in Blog On Writing

help me live my dream

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What’s your dream job?

If you’re here reading this, you’re sort of looking at it.

My dream job is to write for a living (again). I got a taste of it for a few years when Newsbreak was just throwing money at me, but that income source dried up like an old African desert well and the tap has never really been turned on for me again.

So, I write.

I write poems every day, not because I think they’re going to make me money, but because I love writing poetry and I think the more I write, the better … Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

murder – 20/1000

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He slams the cash on the counter. “I need a bouquet with a hidden meaning.” He’s not the first to ask.

“What meaning, sir?”

“Murder.”

“Murder again!?” the shopkeeper exclaimed.

She puttered around the room and talked:

“Well, my heavens, sometimes I wish I didn’t keep promises, like when I promised to keep this shop open after my grandmother died. She passed the magic along to me, though. Don’t worry, dear. I’ll solve your problem.”

She presented him a bouquet of the deepest red roses, and he watched her spray them with something.

“Don’t sniff – only her.”

“Who?”

“Your … Read the rest

in Poems

dandelions

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It’s not right that you’ve done this to me, that you’ve strung me along for years, that you will continue to do this as long as I let you. Maybe I’m the dim-witted one here, for staying when maybe I should go, for settling for less than I want because I’m afraid I won’t find more. Yellow like a coward and the dandelions that fly away in the slightest breeze, like you and me. 

Today’s poetry prompt words were: it’s not right, dim-witted, and yellow.

Photo by Kate Cullen on Unsplash

in 1000 Stories

guilt – 19/1000

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I am Atlas with the world on my back.
I am the poor soul with the albatross on my neck.
I am pushing this rock up and up and up
this hill like Sisyphus with not
even a hope let alone a promise
of relief.

There’s only so much I
can hurt in my heart before
I decide to set down the weight
of the things holding me back,
and things you’re piling
on top of me to carry.

One day I’ll either lose
my strength or my will,
but either way, that is when
I will lose you, finally.… Read the rest

in Poems

go west

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We’re not out of the woods yet
but I feel like we’re getting closer
to the edge of reality, to the place
where we can be together without
any one else’s bad juju. 

And if we can’t just be
left alone, on our own, 
maybe we’ll steal a pickup truck
and maps from a gas station
(if they even still have maps)
and I’d get in and look 
at you and I would say:
Go west, babe. Go west.

Today’s poetry prompt words were: out of the woods, pickup, and maps. 

Image made by me with Gemini and I’ll explain

in 1000 Stories

I can explain – 18/1000

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“We need to talk.”

“What is it?”

“It’s the alien you’re hiding in the attic.”

“You want it gone?”

“No, I just think if you’re going to hide an alien it shouldn’t be in the attic. We have a basement, that’s more dungeon-y.”

“But I want her to feel welcome.”

“Oh, it’s a her now, is it?”

“It’s always been.”

“What are you doing with her up there?”

“Experiments…”

“Are you probing her, Carl? Are you playing doctor with the alien?”

“No, Maude, I’d never! Maude, no, don’t go up there!”

“I’m going!”

“No! Uh, I can explain the lingerie!”… Read the rest

in Poems

how special

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Make no mistake, 
I want this to work out with you,
I want you to be the one
sitting beside me, dueling recliners,
holding hands like you said
you wanted once, when things
weren’t exactly more simple, but
were at least less hard. 

But look at how many
milestones we’ve reached together,
how many birthdays and
anniversaries and 4th of July picnics,
all of the breweries and beers,
all of the camping, so, campfires,
and sleeping outside in our tent,
the home we literally built together,
even if it was just for one weekend.

Things might be murky and they’ve… Read the rest

in 1000 Stories

you can’t leave me – 17/1000

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Don’t leave me.
Please don’t leave me,
I’ve begged these words before,
not proud, but not shamed,
I need you here.

Please don’t leave me.
Please think of all the good times,
when we laughed and loved each other
so much we made people sick.

You can’t leave me.
I wouldn’t know how to go on
without you, I can’t even breathe
when you’re not here, I’m choked,
unable to speak or cry.

I won’t let you leave me.
I will beg and guilt and manipulate,
I will promise, I will swear, I will
do anything for you to stay.… Read the rest

in Poems

construction

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Remember being bright
and shiny and full of hope,
with a love just like new
even though it had been a year? 

Those are the days I miss,
that I paid close attention to
as they were flying by – did you?

We built a love on shaky beams
and have to trust the poor carpentry,
but I will trust it – as much as I trust you.

Today’s poetry prompt words were: just like new, flying, and carpentry.

Photo by Danny Lau on Unsplash