Old Tricks

Robert Lee Brewer's latest Wednesday prompt was to write a "new start" poem, and as I thought about the new year, my thoughts were drawn to the fact that "New Years' Resolutions" are really pretty futile. About the only thing I can hope for is to just close my eyes, take a deep breath, pray...and leap.

Old Tricks

I feel like the proverbial "old dog":

The one who can't learn a new trick, looking

At the new year expecting to find hope

And excitement, having no idea

How to actually make that happen.

My old tricks have proven unsuccessful,

And I scoff at the new philosophies

Designed to make me believe in myself,

When that's not the problem. I can believe

All I want, but my world has other plans.

I take a step forward, but I stumble,

I'm tripped, distracted, or derailed, often

All at the same time. My ambition aims

Higher than my energy lasts; my will

Constantly beaten down by a desease

Both exhausting and unpredictable.

So every day I start over, every

Year I dive in, not knowing if the pool

Is filled. Will I splash or crash?  "Cannonball!"

I cry, an old trick, but still my best one.

Caren E. Salas

If Anything

Day 30: The final challenge!! Write an "against all odds" poem.


If Anything

If I had said no,
If I hadn't been feeling
As well as I did
Had anything been different
I never would have met you.

Caren E. Salas

My Brother

Day 29: Another 2 for Tuesday. Challenge for today: a day time or an evening poem. In my case, it's kind of both.

My Brother

My brother lives an ocean away
Measured in time, sixteen hours ahead
When I'm saying good night, he's starting his day
My brother lives an ocean away
He went to visit, but decided to stay
He had fallen in love, that's what he said
My brother lives an ocean away
Measured in time, sixteen hours ahead.

Caren E. Salas

A Moonlit Story

Day 28: A _____ Story. Write a poem with this as the title. (ie: A Toy Story, A Love Story etc.)


A Moonlit Story

Starry night
You and I gazing
At the moon
Dreaming dreams
Sharing hopes for tomorrow
Praying love will last.

Caren E. Salas

Teddy

Day 27: a Tribute poem. I couldn't really think of anyone I wanted to write a "tribute" about, not that I don't know some awesome people, but many of their stories are not easy to put into words, There was one..(okay, not really a "person")  who meant a lot. So here is a fibonacci about a special bear.

Teddy

Her

Bear

Teddy

Everywhere

She went, he went too

Until she got the puppy.

Brown 

Fur

Matted

Over years

Of hugs and kisses

Now cold and in the closet.

Caren E. Salas

A dream

Day 26: Write a "good old days" poem. I wasn't quite sure what to do with this one, but I thought about what I would consider to be the "good old days" in my life and realized that when I was doing theater, I had so much fun and I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. (That's me in "A Chorus Line" 4th from the right.)

 A Dream

A million years ago when I
Was younger and healthier
I sang songs and danced on stage.
I can still hear the applause
And feel the heat of the lights;
Almost feels like I dreampt it.

Caren E. Salas



Thanks to Robin Harrison for the photo.

Black Friday

Day 25: a "consumption" poem, something having to do with consumers, consuming etc. Definitely a no brainer on this one. My personal experience here, sadly, haha.

Black Friday

My sleep is still not quite right, having stayed

Up until midnight to stand in a line

Only to find another line at least 

Twice as long upstairs. Two hours later

Despite having made friends with the shoppers

In line with us, I was tired of it all.

And then the final blow:  a mere ten feet

From the cashier, a sales person announced:

"If you're waiting in line for the lap top,

We're all out." Really?? I tried not to cry.

Caren E. Salas

Photo: http://myblack-friday.com

Thoughts of Love

Day 24: A "gathering" poem.  When I started thinking about this one I thought about all the thing that could be "gathered" like thoughts, leaves, people...so many random things. It only seemed natural to write a "blitz" poem. It's a fun form of poetry that's really like a train of thoughts. I just hope I remembered all the rules.  :)


Thoughts of Love

Gathering leaves
Gathering thoughts
Thoughts of you
Thoughts of yesterday
Yesterday's hope
Yesterday's dreams
Dreams in the dark
Dreams and visions
Visions of sugarplums
Visions of tomorrow
Tomorrow we start again
Tomorrow we decorate
Decorate for Christmas
Decorate for the holidays
Holidays of old
Holidays with family
Family gatherings
Family makes us crazy
Crazy in the head
Crazy people shopping
Shopping til we're dropping
Shopping for Christmas gifts
Gifts of the Magi
Gifts that are homemade
Homemade chicken soup
Homemade cookies
Cookies with milk
Cookies to share
Share with others
Share your love
Love yourself
Love your neighbors
Neighbors at the door step
Neighbors having parties
Parties for the holidays
Parties to celebrate
Celebrate the day
Celebrate with friends
Friends and family
Friends forever
Forever in our memories
Forever in love
Memories
Love


Caren E. Salas