Jazz and Poetry a little spot for notes & words to dance

NaPoWriMo #11: The thing you didn’t choose

Read the original prompt at ReadWritePoem.org.

Dear mountainside house,

You know I loved you.

I enjoyed many days sitting on your porch
gazing across the valley into the clouds.
Until the money ran dry,
we painted & polished you as best we could.
I walked your woods in wonder with my dog
marveling at each new bloom in Spring.
But, the last winter there nearly killed me.
The weight of the work for warmth
without someone to curl up with at night
wore me down to tears.
It was the summer storm that broke my back.
Road weary from travelling to arrive home
only to find I couldn't get home
because two red oak trees blocked the drive.
Again, I cried.
I wanted to stay,
but in the end had to choose to leave.
It was you or me, and both of us were dying.

I chose to live.

NaPoWriMo #10: celebrate

Read the original prompt at ReadWritePoem.org.

Starr's Day

The birthday cake
appeared on the counter
but vanished unceremoniously.

There was no time to stop
for candle lighting
between the jazz jump
& bumpity dj thump.
Colored lights blinking
over bunny hopping
hula-hooping
swirl of faces
blending of worlds.

Escape outside
for a breath of air
run into conversation there.

NaPoWriMo #9: your mission

Read the original prompt at ReadWritePoem.org.

Magus

Pass the ugly jug
on a winter's night
with it's bitter brew
choke down the burn
& strum another tune.

Light a torch
& call the dancers
from the fringe
with a gypsy jazz love song.

Around the campfire
watch flames meet
dance together
as marionettes
put on the show
to burn down the house.

The tale in this tome
we'll stow under the rug
so as not to startle
the talon wearing carrion
into a feeding frenzy.

NaPoWriMo #8: unusual love connections

Read the prompt at ReadWritePoem.org.

Wrestling with NaPoWriMo #8:
unusual love connections.

It's like that first ride
on Space Mountain
or Dad's racecar.
Armed with a uke.

(Sometimes 140 characters is enough. Is that a poetweet? Though there is a song a brewing from this prompt too. I might just have to sing it for you live first rather than casting it out into the internet.)

NaPoWriMo #7: love, funny side up

Read the prompt at ReadWritePoem.org.

First Date Tanka

"Hell will freeze over
When I date a musician,"
She warned the player.
Freezing snowflakes fluttered down
Sizzling to steam from their kiss.

NaPoWriMo #6: converse with images

Read the writing prompt at ReadWritePoem.org.

Picture the Dragon

Searching for an image
of inspiration
Refusing to settle
for rehashing what was seen
on the scene
made it's impact
now is gone.

Scanning photo collections
of ephemeral moments
that once lit a spark
but now are dark
wearing memory's weeds.

Even the most recent photo
seems quiet enough
until finally at the end of the day
a new picture is captured
of the third burning building.

Maybe it's just
random coincidence
that the photo album
placed a thumbnail of you
over this flaming scene.

The first was passed
on the way to the last picture of you
the second on the run from you
the third today outside this window
a reminder that
no matter how far you are
you set my world on fire.

Fire outside my hotel window in Merriville, IN 4/11/2010

NaPoWriMo #4: inside out

Read the prompt at ReadWritePoem.org.

Fearless Heart

pa da Da Dum
pa da Da Dum
Clip clop resounds
of hooves on the street
Echoing sound
of internal beat
To know the tremolo
Of a horsewoman's heart
Listen to the stride
Of her trusted steed's feet.

Mother has the heart of a Thoroughbred
Rarely at rest except when grazing
Mostly charging forth fearlessly
Unless restrained & pulling the lead
Dancing in a rhythmical flutter.
Perhaps that's what started the stutter...

You can't keep a good woman down
But hide a racing heart
In a corporate cubicle
Behind a glowing screen
30 some years
Where a love of speed
can find no release
Those hobbled hooves
will find fractured gate
Releasing the tension
In fibrillating bursts.
How do you untie the knots
Of too many years stalled
Before finally running free?

NaPoWriMo #3: scared yet?

Read the prompt at ReadWritePoem.org.

Childhood's Fear

When the world transforms
will you be where you were born?
Do you belong in the skin
that you're fitted within?

Dreams of witches
Transforming the family
Into a braying circus of donkeys
Shut out from the noisy chorus
Of conversation
Walking out into the world alone

Chased back into the house
By a bear
Not a tennis shoe wearing one
Of children's song
But a tell tale sign
That something's gone wrong

Waking with a scream
From these dreams
That muffle the adult arguments
From the other room
Sentinel heralds that this home
Is no longer safe
Rather a fractured fairy tale
That will not end happily ever
Unless the seeds are scattered
To grow wild across the land

Outsiders censure
Judge how the garden grows
Insisting on white picket fences
Not understanding
Some plants will tangle
Choking each other to death
Unless separated

Alone in the wilderness
This tree will root
Branch out and blossom
Providing shelter & fruit
For the wander lost
Approaching without an ax
Of condemnation

NaPoWriMo #2: the ol’ acronym switcheroo

Here's the link the the ReadWritePoem.org prompt.

Rhythmic Wave Process

Undulating time
in sonic waves
to the motion
of the ocean
the waves crest
watery through eyes
in rivers over blushing plains
leaving salt traces
distilling the water
before quenching thirst
by returning
with rhythmic contractions
to the well of the spirit