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

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

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

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

 Photo: http://www.arkinspace.com/

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

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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)

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

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

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

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??

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.)

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

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