This poem is about how grief is hitting me. The strangeness of being extremely sad and happy at the same time.

"The effect lightning strikes have on trees varies. Sometimes the tree splinters or shatters upon impact. Some trees are scarred by a strip of blown-away bark. Others seemingly have no damage at all, and then die a few weeks or months later, probably because the unseen damage was in the root zone. A tree struck by lightning has been severely stressed."

i know you're a proud man you feel strong- your back against the wind- but if you have sense, you'll understand there's no shame— to step inside. If it helps though, you can still stand—place your back against the window and you won't even have to look outside… wouldn't that be nice? Not to have to look out?

An abandoned property and wounds difficult to heal draw lovers, friends, and family together and threaten to tear them apart. Rated T for swearing and S for sexy, secrets, and sweet. Bonus: I'm using lyrics from songs as sort of an Easter Egg hunt too.

I'm no Lion Tamer but you know me well I can sure crack a whip around your tail.

I often use poetry to help me come to terms with my own emotions and with ideas or decisions that have too many elements. This is one of those that helped me hone an overwhelming moment into a clear direction. If you read it, I hope you get that same feeling and sense of the complicated becoming simple. Agate is a semiprecious stone created through weathering.

Holding the Prayer of Serenity in My Hand We can fight to say our piece or listen and then say our peace. I can protest with a sign and a fist in a swell of red rage righteousness or I can protest with an act of kindness until acts of kindness, create change, become my speech.

Hanging by threads...

Steady as the sun, no one sees the flames bursting- you're too far away. Yet with sudden blindness comes the rediscovery of touching, feeling.

Rated T but really for those 21 and older for misuse of alcohol. ;)

When the patriarchs wrote the Bible what did they mean by creating Eve from a piece of the cage surrounding Adam's heart? If she must have come from a piece of him, why not the heart itself? Did they feel so very trapped? Or did they wish to laugh at the iron(y) in biology— the compelling consequences of sex.

I wish I could give you Sunday on the river after the first warm spell, a good thirty degree change, held for a week- a week of work, working its changes on people's faces, and now relief. I wish I could give you that freeing of not having to wear a heavy coat, of knowing nothing is going wrong without you on the job because the whole damn thing is closed. I wish I could give y

Author's note: Spelling errors are intentional. Teen for swearing. A conversation about a break-up. Stuff people should think about when they're self-loathing.

Perhaps this physical world is the equation to the Perpetual Machine? i've begun to think of myself as a subroutine, nested in a subroutine, nested to infinity… an object orientated to act on the other objects in my near vicinity –if then else—the code is deceptively simple- negative positive pulses—like water is to wave is to tsunami- the magnitude is gross

I use this story/rhyme to get rowdy kids ready for storytimes. Sometimes I shorten it. I always add actions as children love that and they love to copy them. I would say it works to quiet them down 85% of the time. This is an updated version of one I previously submitted.

That long yellow line on the spine of the highway

Touch is like kiss is like voice is like cool water on a burn

What is more blasphemous? To say a word? To print a picture? If it offends, I can close my eyes- I can turn my head- I can say other words. What is more blasphemous? To say a word? To print a picture? Or to take a life? A life originated by God. And then claim it to be God's Will. To subsumed God, that He didn't really mean it when He repeated Himself in multiple religions t

So I plan to give this poem to my husband when he takes me to Copper Peak. My goal is to get him a little teary eyed. Truth, is I could probably do that by packing him a lunch-it is also on my to-do list. Let me know if you think I can make this poem any better.

Sort of a feminist piece, but really just observations that everyone should think about from time to time and wrestle with.

Only humanity makes burning toast into a moral dilemma or a judgment of character.

Stones shift. We stumble talk- tricky as time travel, eyes ask—"Where were you?"

He pointed straight to the cheap seats. Beat down on the plate and straight up again. Beat down. Nobody knows them like he does- Nobody.

The poem he wrote in English Lit to impress the girl with the razor blade wrists as she surreptitiously pretended not to be looking at his notebook which she definitely was looking at.

I was thinking about how society use to judge divorce in the past vs. how it does now. I'm a little ambivalent about whether I think the changes in attitude have more to do with the sexual revolution or societal growth or maybe economics-the ability of a woman to support herself and her children. I'm leaning towards economics.

It's a little like that apple you bit into at breakfast- the one with the bruise. It's best to eat around it,

If I can accept that I'm going to die, just maybe I can do this. The thought lingered as I slowly raised my head from the desk. The motel door chimes woke me from a night terror, the kind where you know you're sleeping but you can't move. *reworked story

I have a cat named bunny and a cow named horse and I love you darlin more than I like most...

"The three wise men were late for Christmas Still they knelt down and gave their gifts...

The bride to be gave her sailor love an oar on their wedding day.

Steady and sure as the sun you are— old words, easy to say and take for granted—

She was glad she didn't live by the calendar. It said it was Spring.

Because of Coco she hides dog treats in her coat pocket for neighbors' dogs, friends' dogs, strangers' fur balls out for a walk.

I've been witness to some political breakdown as of late. I think I might name my next ulcer after it. It should be a crime how conflict escalates instead of becoming a place to learn, grow, heal, and compromise.

"Aokigahara" is a forest at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. It has a reputation of being haunted and is the second most popular place in the world for suicides.

on surviving

Fishing for lightening, he gives me his key to string-

There are moments when I wish other people could see what I see because there is something important and life effecting happening that is simply too full to describe. This is one of those moments, so I tried my best to share it with you.

Another Haiku, where I cheat and put the title at the end. Imagined scenario about a messed up relationship. But it could also be read as just a very industrious person, no relationship implied.

I once had a friend who would talk obsessively about a girl he liked. I kept encouraging him to tell her but of course he wouldn't. In fact, he freaked out about it. This poem is about a truth I learned from him, but I switched the gender because it fits the analogy better.

A poem about ditching messed up relationships, drugs, in favor of protecting yourself. I'm going to admit it is a little on the harsh side. Rated M for language and content, but I think it sums up some true, angry feelings that some people have to go through.

I gave myself the challenge to write a poem using only the notes of a piano which when played worked with the tone of the poem and hopefully is pleasing to hear. I ended up with this Haiku. I suggest reading it out load to get the meaning and then play the song. How long you hold the notes is up to you as that's the point. My daughter helped too by suggesting I use minors etc.

"Stop tossing coins at my fountain; lover- I'm no well some man dug.

"it's the fault in our stars that the sin is not ours"

For the record, I generally write incredibly life affirming works. This one is very dark, but the reason I wrote it is to express the feelings that people have to go through and to highlight a very dangerous time in a person's life.

A sweet little poem I wrote for my husband. We don't travel that much but neither of us seems to mind.

A Memorial Day poem. "My country took my love away..."

Something my neighbor said to me that really made me think.

I've been Haiku crazy so I thought I better start a collection. The title comes from something I heard about posting on the internet, that it's like screaming out your window. I perfer throwing fruit/vegtables.

The title says it all.

Inspired by an essay I read on not overreacting to bad situations. And wouldn't you know it I presently find myself in a bad situation?

"It's a shame about the weather," You said as all the peach blossoms froze and fell."

"He scryers by firelight flickering years..."

Sometimes I'm very inappropriate. This is one of those times. It is also a time when I imagine myself drinking tea in the middle of a PBS miniseries set in Victorian England. *Be warned.

"You claim you don't love me But you lie so bad in my bed."

Owning the mistake, job security for other people. ;

Be happy with what God gave you. You are the epicenter of awesome, whether you know it or not.

I would wait in pain with you.

The Addict will scream, "Don't give up on me", as he gives up on himself.

family fable

"this hallow image of a man, a shade, he loomed over my past like a shadow that grotesques my shape into a beast with two heads."

Thinking about race relations in the U.S. and where do you go from here.

dealing with the mystery of suffering

Small poem of respecting wishes. Curious of how people will interpret it.

Short little playful poem

Girls, this is the best advice on aging you will ever get. But in a few short months I will deny, deny, deny what I'm about to tell you.

I am not a model. Brief humorous snap-shot of life.

high-lonesome feeling

Sadako Sasaki was a two year old girl when the atomic bomb was dropped. She is remembered for attempting to fold a thousand paper cranes before her death of cancer.

Short little slice of life, I'm not particularly proud of. But hey, kids, what you gonna do?

Poking fun at the current state of medical misfortunes.

A new set that I probably will build on. Feel free to do your own "never alone with" poems. It's fun and puts you in a positive frame of mind.

this one's for the lovers

My war with the snowplow continues.

*heavier sigh

*sigh

This is almost a poem-essay, very train of thought, very different from what I normally write. Creepy but hopefully thought provoking. The moment of death and its dangers.

Another imaginary conversation to express a philosophical viewpoint.

If I was awesome at music, for these lyrics I'd have two complimentary melodies that play over each other, interwoven, dogging each other, just missing, never coming together until the end of the song. *Sigh why can't I be a genius

a toast, "to Capitan Jack Sparrow" I mean seriously how do you write a summary for a haiku...it's three lines for heaven's sake

my sleeping self is a time traveler..."

Another fun abuse of instant communication.

A short, angsty piece about speeches, in my case over budgets, in yours...who knows?

Dedicated to all my Chicago friends... *throwing my arms around your slumped shoulders.

Meet me in a place without requirement...

A new set of haiku about my four lovers ; you'll just have to read to find out who they are; couple chapters up, will add to when inspired.

a little something, something I said to my hubby.

A verse for a love song.

A poem about information overload, getting stuck in your own views, having those great moments when another person's keen insight opens your perspective. Also playing with the English language and how fluid it is and full of multiple meanings.

Speaking to the vulnerable times in marriage, dangers, and cures. A little play on mythology as well.

While I'm actually making fun of myself a little bit with the title because I'm heavily borrowing from a song list, it is a love poem to answer the question, how can you have heaven in the middle of hell?

If I could have a philosophical conversation with Emerson about transcendentalism and God...this is what I'd say...over coffee and maybe a bagel or an egg sandwich. The nice thing about these imaginary debates is that I always get the last word. ;

A romance. First chapter is haiku, second chapter is an added 7 syllables to continue the thought.

That high lonesome feeling and its cure.

Inspired by a picture my daughter drew of a kid trapped in a washing machine. My advice was to change the setting as described in the following poem.

Short set of two poems thinking about the friendships that sustain us.

My better self at war with my inner Medusa. Men, *grrr. Lol, truly I'm not as bitter as this poem would have you think. The idea simply presented itself.

A little romantic/sad/wistful thought sparked after reading another poem here on Fictionpress.

Every silly, whimsy thought that pulses through my mimsy girly brain. Random thought that I crafted together with bubble gum. *Pop

To all you English majors out there and all you struggling writers- worry no more.

God must have uncrossed our stars flinging them so far apart that even the foreign heavens of night we gaze upon, we see differently.

A poem about self-healing and coping with traumatic events. I've been privy to some truly heart-wrenching stories and I've known people who have gotten stuck in the past. This is with love and hope for them.

When breaking up is really waking up.

I separated this poem into chapters because the format is important to me. A short, angsty piece about when you can forgive in a relationship but too much has happened or still happening.

For all the awkward angels in my life.

An old analogy, hopefully used in a new way to talk about how damaging silent resentments can be in a relationship. Note: Shelob is the spider from Lord of Rings.

Dedicated to those of you who are about to get married. *Cheers and best wishes

This is the kind of thing that happens when I seriously do not want to do my Housework. It's a miracle I get anything clean. *Geek humor

This is a repost of a poem I placed on the Haiku page on accident. But it is a nice little poem that deserves its true home, here on the Life page.

The tornado was approaching and Father led me from the basement to walk me out onto the lawn...

Romantic poetry, what I imagine John Waterhouse's perspective could have been while painting 'Ophelia'.

A very short poem about two very different people. And why it is good to know yourself.

Lost love is almost a friendly pain. It hurts so why do we want to hang on to it? A poem with one possible answer. Note: the lower casing is on purpose and so is the spelling choices.

Sometimes I feel like a really bad parent, I try truely I do but...if you can't laugh at yourself who can you laugh at.

Don't let the title fool you. This is an incredibly happy poem about life long love.

This is for a little old lady I know, who happens to be one of my heros although, I'm sure she doesn't know it . But more broadly it applies to all the little old ladies who keep their girlhood alive. Also inspired by a late snow.

This poem is not a Haiku, but there is a Haiku within the poem, so I'm posting here. I'm completely taken with the idea of a practical but romantic view of love right now. Thus, the theme.

My most practical, yet romantic response to Yeat's "Never Give all the Heart". I say, yes you can, on loan.

My take on humanity's evolution. These are dangerous times my friend, needing attentive parenting...

To everything its time and purpose, can't be all flowers and puppies. A reaction to both "Bright-Sided" and "The Secret"; I'm more of a Aristotle girl myself.

My first attempt at fantasy/story poem. Romantic bend, think John William Waterhouse I do . Syllable pattern at work.

I use this poem/story to settle down preschoolers before reading them a story. I've had pretty good luck with it, so I hope you try it and have similar results. It's fun.

Thinking about bringing the extraordinary into our daily lives through the small and humble. A spiritual, moody, nature themed piece. Dedicating it to Bruce Lee because of some of his writings on the topic.

That's not really the title. My title is too long to fit the input field. So here is the real title: The thrill of autumn or I'm getting older but the food's getting better.

This is for my kids, I'm totally making fun of them but also with sympathy because it truly stinks when your hopes are dashed and you were expecting something nice and gets taken away.

My "I'm falling in love with winter and you" poem. Happy Valentine's Day early.

Trying to talk about the intimacy and sweetness that two people can bring each other.

First, there is no doubt that Robotech is amazing. Second, I watch way too much TV. Third, I've been told that Zombie Haiku is dead--Long live Zombie Haiku Sort of !

A few words about the value of doing something corageous even when it fails.

I tried to use the punctuation to create an image of an unclasped chain for a necklace or bracelet. *Hope it worked*

A silly side to love

A song for when your love has no where to go.

There are many types of love and think sometimes we tend to forget that they all have value.

A philosophy about love. An embrace of its utility and a goodbye to its shadows. In otherwords, the practical romance.

How the missing parts are what really makes us sad.

A little bluejay at my window inspired this poem. Fits well for Thanksgiving.

My response to all the excellent but heartwrenching books I've read and movies I've watched. Just another way to think about life and death.

A short description of a type of person.

Romantic mush for people like me who need a little reality and a little fantasy to stay sane. And for me, the man who makes it all possible.

Love, angst, pathos complete with Austen quotes--What more could you want in romantic poetry? Truly I'm not as tortured as this makes me sound.

This is tongue-in-cheek. Don't take this advice, it's just more holiday silliness from someone who hasn't gotten alot of sleep and obviously has too much time on her hands.

More silly holiday memories, at least it wasn't as bad as what Daryl did.

The offical title wouldn't fit above, so here it is: Thanksgiving or nobody in the family will let you forget it, yes I mean you Daryl

I also toyed with the title "Evening Govenor" and "Interrobang", Here's to hoping I made the right choice.

Just when you thought it was safe to fall asleep.

Family, nature, love, life--if I could just say it plainly I probably wouldn't have had to write this poem.

Depression is painful for more than the person who is depressed. This is a poem about setting up boundaries and limits. It is not meant to be a blanket expression of everyone dealing with depression. It is about one relationship. Not meant to blame.

This one is for everybody.

Oh the beautiful mixed up mess that love can make. Haiku to celebrate "Marooned without a Compass Day".

In celebration of Marooned without a Compass Day! As usual my work takes a romantic bend.

This is what happens when I'm shirking my duties.

A play on a little saying I heard about there being no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong equipment. I turned it into a humorous romance. *Updated on good advice, thanks Anna.*

a poem of longing and acceptance and gratitude.

Same idea, little different

Haiku love/hate affair

Silly but true

Just read it.

Ghost story with a twist. Teen for slight swearing and subject matter.

Actually, the title is at the end of the poem. But I don't want to give it away. It shouldn't be spoken till the end of the poem because it is part of the poem but also its ending and its title, thus "Untitled 2". lol

This is an angsty poem with a type of alluded imagery. I kept it sparse because I thought the duality of the image I was trying to convey would be best preserved that way. Please, let me know if you think I should flesh it out more. Thanks bunches.

This would make a heartwrenching gospel song, if only I could sing better and had an appropriate tune.

Here is a group of my poems. My work is short, so it made sense to simply post as a collection instead of individually.

the poem says it

One reason to keep going

The play is about overcoming depression. It relies heavily on a husband and wife dynamic.

this one is very special to me and I'll probably be tinkering with it for a long time

pretty little poem, i wrote for a class.