The Wabi-Sabi Writer

Where are the words

that frolicked 

in my mind's recess

during the late afternoon

where are the words

that flowed

from my lips

lined 

with laughter's scars

Where are the words

that freed

my aching spirit

from the shackles

of insufferable promises

where are the words

that call

me

home

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 11

I quit

trying to understand

why I started

how to stop

but then 

I pause

a momentary phase

of non-doing

not stopping

for

ever

just

for

now

and here

in the quiet

in the cold air

in my quivering mind

space

to ask

is 

now

the time

to

give

up

give

out

give

in

or simply to keep going until there is an edge visible 

on the page

on the horizon

a place 

to cling

fingers trembling

to hang

hopes draping 

over the day

in

crocheted

memories

across

long 

empty

laps

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 10 

Inspired by the prompt to write a poem on endings

One wonders

what is worse

the view

or the sight

front facing

head on

a speeding train

a glistening gun barrel

a dive into the unknown

looking back

hindsight

lessons learned

swarming regrets 

the haunting 

the enticing

memories

of better 

or 

worse

times

over one's

shoulder

the last glance

adjust the dial

hashmark precision

take aim

fire

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 9

old woman

hold

my hand

she opens 

deep within  

offerings the winter

branch

see it grows

new leaves

forever

becoming

the tree

I let go

a bent branch

growing glorious

from the tree

I can see

the sky

above 

the branches

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 8

one trip

 around the sun

ago

I stood 

teetering

on the edge

listening to the trickle 

of possibilities

like pebbles

tumbling down

the cliffside

towards

the mysterious valley 

below

It has always been my way

to step back

into familiar footing

however root ridden 

it is

almost assuredly

I will trip

but at least 

the grounds kiss

is quicker

but for some strange reason

I dove

deep

down

off the crumbling precipice

into the cavernous 

space

of wishing

I made the other choice

so now

my known

a pit

dotted in red ochre

beckons me

with high pitch

resonance

randomized

ramiform

rooms

lure

and

loom

it is said

singing

is the most efficient way

to explore

caves

so

play the muzic

Listen

my own old words

bounce off 

the weeping walls

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 7

Azure

warm waves

they whisper softly

tides pulling me back

home

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 6

Prompt to use Elfje Poetry

I plan my ascent

with three

intentions

a triple knot

tied tight

around

a towering tree

Will I make it

to the top

of my day?

intentions

bloom

mantras

Repeated and written

in breath and ink

across my mind space

words

without

meaning

like echoes

in unfamiliar alleys

startle

and soon

I lose my bearing

utterances

without purpose

become

white noise

hissing

like snakes in shadows

a gas leak

warning to be heeded

catch

your

breath

and

ask

What do I really need?

meanwhile

an insistent tabby

runs hot laps round the table

seeking love and attention

knocking pens and papers and my concentration

onto the floor

as if to say the answer

is simple

Seek love

pay attention

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 5

Autumn is Summer

here in The City

for months

We wait 

wrapped

in fleece

and

fog

until the heat

lays upon us

like a long lost lover

feel the weight

take our breath away

we are slick

in sweet sweat

Girls in short skirts

cast long shadows

on the crowded sidewalks

nights are a buzz

with revelers 

drunk 

in the delusion

that this will last

Alas

we

are like fireflies

in fields 

of 

damp grass

Trusting

We still have time

Come

Now

Watch

the sun set

in crimson screams

across the bay

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 4

Photo Credit - © Stephen Lefkovits 2017

Sand speaks

Journey now

with the ancient ones

Seek the one

the one who holds your stories

like smooth stones

for safe keeping

sleek obsidian

so many stones

 in her creased cupped hands

they slip into the net of her robes

she smiles 

keep going

I can hold more

the men dance

their feet

stained crimson

from clay and blood

as the drum pounds

 calling all forward

 to the fire

they keep their distance

faceless in the shadows

until I see

my father

and his father

and my mother's father

in the blur

the drum

 heart

 beats on

calls in

the women

they rush in 

on my waters

a cerulean wave

bathing in their knowing

together

the men

the women

from all four corners

connecting

breath

with

all

life

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 3

Photo Credit -  Kambo Naturista©

Seek 

beneath 

the surface

to where 

my seedpod

rests nestled

deep

between

sagacious

folds

safe and sound

One wonders

when

if

a salacious 

opportunity

will pierce

my hesitation

long hung taut

like a novitiate

hymen

sharp

like a single use syringe 

pressing

against stippled skin 

a silver slithering 

subcutaneous

stabbing

serpent

it speaks

of salubrious

promise

the sentient needle

 shivers

inside

and at last

I surrender

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 2

*Based on a spontaneous spewing of S words

Image Credit © Rogue Piercing 2021

the way

widens with well intended 

weeds

flattened by footfall

and memories

beneath the crisp clay

of time's

greying

like the silver streaks

I now share

with my mother's

mother

we call this blaze

wisdom

and we are wiser for it

for we know the way

with its course  curling

round roots

and over rocks

towards a once ineffable

now unavoidable

precipice 

So I pause here

and be

happy

for this moment

is my life

OctPoWriMo 21  Day 1