flaw

Daybreak

lonely speck astride

sunstreaked pane, grows hooves then mane

daybreak clattering

written for Haiku Heights, prompt "flaw"

J'Accuse

Strauss-Kahn hyphenate

J'accuse!!! maid's flaws daily inked,

her name: a soiled sheet

written for Haiku Heights, "flaw"

new moon

Her steps grow faint away

New moon

Silent blooms, rest in night’s embrace.

pigeons in winter

Tiny paper cuts

ruffled peony, forest

blooming while we sleep.

When the sky is low

and undecided still

I lift this heart

with its thousand paper cuts,

place it on a weathered sill.

My heart

with its knuckled ridges

and secret ravines

I am feeling glad

about the places

where severed edges meet

and do not close--

With the moonlight pouring through them

my heart becomes

a lantern,

Your words

blow through my hair

nibble at my neck

like pigeons in winter.

This poem was inspired by prompts: One Single Impression "exhibition, Sunday Scribblings "surrender", Carry on Tuesday "After all, tomorrow is another day" and Haiku Heights, "heal".

It begins

It begins

with a quiver

of thought

so thin

the wind

blows through it

the wind

becomes a word

for “thank you”

and so it spreads

like welcome rain.

if you wait,

they will come:

broomsedge to goldenrod,

sweetgum to winged elm

an epidemic of tall trees,

supple, arriving

on the edge of ice.

I have taken lately to following the slightest sliver of impulse to contact a friend. I want to be promiscuous with these impulses. Risking decorum, defying temperament, I make the call. I have to believe these seeds are as opportunistic as any and will take hold in lava fields, on glacial tills, on craggy hillsides. Around the world, lands which have been laid bare by fires or humans follow a similar pattern of recovery. This pattern is referred to as "natural succession."

Written for OSI, prompt, "epidemic".

Reeds

Reeds rise
improbable,
vegetable and vein
where the clouds
have fallen
in them
they are
their own
separate island
a swimmer's pate
bobbing
on the chilly bones
of March

hollow reeds
the wind
whistles through them
a thin high song
rising


Written for OSI, "hollow"

pretty girls

Ooh girl, could you be any prettier
they corner her
in the corridor
between
5th and 6th periods
the pretty girls
in their skinny jeans

I mean, Could you be any prettier
they hiss through perfect teeth
those pretty words
form a fine spray
their tongues
do remarkable things
perform loop de loops
and curlicues
in fancy cursive line

Her normally competent hair
falls damp
across her brow
she hugs her pack
close
and the metal teeth
hold fast
their grooves
thank god
she slips out of her body
her face peeling
in filtered light
a wrapper
with blurry print


Written for OSI prompt, "sarcastic"

wings

wings, beating the dim
air to froth-- two hummingbirds
sipping at sunrise.

sometimes tickled

sometimes tickled

sometimes
tickled
from the inside
irresistibly, madly, delicately stroked

a shimmer
of tiny animals
traveling
always traveling
without eyes or teeth
they tunnel
between dreams and bone

and in this
turbid place
a bloom
of sea fans
periwinkle, waving
broken
making fine lace.

Thanks to The Odd Inkwell for her OSI prompt, vellicate--which tickled me to write again.

Snowflakes

snowflakes have nothing
to prove, they fall endlessly
improving the view

Thanks to Robert for this week's prompt, humility.

18 reasons why

It’s been a long time since I joined in wordzzle revelry. I truly miss writing, though that part of my life lies fallow. Anyway, this came to me as I was pondering the words for this week. No better way to kick off the new year than with some home grown silliness.! Wish 2011 brings joy, peace, friendship and the unfolding of your deepest desires. Happy New Year to all!

Words for this week’s challenge: celebrate, doctor, shipping, choice, stake, time flies when you're having fun, secrets, disaster, back down, clouds

And for the mini: research, insane, clarity, toy mouse, lottery


18 reasons to celebrate your inner toy mouse

1. saves on shipping costs
2. research is rarely performed on toy mice, so no mice will have been harmed
3. time flies when you’re having fun
4. 7 out of 10 doctors agree
5. your secrets are safe
6. when the clouds gather, you can play inside
7. you never have to restrain those insane impulses to pounce
8. you can always back down by walking away and pretending you weren’t interested
9. it’s cheaper than a lottery ticket
10. your choice of colors and fabrics
11. one side effect of catnip is clarity
12. no batteries or assembly required– a stake in preserving your sanity
13. an essential component to in any disaster preparedness kit
14. Oprah doesn’t have one
15. no overt dangers to internal wiring
16. recall of a compound word for basque pelote is not a prerequisite
17. time flies when you’re having fun
18. your inner toy mouse will not complain if your start repeating yourself