April

My neighbor has been calling me “thunder thighs,” as if I’m supposed to be ashamed of my curvy, athletic body. As if I’m expected to want to look sickly thin, like her. As if there is nothing more to life than doing one’s best to attract skin-deep desire from shallow men. Remembering what actually matters…

Pilgrimage (Stitching Prose)

Night after nightNorthward in the fading lightI clung to this ragdollWhose crooked eyesMy mother had drawnOver the white clothWith a piece of charcoal I walked and I walkedAfter my father was goneMy mind shifting into a primal gearThat was void of anything butI twisted the doll’s neckNight after nightForward motionDuring the dayAnd I walked untilI…

Conquered

We never dreadedJudgmental glares from afarThey want what we haveTogether we have conqueredThe world; now it’s me and you This week’s W3 We’ave Written Weekly Prompt, chosen by Angela Wilson, is to construct a golden shovel poem from a haiku written by someone else. https://skepticskaddish.com/2023/02/08/w3-prompt-41-weave-written-weekly/ I stumbled across this haiku, attributed simply to ‘Renee,’ on…

Looking Forward to Apathy

Can’t wait to feel apathetic To forget how sudden, overwhelming Panic attacks steal my breathFlashbacks rip away my peaceIt feels inescapable but I’veSurvived this before, and willHeal from these wounds, tooSomeday I’ll get over you Written for Sammi Scribbles Weekend Writing Prompt: Write a poem in exactly 40 words using the word “apathy” https://sammiscribbles.wordpress.com/2023/01/28/weekend-writing-prompt-296-apathy/

Humpty’s Side of the Story

Humpty had been depressed all FallThe Queen had stopped Returning his callsTheir summer romanceAnd her silky skinOccupied his Imagination Humpty just could not cope at allSo one day he Leapt off a wallAll the Queen’s secrets And all the Queen’s sinsWould fall with HumptyAnd die with him Written for The Procrastinators Weekly Writing Prompt: write…

Signal Lost

Woke up in the country Hours away from you Watched sunrise from patio Over ice-crusted car Wish I could stay There are never enough Miles between us You take the city Lights, girls, drugs, bars The novelty’s all yours I’ll keep my heart Written for Quadrille #168 by dVerse: https://dversepoets.com/2023/01/23/quadrille-168/ Posting this from my phone,…

2022 Poetry Compilation

Prompt for MTB: Finding it First by dVerse: Write a poem using the first line from each of the first poems you posted each month of last year. (Since I didn’t write any poems until June, I used a lot from that month.) Some people worry that my diagnosis denotes violence I’d like to think…

A Meadow In Heaven

LifeAs youKnew it isOver; Complete Take a moment, breatheI know it’s overwhelmingBut you’ll get used to this placeEveryone loves it Check out this viewThis is theMeadowOfNo fearWhere you willAlways feel safe Every single meal’sAn all-you-can-eat buffetNot possible to gain weightDon’t worry ’bout that No alcoholBut you won’t Need itCauseNothingWill botherYou anymore Loved ones will arriveEventually,…

Mountain Bluebird

BornOutdoorsNever cagedMountain bluebirdsOverhear children wishing they could fly From a low branch in a giant oak treeOne turns his headCautiouslyWatchingUs OnceThe kidsRun awayHe sings sweetlyReminding me how it feels to be free Written for W3 Prompt #34: Wea’ve Written Weekly by The Skeptic’s Kaddish, in response to Dream Seeds by D. Avery Form: Tetractys From…

Chain Verse Haiku

New diamond ringCarrying chest of bubblyBy the icy creek “Eek, don’t bump your head!”He admonishes Mother(Her sight isn’t great) Eating a picnicNick introduces us twoWomen who he loves Vested in marriageAged cheeses on the tableBlessed be this union Written for W3 Prompt #30: Wea’ve Written Weekly. Prompt: Write a chain verse poem using at least…