Growing, growing, grown...

 it was a grainy picture
cracked at the edges
that nudged my thoughts
of how you were

wasn't our palms warm then
clasped together
like we would never let go
cast in iron so we thought

the smiles we shared
the dreams we dared
to walked towards to
the foundations built

along the way we forgot
the softness of our hearts
enshrined in our vows
pushed far behind our ambitions

we vacated the room
where our hearts danced
the music faded away
and silence reigned

one day someone else entered
and danced the waltz
enticing you in your shroud
of loneliness to dance

you left to pursue the hopes
of the promises of rainbows
in a new land with renewed vows
just not with me

I whirled along with swans
with  an aching heart
left to do the finale
done without an encore

wandering in this room again
squared within my mind
I touched the ghosts
and listen to echoing laughter
of then

this old grainy photograph
a full luggage of memories
is surprisingly light
I walk out into a bright day.

tapped hands knowing no comfort
scars of care carved on palms
back breaking task scratching
the land for a living

the grains filled the granary
the tuber all pulled off the ground
the traders arrived at the port
and they travelled to barter

they went by the stars
travelled towards the setting sun
creating tracks in the rainforest
and clearings for rests

during the journey the calls of owls
the screeches of hornbills
flutters of unknown species
feature in tales, beginnings of folklore

travelling bards sang of bravery
in battle and war with these unknown
fascinating to the children's ear
to be told and retold through centuries

still the people lived off the land
barter and trade with foreign folks
who set their feet on the river banks
and later build their houses there.

A quick poem i had to come up with for school...
They were having a slam poetry thing


News of the war breaks loose like wildfire
A mother rest on her old wooden porch
Watching as her three sons scuffle in the yard
Reading letters given to her that autumn afternoon
                A drafting
Her fingers tremble at the word
"Just some lousy papers" she thinks

Calling those boys in sometime later
They sit and eat supper
                       Not knowing
It's their last as a family together
They notice that something is wrong
That same look in her eyes

She looks at those boys of hers
Jack, Richard, and William
Too young, not even twenty
Tears well in her eyes
As she is reminded of her husband
Who was lost at this same war
Not wanting the same for her babies

She has no choice
Taking the papers from her apron
She gently places them among the table

As dusk settles to dawn
The deuces arive to take them away
        With little rest
They are all in their finest
Mother straightens ther collars
And places sweet kisses on each boys cheek
        For the last time

Her heart in the pit of her stomach
        Waving good bye
         To those boys
That night she falls to her knees!
Pleading!! Blaming God!!
But knowing deep down it is'nt his fault

Weeks pass and she gets three letters
All from different places and platoons
Reading of the adventures they are having
        She writes back

News of the war worsens
     She worries
  Monthes and Monthes
   She hears nothing

         Then...
On a morning she will never forget
  She is awakened by four loud knocks
Opening the door, stands three men
    Two western union men
    One preacher
She fells to the old wooden porch
  A steady stream of soft tears
    Streaking down her face

        Three letters
 But not the ones she was expecting
             K.I.A
             K.I.A
             K.I.A
  As time transends, maturing into years
     There on the porch
     She sits and waits
Knowing they arent comming home
 But that she will soon
 Be comming home to them

Graduated, leaving home at seventeen
Residing at the beach, always was my dream
 
Decision to postpone a higher degree
Experience of east coast shores; here I can be free
 
Working odd jobs, earning feeble pay
Grateful for the sun on horizon every day
 
Bathing in the sunshine with eyes upon the sea
Knowing there is no place I would rather be
 
Sounds of crashing waves echo in my ears
Recounting fond memories from earlier years
 
Swimming through ocean water, sensing its embrace
A sentiment of peace in my costal place
 
Sun kissed skin, a balanced, thriving feel
Wondering if contentment, truly could be real
 
Then the news arrives
Grandmother is unwell
Cancer spreading quickly
On my knees I fell
 
Packing in a rush
Barely seeing through tears
Trying hard to take a breath
Processing my fears
 
Despite past disapproval
Resentments put aside
Mum will not be strong
She’ll need me at her side
 
I return to the home
Where once I said goodbye
I grieve and mourn two losses
As I watch her die
 
Now I clearly understand
What it is to be grown
To sacrifice for another
A peace that I had known

As a child I remember dancing in my socks on our hardwood floors
Spinning round and round
Happy-not a care in the world
Oh how I long to return to that exact moment in time
When my soul was free-untroubled
The world was mine-the entire universe within my grasp
When I could still hear the birds sing and bees hum-nature's orchestra
When fruits still tasted sweet
Before reality stung me-blowing my candle out
Before life became so hard and burdensome-like torture
 
*5 senses challenge
Prompts: Universe, orchestra, candels, fruits, hardwood

I watched the screen-eyes wide, full of anxiety-in the darkened theater
I dropped my pocorn as I desperately began to feel in the blackness for my mother's hand
Holding hands-mine sweaty and small; hers warm and comforting
Wait! What was happening up on the luminescent screen?
My heart seized in panic as I began to cry out and scream
I willed my legs to help me stand to run
Vommitting up all the goodies from the day-tasting the sickeningly sweet taste of cotton candy in my mouth and on my tongue
Blinded by tears into the parking lot I had run
My mind was reeling from the information given
Still stunned from the shock
I just couldn't believe Bambii's mommy was dead-that by a hunter's rifle she had been shot
 
Written for 5 senses poem prompts: theater, scream,popcorn, cotton candy, holding hands

 
Born and raised in a violent haze
A desperate battle for survival
His brothers and sisters were young but they all knew
their father saw them not as kin but as his rivals
Just a cub when he felt a snub
forced to roam alone
His skills still weak it looked so bleak
for this cub that’s all skin and bone

A boy no more as he stands assured
with his scars and mighty mane
He’s big and bold like Egyptian gold
not a fear in his head that’s remained
First he feeds then spreads his seed
To admire how his pride has grown
but others lurk and are hard at work
to sit upon his thrown

On this hill he stood to watch the flood
each time he roars at the storm
but his roar sounds old for such a land he holds
and his teeth are all but worn
It’s not so rare to see the plains this bare
when there’s trouble in the breeze
This old cat knows life comes and goes
as his enemy emerges from the trees

Broken and beaten forced to roam once more
This old boys days are numbered,
 death waits for him at every door
Scavenging to appease his hunger
he longs for one more feast
The vultures circle round
once a mighty lion
now a cold dead beast