Abby

Throw
The ball!
I'll get it,
Wherever it goes.
I'll even try not to slobber.
Into the pool, the bushes, across the yard, throw it!
Throw the ball! Throw the ball! Okay...I'll wait patiently until you do. Okay maybe not.
Throw the ball!


Caren E. Salas

 

photos by Chrissy Cassidy

For Me

The ocean seems tired somehow;

Waves lapping softly on the sand

Half hearted and lethargic,

As though it hadn't the will

Or the energy to try harder.

Stepping out, the water surrounds me

Embracing me like an old friend,

Assuring me that, at least for now,

The tides will wait, patiently...for me.

Caren E. Salas 

the Sea

The sea blows kisses

As I walk along the shore

Like a lost lover.

Caren E. Salas

Mermaid

The only sound is the sound
Of my breath and strange echoes
That travel from the surface
Into my cool bluish world.
Weightless, I feel so at home
As though I were meant to swim.

Maybe in another life,
I was a mermaid under
The sea, hair flowing, long fins,
Living without gravity,
Flying through a liquid space
Where the stars are all alive.


Caren E. Salas



photo: weeklyworldnews.com

Boredom

Remember boredom?

When having nothing to do

Was a death sentence

Now I pray for days like that

Enjoying every moment.

Caren E. Salas

Heat

A soft ocean breeze blows across my face

A moment of comfort, mid-afternoon;

A brief reprieve from the hot sticky air

That has lasted past summer into fall.

Birds flying in formations high above

Sand and heat, high above the crashing waves

And footprints made by late season tourists

Sun-burned, sweaty, but in no rush to leave.

I watch the birds, envious of their flight

And the feeling of cool wind on their wings.

Caren E. Salas

Artwork

Sunset colors paint the sky

With hues that glow, and light up

The millions of waves dancing

On a darkening ocean.

Sunflower gold, to poppy

Orange, fuchsia, and purples...

God's brushstrokes command the clouds

So far beyond any dream

In my imagination;

More than any words I write

Or artwork once created.

It is a glimpse of heaven.

Caren E. Salas

photo: William Salas

At the Time

At the time, my heart drove auto-pilot
At the time, my mind knew what to do
At the time, my emotions put their guard up
Blocked the tears, and found the strength for you.

On and on, the waiting lasted hours
On and on, they'd only give us parts
On and on, I tried to smile and stay calm
Knowing you would be fine, in my heart.

At the time, your courage kept me hopeful
At the time, I knew you'd be okay
At the time, there was no time for worry
Holding on to a prayer for better days.

But after all, when I think of what you went through
And after all, when I realize my fears
After all, I'm so glad that it's over
Because now, I can't hold back the tears.


Caren E. Salas

A Question of Life or Death

What if I were dead? I mean,

Like I died and didn't know;

Moving through time unaware

Of my demise and "living"

In a strange purgatory

Of everyday existence.

What if that is all there is?

Oh, I believe the saints go

To heaven to relax by

God's swimming pool and party

With angels, but what happens

To the ordinary schmoes?

What happens to the sinners

Who tried to live a good life

But failed to do all the "right"

Things? Maybe they loved too much

Or too little, missed the light,

Or got lost along the way.

What if I were dead right now?

Would I know the difference?

Is my pain my lot in life,

Or the price I pay in death?

What is heaven? What is hell?

Will I know when I get there?

If there's anyone out there

Who's been there before, let me

Know. What's it like? Tell the truth.

Don't just tell me to believe

Because believing is hope,

But confidence? Sadly not.

Caren E. Salas

The Murder

Twilight's quiet interrupted, pierced by

Screams and cries of countless distant creatures

Gathering together out of sight, yet

With undulating waves of sound announce

Their ominous presence in the valley

The rustling of leaves and wings in restless

Wait, the cacophony growing as each

Moment passes, in anticipation

Until suddenly the sky turns to black

The feathered flight of a murder...of crows

Caren E. Salas

Photo by William Salas

(taken moments after the one from the previous post)

Fading

Fading

Hours wander listlessly

Like dandelions gone to seed

Delicate umbrellas

Floating on an updraft

                                                      .........

                                 ...Climbing...

                ....Lunging...     

Spinning....

Toward the glow of clouds

Still singing with the setting sun

A melody of dreams

And visions forced to wait

Until another morning comes.

Darkness settles heavily

And wakes the leafy katydids

While one by one the stars

Like faded memories

Return to light the way

To Never Never Land

And things forgotten, lost

When childhood faded....

                                         Into time.

Caren E. Salas

Photo by William Salas

Guilty!

Absolutely, one hundred percent,

No doubt about it, I'm guilty!

Why, just look into my eyes;

It's all over my face.

I can't deny it;

Can't escape, I'm

Guilty of

Loving 

You.

Caren E. Salas

Robert Lee Brewer's Wednesday prompt was to do a "plea" poem.  Decided to try another in Nonet form. :)

For Just One Day

Christmas comes around just once a year
When carols play in every store
And tree lots start to appear
A time to dream and pray
For a better world
A better life
Even for
Just one
Day.


Caren E. Salas

I know what you're thinking "Caren, really? Christmas in July? Sorry, but I recently started working for The Living Christmas Company so I have Christmas on the brain. This poem is for a special "form challenge" and the form is called "Nonet". It has descending syllables from nine to one. Thought I'd try it out. How'd I do?

The Box

On my night stand sits a wooden box
Inside it are just little things like
Paper clips and rings and pop rocks
From a party I attended,
Fortune cookie fortunes, chapstick
Several pennies and a dime,
But most of all it holds the memories
Of the one who pieced it all
Together from the scraps of wood
Left from the boat he built himself,
Each seam precisely joined together
A flawless surface sanded smooth,
A work of patience, and of love
Selflessly given me long ago,
But I remember. I do remember.

Caren E. Salas

Two and a Half Hours

The two and a half hour car trip seemed like
An epic journey when I was seven.
The mountain roads weaving around each curve
Made my stomach dizzy. The only lights
Were the headlights of the few passing cars
Brave enough to be on these roads at night.
I tried not to cry. I tried not to think.
I just held onto my special pillow
And prayed as hard as I could, staring out
Into the black and wishing I could fly.


Caren E. Salas

(for Grandma Bustos)