The Poetic Asides prompt on day 17 was for a ‘Revealed” poem. Two offerings:
Buzz Kill
Plastic wrapper discarded, Cardboard cookie consumed, Leaving the small white slip, Revealing what we already knew, Fortune cookies lie.Anticipation
Voiceless in dim room Breathless anticipation, Waiting for ‘Its a ….’ © Mark Windham 2011Filed under Poetry - Prompts
The Poetic Asides day 28 prompt was for a ‘_______ Story” poem. Apparently I had a couple of stories in me.
In Progress Story
Hair thinning, Thinned, actually, Chins multiplying; Playing hell at the gym Trying to reverse the course. (As a matter of opinion, All personal trainers are evil) Wife still forgiving and seeking My worth as a husband; And becoming a greater object Of my affection for the effort. Children growing like deep south kudzu – What happened to the babies? Running the race daily; Work, bills School, track, gym, homework, dinner…. No finish line and no medals. The reward being the rare time, Together as family, no distractions, Bundled under the blanket, Competing with dogs for couch position as We wind down from the weary day. Tonight we will lay down – exhausted, Praying we are granted another tomorrow.© Mark Windham 2011
A Mistake Story
Just coffee, safe Secure. Hand holding at Movies. Dinner next time, Kissing Open door to Passion Clothes strewn quickly On floor Next day empty, Quiet Confused by the Silence © Mark Windham 2011
A WallyWorld Story
Demolition derby disguised as a parking lot, Handicapped spaces full of those that are Apparently not – looking to be door rushing fine. Holiday cheer begins and ends with the Salvation army bell ringer. The counting game of the day is Piercings and butt cracks. Obese children abound, along with an Overabundance of camouflage on Hats, pants, coats and boots. Skin tight clothes covering well rounded Bellies and over-inflated butts, Pajama bottoms and hoodies also prevalent – Oh! Butt crack number four, on a roll! And …. THAT is just beyond description. Babies with babies, parents loaded with piercings, Hair of all colors and skin covered with ink. Checking out a communications adventure With cashiers of questionable language skills. Characters worthy of Carroll or Seuss, An adventure in fantasy, horror and reality. © Mark Windham 2011Filed under Poetry - Prompts
The Poetic Asides prompt was for a ‘Tribute’ poem:
Tribute to Sacrifice
A mother with her time,
A father with his energy,
An organ donor with their body,
A soldier with his life,
A Man on a cross –
With everything.
© Mark Windham 2011
I think this one will be a work in progress. So much possible to add.
Filed under Poetry - Prompts
Response to the Poetic Asides ‘Travel’ Prompt:
On the Highway
Rushing and cussing
Must remember the purpose;
Destination family.
© Mark Windham 2011
Filed under Poetry - Prompts
Are These The Good Old Days?
When age comes upon me,
And so much of my time
Will be spent in the past,
Sparring with memories
That will judge my life –
Will these days bring smiles
At the joys we shared?
Or tears of regret
For those we let pass by?
© Mark Windham 2011
Filed under Uncategorized
Response to the Poetic Asides prompt for a ‘suspicious’ poem. A sedoka, I think.
Guilty Faces
Someone is guilty
But how to tell which
With all looking down, eyes wide?
One tore up the shoe,
Others might have helped;
If dogs could speak, I would know.
© Mark Windham 2011
Filed under Uncategorized
It
Happens
Whenever
My little girl
Is kissing my cheek
Up on tiptoe to reach.
Or my son stretching to prove
He is nearly as tall as me.
Both a bit taller than yesterday.
It happens again whenever we kiss,
Up on your toes, arms around my neck,
Putting us right at eye level,
And I know that I love you
More than I did before.
I watch them growing
Holding you close
And my heart
Skips a
Beat
© Mark Windham 2011
Filed under Poetry, Poetry - Prompts
Response to the Poetic Bloomings Sunday prompt.
Not Quite as Good
We will come together at the table
Again for the season,
Much the same as last year
And so many years past;
Giving hesitant thanks for
Blessings so often overlooked.
Table full of so many favorites;
Turkey, cranberries for Dad,
Dressing, gravy and greens for me and Sis.
Ham and fruit salad for my wife and kids
Along with green beans seasoned with pork –
Don’t dare forget the crescent rolls.
The sweet potatoes, everyones favorite,
We know will never be quite as good
As what Grammy would make.
© Mark Windham 2011
Filed under Poetry - Prompts
Response to the Poetic Asides day 20 prompt. Trite? Sure. But everyone has to write at least one sunset poem.
Pretty Much Perfect
It was pretty much a perfect sunset,
As these things are measured.
The clouds gave way for the first time this day
As if bowing to accepted protocol.
The world above persistent waves perfectly still,
Palm fronds and sea oats motionless –
Wind noticeably absent.
Irreverent seabirds skittering on smooth sand,
A few taking to wing in ones and twos,
The only motion to mar the scene –
Along with a solitary dolphin
Surfacing to share in the view.
Even the children slow in their splashing,
Some marveling in the spectacle,
Some only surprised by their parent’s stillness.
Sporadic clouds hanging still overhead, breathless,
Proud formations framing the horizon.
Perfect pinks and shades of purples
Start behind the focus of the beach bound gazers,
Sneaking from cloud to cloud,
Splashing each with color – then moving on,
Marching on the brightening horizon.
Deep sighs accompany nightfall,
And the wind releases held breath.
© Mark Windham 2011
Filed under Poetry, Poetry - Prompts
Awakened Words 
“Hate Speech”
I try to keep most of my political comments on my “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit…” site. However, several things I have read recently in some poetry blogs have gotten my ire up. I have issue with statements of belief by one person being taken as a personal attack by another when there was obviously no intent at malice; just a statement of opinion.
Who is Hating?
It has been confirmed recently that I am among The most evil of creatures remaining on earth: The white, Christian, conservative, straight male. I alone among the tribes of the world are others Allowed to hate solely based on what I am, While anything I express in disagreement with Another’s beliefs is considered “hate speech”. I do not agree with Muslims and their oppressive, Repressive Sharia law that kills gays and abuses women; But, I do not hate them – surely not as much as they me. I do not agree with homosexuality, and saying so is Enough to have me ostracized. But I do not hate them And have never acted or protested against them. I do not agree with liberal, socialist politics and those That promote government dependence and a policy of Lowering to the least common denominator instead of Working to raise everyone to a higher standard. But, I do Not hate them or turn to personal attacks as my argument. Why is it that it has become socially and politically acceptable To publicly, and harshly, lambast me personally for my beliefs, But any general opinion or belief I may express is called “hate”? © Mark Windham 2011I was also somewhat disappointed recently to see the support that the Poetry Foundation is showing for the “occupy” movement. Not surprised, mind you. The realm of poetry, at least that published and publicly recognized, has been a bastion of liberal thinking for some time. I just wonder what the odds are of ever seeing them promote a collection of Tea Party Poetry. Something about a snowball and Hades comes to mind.
America the Beautiful
2010
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
America the beautiful, Absolutely! Diverse in terrain, people and architecture, Splendid in its allure, Mountain, desert, forest and sea. Home of the brave, Without question! Pay your respects to the greatest of any fighting force; Politics be damned, staying the course, Apparent last defender of an idealistic bastion. Land of the free? One begins to wonder…. Dependent, learning to vote for sustenance. “Politician” uttered as profanity, a career instead of a service; Bloated on corruption, committed to a course of plunder. The American Dream, Alive… assailed. Success demonized by agenda driven media, Intention the primary standard, profit a stigma, A people bereft of the great Pursuit and all it entailed. © Mark Windham 2011I guess that is enough of the soap box for this site….
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