a poem in my pocket

“Many stories which are not on paper are written in the bodies and minds of women.“ – Amrita Pritam

in our weakness we find strength

to be a woman is to weep
love hurts because our hearts love deep
and for love’s sake, women lose sleep

to love and nurture is part of our nature

monthly cycle of cramps and blood
hormonal emotions of changing mood
endometriosis, cervical or breast cancer too

even childbearing brings tears of joy and grief

belly stretch marks, skin tags and bags
age and gravity means beauty sags
hot flash sweats feel like dishrag

have women not bourn and mourned enough?

must we also suffer the shame of porn,
abuse, rape, abortion, sexual scorn,
abandoned by lovers in the morn?

godly women clothe themselves in dignity and honor

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Linking to dVerse Poets where Punam introduces us to poetry of Amrita Pritam.

“I am my beloved’s and he is mine…he browses among the lilies.” – Song of Songs

like graceful gazelle, newlywed
lover grazes among the lilies that
bloom from his beloved’s garden:
raven hair, sun-ripened skin, full lips;
he browses the delicacies of twinned
breasts, curving hips, generous thighs;
she sighs…as her lover’s tender touch
grows evermore insistent and intense…

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A quadrille of 44 words on theme of “browse” at dVerse Poets

I began blogging on WordPress in 2012!

Thank you, WordPress…now may we go back to Classic?!

america bleeds while dying
when emphasize issues of race
hate’s evil violence makes its case

all patriot hearts are sighing
where has our love of country gone?
can’t we together build safe home?

people with power caught lying
and president without a spine
tempts dictators to cross the line

foolish to send taxes flying
inflate the price of groceries, gas
baby formula may not last

while vulnerable still crying
abortions mean workers are few
and immigrants need gateway through

america bleeds while dying
all patriot hearts are sighing
people with power caught lying
foolish to send taxes flying
while vulnerable still crying

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A constanza is two poems in one. The final stanza is the original poem expanded into 5 three-line stanzas in iambic tetrameter (8 syllables, 4 feet).  Rhyme scheme: a/b/b a/c/c, and so on. Thanks to Bjorn at dVerse Poets for an interesting challenge.

I don’t want to get into political arguments but my heart breaks for my country!

so you want to splash in the water?
proof that your heart is still a child
like dear granddaughter’s young age
less concerned if people might watch
man, it feels free to ride high in a swing
set on a flying seat pumping warm air
born(e) for this, another glad-gifted day
time to spend with children at play
ground covered with dandelions’ sun
dance around each blooming flower
bed welcomes you after noon of fun!

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A dVerse prompt by Lillian to use compound words in a poem but separate them (eg. split at line breaks). I used 11 compound words 🙂

American sentence (17 syllables)

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Pro-choice demonstrators who scream for abortion rights on mothers’ day.

_______

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follow the science

into woman’s womb where

the zygote is human, the fetus is alive

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follow the law

of U.S. Constitution written

to protect and shelter the vulnerable

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follow the love

with sleeping baby in arms

embrace quiet truth of her heartbeats

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one man, one woman

distinctions are perfection

exclusivity

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Haiku describes beauty as seen in natural world.

winter’s dormant season dies slow
as warmer blast blows past until
ice melt meets raindrops in rivulets

streams swell around my rock island
where elfin pup and i gladly greet spring
beneath big green dock leaf umbrella

magic blue mushrooms push up
through the wetness while pink fairy
flowers blush from sheer happiness

in world of war, hate, and polarization
imagination provides bright inspiration
to bring fresh hope, to dream of peace

A Somonka consisting of 2 tankas of statement/response on love theme.

fear and dread well up
alone in my darkest hour
enemies approach
i cannot feel your presence
God, have you forsaken me?
no, my child, I’m here
sweating drops of my own blood
i know your deep pain
settle your heart in silence
love holds you in stone garden