Day Trip

Day 23: a "travel" poem. Like they sometimes say: the journey is half the fun, or even all of it.  The writing is sometimes most of the fun too. This is a challenging form, a pantouin.



Day Trip

It took the whole day for that two hour trip
The morning was bright; we were ready for fun
We stopped at a drive-through for something to sip
With miles to go, we had only begun.

The morning was bright; we were ready for fun
We saw fields of flowers and picked out a bunch
With miles to go, we had only begun
Near a California mission, we looked for some lunch.

We saw fields of flowers and picked out a bunch
A rainbow of colors so lovely to see
Near a California mission, we looked for some lunch
We wandered through shops and he held hands with me.

A rainbow of colors so lovely to see
There were blankets and hats and ponchos to buy
We wandered through shops and he held hands with me
At a cafe we shared a small slice of pie.

There were blankets and hats and ponchos to buy
We considered staying and watching a show
At a cafe we shared a small slice of pie
The hour grew late, and we had to go.

We considered staying and watching a show
But our bodies were tired and our wallets were thin
The hour grew late, and we had to go
Looking forward to being back home once again.


Caren E. Salas






photo: californiadaytrips.blogspot.com

My Lovely Zucchini

Day 22: Another 2 for Tuesday - my choices: a poem about a fruit, or a poem about a vegetable...what to do, what to do... Since I'm playing with forms, this one is a monotetra.


My Lovely Zucchini

Sometimes you're big, sometimes you're teeny;
I think you're delicious, even though you're quite greeny.
I love you alone, or with some linguine
My lovely zucchini, my lovely zucchini.


Caren E. Salas



Photo:  http://stephanielessmueller.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/zucchini-bread-americas-test-kitchen-style/

Your Smiling Face

Day 21: Start with the phrase "Whenever _____", fill in the blank. Decided to try a different form for today's poem. It's called a Triolet.

Your Smiling Face

Whenever I see your smiling face

My troubles fade; my heart is light.

You send me to a happy place

Whenever I see your smiling face.

It's like I'm flying in outer space,

And everything will be all right.

Whenever I see your smiling face,

My troubles fade, my heart is light.

Caren E. Salas

I Dreamed...

Day 20: Write a "best ever" poem.  I decided not to write in any particular form. In fact, the whole thing is like one long run-on sentence, but it's about a dream, and isn't that what they are like? Believe it or not, some of what's in this poem are from actual dreams I've had...well maybe not the monkeys (in case you were worried about my sanity).


I Dreamed...

I dreamed of you...

And then I flew like I was swimming
And all my friends were there
And the sky was filled with purple clouds

And everyone had ice cream.

Then I started doing jumping jacks
Completely in the nude
But no one really noticed me
They all went on their way.

And the monkeys on the swing-set

Screeched, and clapped their hands
As if to say,
"Yeah, you're okay."

Then I was backstage for a play
But I didn't know my lines
And I had to find a basket ball
For the second scene.

And I started quoting "Juliet"
But they were doing "Mame."
But no one seemed to realize
The blunder I had made.

And the monkeys in the audience
Screeched, and clapped their hands
As if to say,
"You'll be okay"

And I saw you

And then I flew and you were with me,
And we were there
And the clouds were cotton candy
It was the best dream...
      It was the best dream.


Caren E. Salas


Photo: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/photos/monkeys/#/spider-monkey_719_600x450.jpg

Lies

Day 19: Inspired by Elvis, Robert Lee Brewer's prompt for the day is "suspicious minds"...all righty then.



Lies

Lies make me question
Every word you say to me
Every time you say
You're somehwhere and you're not there
Makes me wonder who you are.

Lies make me doubtful
That I've done all that I can
And I lose my faith
In myself as much as you
And that's a sad place to be.


Caren E. Salas

Ya' Snooze, Ya' Lose

Day 18: Write an "It's Too Late" poem. This one is for my kids. I love you, but you better get out of bed on time! :)

Ya' Snooze, Ya' Lose

He wakes up and shuffles to the kitchen

Pajama bottoms, shirtless, eyes half closed.

He yawns and scratches his shoulder, opens

The fridge. He looks up, "What's for breakfast mom?"

I smile and put the last of the dishes

Into the dishwasher and wipe my hands

"Well," I respond, "there was bacon and eggs,

But that was two hours ago and now...

Sorry, but all that's left is cereal.

It's like I always say: Ya snooze, ya' lose."

Caren E. Salas

Photo: en.wikipedia.org

Never Heart

Day 17:  A "revealing" poem; something about revealing or being revealed.


Never Heart

Hidden in the dark;
Locked up tight, distant, soundless.
My heart beats secrets
Which can never be revealed,
And must never be betrayed.


Caren E. Salas

Once Upon a Sleepless Night...

Day 16: prompt - Start with "Once Upon a ______", fill in the blank and make that your title. Go from there. All righty then...

Once Upon a Sleepless Night

Once upon a sleepless night
I turned on the TV,
But info-mercials were
The only shows that I could see.

I stumbled to the kitchen,
To the fridge to get a bite;
Sadly not much food inside,
So I just turned off the light.

Back in bed, I tossed and turned
And prayed the night might bring

A minute or two of sleep before

My alarm began to ring.

Caren E. Salas

Photo by Caren E. Salas

Love Hurts

Day 15: Two for Tuesday - a Love or Anti-love poem. I'm not sure which this is...sometimes (not all the time, thank God) it's just the truth.


Love Hurts

Love
Hurts
Sometimes;
Killing dreams
And happy endings,
And breaking hearts along the way.


Caren E. Salas

Horror Movie

Day 14: A "deadly" or "dangerous" poem. Oooooh, fun. In thinking of all things scary, I started to think of today's average horror movie. Most people that know me, know I'm a fan of the classic monster movies: "Dracula" with Bela Lugosi, "Frankenstien" with Boris Karloff and all those early black and white films. I know a lot of people like today's slasher movies, and hey, whatever floats your boat, but really, the victims are not the brightest light bulbs in the box. So with that thought....a narrative, in tanka form.

Horror Movie

Late night, home alone

A howling sound, heard outside

The storm is raging

And bad news! The phone is dead!

No one will hear if you scream.

And then, a pounding

At the door makes your heart stop.

You slowly get up

And walk over to the door.

Opening it, you look out.

Seeing no one there,

You step out into the rain...

Where a big monster

Eats you up alive, because

YOU ARE TOO STUPID TO LIVE!!

Caren E. Salas

 photo: (Blair Witch Project) moviemaker.com

Small Kindnesses

Day 13: Write a poem about kindness. This was hard actually without being too cliche, but here's my try.


Small Kindnesses


The room is grey. There is no
Day or night. Time just passes
With no beginning or end.
His eyes peer out from behind
Folds of skin, worn and wrinkled,
Waiting for someone to care.

A cold metal tray holds mashed
Unrecognizable food.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, doesn't

Matter which; it's all the same.

All freedoms and joy are gone,

Except for small kindnesses.

For a while, every Wednesday

She came, a girl dressed in white.

Her gentle voice calmed him some;

Her patience and compassion,

And especially her smile.

Kindnesses... from an angel.

Caren E. Salas


photo http://www.ncadvocates.com/pa-nursing.htm

The Black Hole (part 2)

Day 12: a poem about "excess".  Whenever I think of excess, I think about our garage which has been an ongoing project since...forever. Every time I think I'm getting ahead of the junk, it seems to multiply. Maybe I should have used this for Day 11's poem about math.  I know somewhere in this blog is another poem about the Black Hole that is my garage, hense: "part 2". Maybe some of you can relate.


The Black Hole (part 2)


My garage,
Just like a black hole,
Sucks things in.
None comes out.
If only I could launch it
Into outer space.


Caren E. Salas

Internet Arithmatic

Day 11: A poem about numbers or math.


Internet Arithmatic

If Joe has thirty-six friends
And twelve go on a road trip
To destinations unknown;
Then five more move to Europe,
How many friends does Joe have
Left? All of them. Facebook - Duh!


Caren E. Salas

I am NOT Your Chew Toy

Day 10:  A different perspective poem. The challenge today was to write a poem from the perspective of someone or something else. I couldn't resist being Whiskey for the day. I often wonder what he thinks, because he seems to think he's a tough guy.  He'll get right in the face of the big dogs as if to say "Yeah! Whataya gonna' do about it? Huh? You wanna piece a me??"  He's so fierce. (Only he's Christian Siriano "fierce", I'm afraid.)

I am NOT Your Chew Toy

A little respect, friend

If you don't mind

While you're back there sniffing

Around my behind.

I may be smallish
And my teeth might be bad
But I can still - um, bark
So buddy, don't make me mad!

Age before beauty

Isn't that what they say?
Well, I'm old but I'm feisty
Don't believe me? Let's play!

I'll run circles around you,

You lumbering brute!

And on top of it all

I'm pretty darn cute!

I'm not your new chew toy,

And I'm not a big rat.

So show some respect,

Or else I'll call the cat.

Caren E. Salas

Wrong or Right

Day 9: Today's prompt "____or____". Fill in the blanks.


Wrong or Right

Is love a matter
Of black or white, wrong or right?
Can you help yourself
When deciding who to love,
Or are we all hopeless fools?


Caren E. Salas

Paralysed

Day 8 of Robert Lee Brewer's Poem a Day Challenge (Two for Tuesday) Paranormal or Normal. Are you kidding? Like I would pick "Normal"?? I'm a Ghost Adventures fan, for cryin' out loud. I want to be locked up with Zac Bagans!! Clearly, my choice is....

Paralysed

Awoken from a nightmare
My surrounding eerie, still,
Too quiet for a full house.
I hardly breathe, my heart pounds
And my hands are trembling.
Was that shadow there before?

As I check the locks, a chill
Crawls up my back and across
My face; my eyes grow larger.
Alert to every subtle
Sound, I'm frozen in the dark,
Paralysed by my own fear.


Caren E. Salas

Photo  http://ghosthuntersofamerica.com/links/index.htm

Can't Wait

Day 7: prompt - a "what won't wait poem. I started thinking about waiting. What do I hear "I can't wait" about most lately? Christmas. Some of us never really grow up when it comes to Christmas.

Can't Wait

Can't

Wait

Christmas

Is Coming

Children are counting

Every moment, every hour.

Each

Night

Dreaming

Santa Claus

Bringing them presents

And leaving them under the tree.

Caren E. Salas

Lost

Day 6: An addict/addiction poem



Lost

Lost without the high
He wandered the streets alone,
Family, home, all gone.
I'd rather be dead, he'd said.
Be careful what you wish for.


Caren E. Salas

The Glue

Day 5: A "broken" poem. Something or someone that's broken.


The Glue

Tiny crystal ornament
In the shape of a scallop's
Open shell, broke right before
My eyes.Memories of past
Christmas trees I hung it on
Faded, but we looked for glue.

I cleaned the dust of seasons
Stored, and propped it carefully,
Dabbing it with adhesive.
It's back together now, but
What I want to know is where
Is the glue that will fix me?


Caren E. Salas

News

Day 4: Write a poem about finding something unexpected. I decided that finding out something unexpected would work too. Have you ever wished  you'd never picked up the phone?



News

I stood, holding the telephone, speechless
And numb, your words cutting, chipping away
At my heart, crushing it into rubble
Like rocks in a quarry; my hopes falling
Away in an avalanche of debris
And tears, unable to respond, or breath.
The silence between us, suffocating.
I stare out the window at overcast
Skies, and wonder if the sun will come out,
Or if the stars will forget how to shine.


Caren E. Salas

Sort of a Dog

Day 3: Write a poem using "sort of_______" filling in the blank. When I started to write this I looked down at my little dog and thought "You're sort of a dork!"  The problem is I'm not sure he knows he's a dog.

Sort of a Dog

He's sort of a dog

But more like a friend

Sometimes forgetful

But true to the end.

He thinks he's a puppy

Loves to play ball

Runs with the big dogs

Barks at the small.

In my crazy life

He's so much a part

My sort of a dog

Owns all of my heart.

Caren E. Salas

This Wasn't It

Day 2 - an epigraph poem. This is a poem inspired by a specific quote, shown under the title but before the body. Gotta' love Groucho.

This Wasn't It

"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it." - Groucho Marx

The place was a dump, the service was bad

The food was the absolute worst that I've had.

The company, boring, and so was the show

At last I got up and said "I have to go!"

"I have an appointment, or maybe a date,
Or was it a manicure? Whatever! I'm late!"
I ran out the door, but the valet was gone.
It appeared that my car would be pinned in 'til dawn.

I got on my cell to call for a ride,
Debating if I should go wait back inside.
But the thought of returning was too much to bear.
I knew that I just had to get out of there!

I've had many evenings with friends, having fun,
But sadly, I'd have to say, this wasn't one.


Caren E. Salas

Photo:  chicagotribune.com

Making Time

Yesterday was the official start of Robert Lee Brewer's November Poem a Day Challenge.  In theory, I'll be posting a poem everyday this month in response to prompts provided on his website. Usually it's not the writing part that's hard (I carry a notebook everywhere!) it's the posting that I get behind on. So, here I go. Be sure to check back now and then and see what's new!

Day 1: A Procrastination or Pro-active poem - Don't you love when people say "you have to make the time" like it's something you can just whip up in your spare time?




Making Time

Take an hour, here and there
A half a dozen minutes
A dash and splash of seconds
Combine together and stir.
Use it immediately
Because you know...it won't last.


Caren E. Salas