searching for any witnesses,
he questioned as if suspect:
“where were you?” he probed
“in my room,” a shocked reply
(nowhere near bloodied body)
at least, victim didn’t feel much,
unexpected and instantaneous.
trucker on road never slowed,
could not see in night’s blackness
didn’t notice impact, drove on.
circles under eyes mark grief
remembered as good mother
affectionate; gave warm gifts.
she’d lived life until the ninth
when bad luck found black cat.
how often we commit dark deeds;
does ignorance prove innocence?
Linking to dVerse poets. This “mystery” poem fits previous prompt (shades of black) and current prompt (changing perspective). Written in third person about a barn cat found on the road but also thinking of an old acquaintance who was struck by a truck and killed. It’s always sad when animals die but how much more a human being?!
If you’re not entirely comfortable with this poem…neither am I! Leave a comment…
“Tonight, I want you to write a poem of anticipation. Maybe you’re hoping for something wonderful, maybe you’re afraid of retribution, maybe you’re just desperate to get off the bus.” – Sarah hosting at dVerse Poets pub
oh, sweet anticipation
we grandparents-to-be
(again, yes…times ten!)
phone rings, son calling
does he have news? no
he’s coming over and
do i have meal for him?
while he sits at our table
his wife calls him, news?
contractions begun? not
yet, not even warm-ups
grandma must breathe
slowly, deeply, let all
tension exhale, relax
check calendar days
due date comes…goes
no sleeping beauty, she’s an
(un)fairy, frightful villainess
come back in black; horned,
winged, pale with hungering
what do you offer to appease?
appeal? tease? or try to deal?
a cupcake?! O, she’s no mousy
muffin that you’d be stuffin’!
whip up a delicacy for those
cynical red lips, a mouth that
purses when speaking curses;
bake over coals of tongued fire,
in thick forest of thorny briar
rich, dark chocolate cake–it’s
devil’s food; a true-love’s kiss
baked inside, laced with poison;
white-frosted, too-sweet icing
serve at dawn as darkness dies
Linking to TS Poetry where Callie invites us to make cupcakes for a fairy tale character! Also linking to dVerse Poets where today we re-visit legends with Anmol.
Linking late to Linda’s “water” prompt at dVerse poetics…
water, water, water, everywhere!
dark clouds broiling across plains’
hard-crusted snowy landscape; soil
soaked by heavy rains, washes into
half-frozen rivers, ice breaks loose
floating icebergs grind along banks
dragging down bridges, trees, poles;
pressured dam gives way into torrent
that floods downstream in spreading
wave that engulfs barns, farmhouses’
families escape on muddy roads while
cattle are trapped on shrinking islands
hay bales swept away, fields ruined and
Nebraska is once again a broad ocean…
