid, legal kind 
to keep my lids from lowering 
and the tips of my fingers 
tap-tap-tappiting 
on the keyboard of my paycheck 

April 15, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 15
#ShutUpWrite3019 Challenge

Knite One The Toon

I read my big, red book 
wile I decide watt to where 
and wear two go 

It was a late knight 
I whent hear, their, and everywere 

To many dinks 
I didn’t no 
when too say wren 

Made it holmes 
in won peace 

Feel asleep 
redding my big, read book 

April 14, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 14 Prompt: make productive use of English's ridiculously complex spelling rules, mis-hearings, mis-readings.
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

Who Wants To Live Forever

We create vampires 
because the blood is the life 
We create witches 
because we hope spells work when surgeons don’t 
We create werewolves 
because we fear the beasts we can be 
We create a monster 
for the same reason 
we birth offspring 
we want to live forever 
even if it’s just a cell 
in someone else’s 
reanimated corpse 

April 13, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 13 Prompt: spooky, mysterious quality of being alive.
#ShutUpWrite Challenge

When I Came Back And When I Moved

Dull things 
they don’t feed, clothe, or shelter me 
they can’t cure me when I’m ill 
many find them boring 
yet they are 
Significant things 
they fill my mind 
wrap me in joy 
house me in knowledge and imagination 
and help me through sickness 
many find them cumbersome 
burdensome 
wastes of space 
Twice I’ve sold, donated, given away 
large portions of my books and movies 
I’ve thrown away companions 
because someone else didn’t like them 

April 12, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 12 Prompt: significant and dull objects
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

From

I am from a womb 
that should’ve been cemented shut 
I am from a woman 
who wanted obedience 
and worship 
I am from a family 
of silence 
I am from indoctrination 
what to believe 
not 
how to think 
I am from books and movies 
not places 
not people 
I am from a small bedroom 
to a rocking chair 

April 11, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 11 Prompt: origin poem
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

A Scorcher

The weight of the heat bearing down 
he holds your wrists back 
The burning in your eyes behind closed lids 
in the dark he tries to slip a dildo in your ass 
after you’ve told him no 
The sweat pooling on your body 
his smirk of a smile after he belittles you 
with the “honest truth” 
The oppressive humidity making you dizzy 
his brutal, quick speeches that make you 
question yourself 
Can’t take in enough fluid 
to balance what’s pouring out 
you faint 
he steps over you and leaves 

April 10, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 10 Prompt: inspiration from a regional weather phrase.
#ShutUpWrite Challenge

These Things

Little glass bottles 
all colors 
some never before 
seen in nature 
all textures 
smooth as a love’s midnight moan 
rough as a lover’s angry words 
empty of liquid 
filled with the sun 
as they line at attention 
near a window 
these small, delicate things 
hold my grandparents’ kitchen 
their siblings lined along the sink’s window sill 
rays of rainbowed sunlight 
spray across the sink and stove 
mixing with the scents of brewing coffee and frying peppers and onions 
tiny containers of time 

April 9, 2019

#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 9 Prompt: list of things
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

ATGNI (all the gear no idea)

I’m a notorious collector 
a new obsession 
a new collection 
and a new devotion 
to learn all I can 
Money spent 
education at the ready 
and the fire dies 
fizzles faster 
than it flamed 
the passion’s dead 
the interest’s a memory 
and one more collection to box up 
in the empty hope 
discipline wins a future 

April 8, 2019
#GloPoWriMo2019 #NaPoWriMo2019 Day 8 Prompt: use professional slang as n inspiration 
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

Gifts & Joy

I’d give myself 
Stamina 
by the body full 
Discipline 
by the mind full 
Balance 
by the cell full 

with these gifts I could rule myself 
and the world would surely follow 

I’d give someone 

an apartment in Paris 
where else should light live 

Paris Joyeux 

April 7, 2019

#NaPoWriMo2019 #GloPoWriMo2019 Day 7 Prompt
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

A Two Red Bull Day

One can for each 
barely open eye 
And now I can 
hear color 
the scream of yellow on a coworker 
the moan of red on your lover tonight 
the lullaby of black you’re trying to avoid 
taste music 
the hot sharps that keep you bouncing 
the bitter flats you switch stations on 
see heartbeats 
in very door held by a stranger 
in every car that cuts you off 
touch light 
the cold of office fluorescents 
the warmth of the sun at lunch break 
and smell 
the migraine I am forever trying to avoid 

April 6, 2019

#NaPoWriMo2019 #GloPoWriMo2019 Day 6
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge
Red Bull brand name used without permission, with no credit taken, with no profit made, and no offense intended.

Hail and farewell Mary

Hail Mary 
trapped in poverty, ignorance, and submissive traditions 
Full Of Grace 
and all that might have been 
The Lord Is With Thee 
whether you want him or not 
Blessed Art Thou Among Women 
it’s not rape if you’re anointed first 
And Blessed Is The Fruit Of Thy Womb 
because your worth 
is all about your uterus 
and what it does or does not do 
Jesus 
fucking christ 
Holy Mary 
because “molested Mary” 
is too long an etching for a stained glass window 
Mother Of God 
because “child victim of a sex crime” 
is almost a given in christ’s church 
Pray For Us Sinners 
all the Marys – get off your knees 
Now 
right now 
And At The Hour Of Our Death 
and all the hours before 
we stand and we say 
no 
Amen

April 5, 2019

#NaPoWriMo2019 #GloPoWriMo2019 Day 5 Prompt
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

Just Fly

So what if your wings are borrowed 
as long as your heart beats fiercely 
not just ticks 

Work through tragedies 
and aim for the delights that always follow 
so close sometimes 
almost hand in hand 

If you can’t be 
the unexpected beauty 
be the sparkle in the stone 

April 4, 2019

#NaPoWriMo2019 #GloPoWriMo2019 Day 4
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

A Pistachio Ice Cream Person

Fresh 
and a little nutty 

Subtle 
and mixes well with others 

Until heated 

Then the color fades 
drains 
and good taste 
gets lost in the boil 

A little 
artificial sweetener 
and color dye 
and all looks good 
and all tastes good 
and that’s all 
that matters 

April 3, 2019

#NaPoWriMo2019 #GloPoWriMo2019 Day 3
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

?

~ is happening? 
Is it always this loud? 
What is “world”? 

What is “god”? 
How many? 
I’m supposed to believe WHAT? 

So, this is “adult”? 
Everyone else does, so I should too? 
Am I insane and just don’t know it? 

Why does there have to be a “purpose”? 
Well, don’t we each make our own “meaning”? 
I am insane, aren’t I? 

How did I get so old so fast? 
Dead means dead, doesn’t it? 
What is happe~ 

April 2, 2019

#NaPoWriMo2019 #GloPoWriMo2019 Day 2 Prompt
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge

Noble

I endeavored to fight a mad man 
with others of hesitant hearts 
and one with coward’s tongue 

Neither fury nor fire 
nor blows nor rack 
could beat or burn 
names from my bleeding lips 

We each have a point 
where torture talks 
so I hung mine 
before my broken bones betrayed us 

April 1, 2019

Epicharis: freedwoman who was part of a failed revolt against Roman Emperor Nero; after days of torture she hung herself on her sedan chair while being carried to continued torture (her arms and legs were already broken, she used her girdle as a noose) - she ended her life before risking betraying her co-conspirators (and herself).

#NaPoWriMo2019 #GloPoWriMo2019 Day 1 Early Bird Prompt 
#ShutUpWrite2019 Challenge