Friday, April 29, 2011

Ode to Cheerios (Day 29 - an Ode)

Ode to Cheerios

Oh Cheerios! My bowl of Cheerios!
You're a crispy taste delight!
You make my mouth so happy,
Each time I take a bite.

Oh Cheerios! My bowl of Cheerios!
You're so healthy and they say
You're beneficial to my heart,
So I'll eat you every day!

Caren E. Salas


photo:  cheerios.ca

The World Without... (Day 28 - The world without _____)

The World Without...

One more bad attitude
One more harsh word
Too much lost patience
Emotions not heard.

We could live without it
Take a breath, count to ten
Forgive and forget
Try and smile once again.

One more good outlook
One more kind touch
A little more patience
Might just mean so much.


Caren E. Salas

Thursday, April 28, 2011

In the Center of the Universe (Day 27 "In the _____of the _____")



In the Center of the Universe

In the center of the universe
The stars have all aligned.
The galaxies have all agreed
To sparkle in my mind.

The meteors and comets
Are showering ice and stone,
And exploding supernovas
Send me to the "Twilight Zone".

But amidst this space I realize
Something I already knew,
That the center of the universe
Is after all, not you.

Caren E. Salas


(We all know someone don't we?)

photo:  jpl.nasa.gov

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

My Turn (Day 26 a poem about following/leading)

My Turn

I've spent my life giving in,
Following, the last in line.
My needs yielding to others;
My desires being ignored.
So when will it be my turn?
It's time that I take the lead.


Caren. E. Salas

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Moon Fall (Day 25 - a "falling" poem)

                                                        

                                                      Moon Fall

      The moonlight drips like liquid silver
           Settling first on the dark ocean's surface
                      And then exploding into sparks of light
                              That float down to the bottom of the sea
                                                            And become...sand dollars.

       Caren E. Salas



Monday, April 25, 2011

I Wonder (Day 24 - a prayer poem)

I Wonder

Are You still out there?
I wonder...
Where has my faith gone?

Caren E. Salas

Love Me (Day 23 - a "stop doing what you're doing" poem

Love Me


Stop talking.
Hold me in your arms
And listen
To my heart.
Stop trying to fix what's wrong
And just love me more.



Caren E. Salas

Perfect Day (Day 22 - a "only one of its kind" poem)

Perfect Day

A perfect August day
Everything went wrong
The limousine broke down
I panicked at the song.

The flowers weren't quite right
Your pants had to be hemmed
The time was running late
Would everyone attend?

But when the music started
I saw your face and knew
That what made this day perfect
Was that I was marrying you.


Caren E. Salas

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Zak (Day 21 - a "second thoughts" poem)

Zak

Locked up tight
In a haunted house
Living ghost
Adventures
Filming shadows, recording
Voices in the dark.
Picking fights
With Satan himself,
Shows no fear
I wonder
If he has second thoughts now
As he waits for dawn.


Caren E. Salas
                                                                                                                                                       
Inspired by Zak Bagans and the crew of Ghost Adventures.
(Call me crazy but I love that show.)

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

I'm Still Here! (Day 20 - "Message in a Bottle" Poem)

I'm Still Here!

Dear Family,
Have you missed me? I'm still here, in my room.
True, I'm buried by blankets, covered in
facial tissue, and surrounded by cold
Medications. Just listen for the sounds
Of sniffles and coughing. Send the dog in
To find me, but don't worry, I'm still here.
By the way, you're on your own for dinner.
You wouldn't want me to spread my cooties,
Of course not. And make sure you clean your rooms.
I may have to take tomorrow off too.


Caren E. Salas

Tin Man (Day 19 - Love or Anti-love)



Tin Man


Cold, hard, metal shell
Hollow, heartless, dreamless man
Living in the fear
Of losing at love again
He would rather feel nothing.


Caren E. Salas

Like Waking from a Dream (Day 18 Like_____)




Like Waking from a Dream


There are moments in our lives...

Moments, when all those offers too good to be true,
Become transparent;

Moments, when the prize you have grasped in your hands
Seems to evaporate;

Moments, when everything you've believed in all your life
Starts to fade away;

Moments when you find yourself lingering between real and surreal,
But you can't tell the difference;

Moments that feel like you're waking from a wonderful dream, 
And you can't go back to sleep.


Caren E. Salas





Progress (Day 17 a "Big Picture" poem)



Progress

Will books someday be obsolete; relics
From the past just like the Ford Model T?
Will kids stop learning to speak to others,
And electronic communication
Instead, replace human conversation?
Will travel become a thing of the past,
And virtual vacations, the new norm?
Will the technology meant to connect
Us all, be the tool that destroys contact
Leaving us desensitized and hollow
Shells? This may be the "progress" that's coming.

Caren E. Salas

Monday, April 18, 2011

You and I (Day 16 - a "moment in time" poem)



You and I


Morning fog
The cry of seagulls
Crashing waves
You and I
Walk down the beach together
And talk of nothing.



Caren E. Salas

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Me - In a Nutshell (Day 15 - a profile poem)

The prompt for the day, via Robert Lee Brewer's website, was to write a profile of yourself or someone else. I chose myself since, well, I'm around me everyday. I chose the title because it only made sense: I'm a nut.





Me - In a Nutshell


Completely mental, impossibly hormonal,
Partially Irish, chemically blondish,
Beach bumming body boarder,
Bike rider, book hoarder,
Family loving, dog walking,
Turtle hugging, crazy woman.

Taxi driver, housekeeper,
Homework teacher, coffee drinker,
Loves crepes, and creme brulee,
Hates peas and medications,
Writer, poet, dreamer, artist.
Loving, caring, passionate heart.


Caren E. Salas

Friday, April 15, 2011

You're Our Child (Day 14 - a "ain't none of your business" poem)

When I first read this prompt my inclination was to go with something silly, like: "What's in the bag? Nachos. Nachos? Yeah, nacho business!"  Then when I really thought about it, I wanted to make it more personal. I mean, hey, I have teenagers, need I say more?



You're Our Child

Where were you? Where did you go?
Who were those friends you were with?
What did you spend time doing?
Why are you avoiding us?
Don't say it's not our business.
You're our child, and we love you.


Caren E. Salas

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Say Good-Bye (Day 13 - poem about a past relationship)

Say Good-Bye

I think I heard you left a note.
I never read the words you wrote.
I didn't need the reasons why,
But you didn't even say good-bye.
Maybe had you looked at me,
You might have never broken free.
Maybe had you seen me cry,
You might have known you shouldn't die.
Or maybe the darkness was too much
To overcome with just a touch.
What's left for me to do, but try
To find a way, to say good-bye?

Caren E. Salas


Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Without You (Day 12 - a form poem, or not)

Without You

I've
Tried
But can't
Imagine
My life without you.
You're my heart and inspiration.

 Caren E. Salas


(fibonacci)

One More (Day 11 - a "maybe" poem)

One more, just maybe
One more leap of faith and trust
Then no more chances.


Caren E. Salas


 

Monday, April 11, 2011

Absolutes (Day 10 - a never/never again poem)

Absolutes

Never is a state of mind
In a world of absolutes
But I don't believe in black and white
Without the shades and hues.

Caren E. Salas

7:53 PM (Day 9 - a time of day poem, post #2)



7:53 PM

The sunset breeze subsides
And a melancholy fog
Reflects the beach town lights in pinkish grey.

Random stars blink through
Like eyes straining to see
Past the mist, to a sleepy world below.

The bonfire pops and crackles,
Ribbons of light wrap tightly
Around bits of pine and paper cups.

The cold air bites, embracing
The heat of dancing flames,
And the two make awkward love in smokey bliss.

In the distance crashing waves
Softly strum the shoreline
Like an endless ocean harp-song meant for none.

The moon's night-light glow
Calls to tide and twighlight skies
As the fire gives in, and smolders in the dark.


Caren E. Salas

(photo by William Salas)

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Five O'Clock (Day 9 - a time of day poem)

What a day!
And it's only noon.
Break time yet?
Oh, come on!
But it's five o'clock somewhere!
Let's start the party!

Caren E. Salas
(a somewhat slobbering shadorma)

A Waiting Toast (Day 8 - a ready to celebrate poem)

A Waiting Toast

There's a bottle of champagne
In the refridgerator
Chilling, ready, and waiting
For any excuse to toast
Everyday celebrations
Of family and friendship.


Caren E. Salas


Photo by bonneimages.photoshelter.com

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Mr. Kent (Day 7 a "what if" poem)

Mr. Kent

What if  Mr. Kent had smashed his fingers
In the phone booth door as it closed?
And what if his tie had knotted
As he pulled it over his head?
And what if there was broken glass
That snagged his bright red cape?
Would he have still seen me standing there
Smiling, and holding the kryptonite?


Caren E. Salas

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Don't Rest, Dance! (Day 6 - Don't ____, _____)



Don't Rest, Dance!

We used to call her dance class
Pain and torture 101.
If you could walk afterwards,
You were not doing it right.
But nothing would ever stop
All of us from signing up.

Every day, she'd smile and lie
"Just one more time," and we'd laugh
Even though we wanted to
Moan, and complain "We're so tired!"
We'd do anything for her
And each day come back for more.

There were no breaks, no stopping
To rest. There was time enough
For that later.  No one asked.
We just wanted to dance, and
She wanted for us to be
The best dancers we could be.


Caren E. Salas


dedicated to Dorothy Laspina Turner, who won't be resting in heaven, but dancing

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

The Mer-Duck (Day 5: Twofer Tues: a Goofy or a Serious Poem)

The Mer-Duck

There once was a mer-duck
Living under the sea.
She didn't have much luck
Serving afternoon tea.

The seahorse was rude
And galloped in late.
The manatee moo-ed
And spilled tea on her plate.

The octopus burped
And got ink on the floor.
The parrot fish chirped
And kept asking for more.

The mussells were fighting.
The crabs were upset.
The eels wanted lighting.
The shark lost a bet.

The mer-Duck just sighed,
And thought Fiddle dee dee,
By the way, why the heck am I
Under the sea??

Caren E. Salas


Sorry, couldn't find a picture of a Mer-Duck, anyone have one??

Monday, April 4, 2011

The Suit (Day 4 - a poem about a type of person)

The Suit

Every morning, crack of dawn
He puts it on: the jacket,
The slacks, the tie neatly tied;
His armor against the fires
And backstabbing, a disguise
To hide his super-hero cape.

All day long he dodges shots,
Trying to keep his chin up.
Photos of family smiling
Framed on his desk, reminding
Him why he goes through this
Day after day, years and years.

Every night he fights traffic,
Feels unappreciated,
But love leads him home again.
No hero's welcome waits there,
Just a hug, kiss and dinner...
And rest, until the next day.


Caren E. Salas

Four Reasons (Day 3 - It's a Wonderful Life!)

For today's prompt, Robert Lee Brewer challenged us to imagine a world where we'd never been born. He compared it to one of his favorite classic movies "It's a Wonderful Life" (a favorite of mine also). Right off the bat I knew of the four best reasons that I was born.


Four Reasons

There are these two girls I know.
The older is beautiful and smart
She's always singing and dancing and such,
Likes Marine Biology, and Art.

The other girl is quite different.
She's cute and funny and sweet
Convinced she can save the earth somehow,
Starting now by cleaning the beach.

I know two boys; one has dreams
To start a band, singing the lead.
He composes the music and lyrics and all
And has such a strong will to succeed.

The other is fast and athletic;
Learns instruments quick, and with ease.
His charm sometimes gets him in trouble and yet,
His heart always sets him free.

So when I'm feeling a bit worthless;
When I'm tired of it all or depressed,
I look at these four and know without these
The world would be so much less.


Caren E. Salas

(dedicated to my four beautiful children, my reasons for writing, living and loving.)

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Greetings from California (Day 2 - a Postcard Poem)


Greetings from Califiornia

Greetings from California, but please allow me to whine,
'Cause this morning the temperature was below sixty nine!
Why, only last month, I was down at the shore,
Had my toes in the sand. It was about eighty four.

The water was chilly, but the waves were sa-weet!
My friends and I went out for ice cream to eat.
I don't mean to brag. Now, don't be all glum
But when you're tired of snow, you know where to come!

XOXO
Caren

Friday, April 1, 2011

The Thing I Most Love (Day 1 - What got you here?)

When I first read Robert Lee Brewer's prompt this morning, "What got you here?" all that came to mind was that 80s "Talking Heads" song: Once in a Lifetime ("You may ask yourself, well...how did I get here?") but then I started thinking about how I started writing....


The Thing I Most Love

When I was only a little girl
I loved to play and pretend
I took my mom's umbrella once
Convinced I could fly in the wind.

I made up silly songs to sing
And performed them in the dark
Imagining I was a famous star
Doing live concerts in the park.

Then I was at school one day
And my teacher stood up and said
Today's assignment is to write a poem!
My friends all groaned with dread.

I sat at my desk without a sound
Looked out the window and smiled
My #2 pencil twitched in my hand
And my imagination went wild.

Since then I've tried other things
Music, Drama, Ballet,
Paleontology (yes really) and Art
But I always had something to say.

So journals got filled and boxes got full
With sheets of the stuff I would write:
Essays and stories, poems and plays
As I scribbled them all day and night.

Years later it seems kind of funny to me
All my life what I'd never thought of
Was maybe I should be a writer because
Writing's the thing I most love.


Caren E. Salas