The Race

Step up on the block. Deep breath;

Toes curled over the edge. Look

Straight ahead. Flags eye level;

Water below. Concentrate.

"On your marks!" Hands grab the block;

Eyes on the finish. BANG!      

Fly.

Caren E. Salas

Photo:  swimming.about.com

Robert Lee Brewer's Wednesday Prompt today was "Preparation" and for some reason I was reminded of a time many years ago when I used to swim competitively. That moment right before the start when you have to be 100% ready to fly off the block and into the water.  The rush was amazing. 

They Told Me

They told me things could get bad.

They told me I might not be 

Able to handle it, not 

Be able to hold her once

She was born. I'd be too weak.

I decided to risk it.

They told me that I'd need help

But who wouldn't, I asked and 

Continued on knowing all 

Would be all right in the end

And it was, four times in fact.

It was a risk worth taking.

Caren E. Salas

Robert Lee Brewer's Wednesday Poetry Prompt: a "Risk" poem. Dedicated to my beautiful children. I'd risk  it all again.

What the Moon Thinks

What the Moon Thinks

Shining down on a dark and lonely world

I seek the lovers and children below

Dreamers who reach up to capture my glow

Will find only empty night in their grasp

I light up the path home, guiding the lost

Secrets are hidden in shadows I cast

Even the tides must obey my command

In my honor, the mermaids sing sweet songs

Some think there's a man in me, you can know

When my love, the sun, reflects on my face.

Caren E. Salas

photo by Eugene Ireland

Wednesday Poetry Prompt by Robert Lee Brewer

The End

No moving forward

No going back, or U-turns

No changing my mind

No right or left, up or down

No help in sight, just the dark.

Nothing but silence

No spark of inspiration

No questions allowed

No dreams left, within my reach.

No more options, a dead end.

Caren E. Salas

Photo: roadtrafficsigns.com


Robert Lee Brewer's Wednesday Poetry Prompt: a dead end poem   

The Last Page

The last blank page of my journal seemed so
Naked inside a book filled with scribbles
And stickers, magazine pictures pasted
Next to fortunes from cookies, random quotes,
A hospital bracelet, thrift store price tags,
A magic playing card: the King of Spades,
Stolen from my magician friend, my love,
Thoughts, frustrations, secrets, memories, words,
Mistakes made, dreams yet to be realized,
But with this poem...my journal's complete.

Caren E. Salas

Photo: http://uncomfortablemoments.blogspot.com/2011/01/dear-diary.html

The "Lawn"

I'm okay, holding it in

Keeping myself together

Distracted by surroundings

A breeze blowing in the trees

Clouds in the sky, a bright sun

The green grass beneath my feet.

But then I see the faces

People I love, family

Friends, the tears, the memories

Start to flood into my mind

Finding escape through my eyes

Until I can cry no more.

Caren E. Salas

photo by  http://laist.com