On Constable’s “Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Grounds” (Challenge #20) by Pamella Bowen O, dreamy scene of spire kissed by sun And framed by ancient trees in foreground green With water meadows, cows and shining brook, Why do my heartstrings leap at sight of you? When Constable put brush to canvas then To paint your… Read More
Franciscan
Hello, lizard. Hello, my baby. Whatcha doin’ on my doormat? Watching me through the sliding door? Yes? Isn’t it a lovely day? Isn’t it nice being a lizard? [he cocks his lizard head] I bet it is. I love you, little guy. Yes, I do. [he steps closer on lizardy feet] You are so cute.… Read More
Reptilian Brain
Does a snake luxuriate in a desert sunset? Does a lizard pen paeans to sandy solitude? No time for that foolishness— It’s fight or flight. Does a human luxuriate in a penthouse view? Does homo sapiens send e-mails extolling a peaceful encounter? No time for that foolishness— It’s kill or be killed, Strike while the… Read More
Still Hungry
The apple The manna The barbecue offerings The unleavened bread The wine jugs in Cana The food for the thousands The last supper The post-resurrection fishes. God, I think you’re all about food, About eating together here, About hospitality now, In the delectable real world. But, no. The Learned Preacher says you mean Spiritual Food… Read More
Stained Glass
The prompt was: Where do you see stained glass? Sainte-Chapelle shines in Paris. Saint Peter’s awes in Rome. High-class gallery, NYC, Stained glass makes its home. Transom in a tenement, Pizza palace lampshade, Jesus in a Baptist church, Stained glass takes its space. Came and colors come together, Worked by hands on wooden tables. Lead… Read More
Killer
Written to the prompt: What was the last thing you killed? I’m no killer, I swear. I’d never take a life, Send someone otherwhere At point of gun or knife. I’d never kill a dog, Unless he was very sick And blind and old and crippled And needed put to sleep. I’d never kill… Read More
Over the Envy
Another in the Deadly Sin series, using a random title from FAWM. I thought I was over the envy. We hadn’t met for years. I’d gone my way, she’d gone hers. We both were successful and happy. She picked the restaurant. A bit steep for me, but I had my plastic. Designer suit and perfect… Read More
The Reflection Freestyle
The title is a randomly-generated FAWM title, and I found the words and phrases in some of the reflections in Forward Day by Day. Who are You? Demographic information. Skin color, level of education. Consternation. Separation. Judging Others. Demanding. Failing. Big deal guilt. Punishing. Paralyzed. Distracted by attractions, addictions. Fully awake, nothing is wasted.… Read More
What the Flower Taught
The assignment was to write about a flower. Of course, I had to make it didactic. This time I used limerick form throughout. A woman who lived in her head Assumed that the desert was dead Till she sat on a rock And had quite a shock To see what God’s desert had bred.… Read More
Book-Spine Poem: Mystics
The assigned topic was to take a selection of titles from the spines of the books in my bookcase and make something of them. Raw Man, Alias Shakespeare, Was Living on the Border of the Holy. The Confessions he uttered Into the Silent Land Echoed off the Rocks and Minerals, And God Spoke: “Already Amazing,… Read More
