A Day

I found my heart within a dream
It lay there dry and barren, it seemed
Awash with pain, destroyed by strife
Faded and weak, yet still pumping life

Yesterday the blood pumped red
Today you no longer share my bed
Red is replaced by the depression of grey
Laundry water flows through my veins today

© 2010 by Maureen Newman. All rights reserved.

Written in response to a prompt from Sunday Scribblings.

Antiquity

I carefully open the old family Bible, the pages stiff and fragile with age. Long years it spent tucked away in the trunk amidst letters from home penned early 1900 by those long forgotten. The binding creaks as I lay it flat upon the bed beside me, eager to unearth treasures sealed within its pages. Faded pictures depicting familiar bible scenes weave the story, and bring to mind lessons from my childhood. A photo, lovingly wrapped in parchment paper, adheres to a page, and dried fern branches speak of losses once deeply felt. Gradually I move through the books of the Bible exposing the contents long hidden from human eyes. And then I find it. Folded into a perfect square, and tied about with what appears to be a perfectly preserved braided lock of hair, its water-stained exterior denotes an age far beyond the other contents held captive between the pages. Placing the treasure in my hand, I gently stroke the braid, drawn, yet repulsed; touching a fragment of a life lived so very long ago. Unwilling to disturb the fragile parcel born in antiquity, I place it gently back within the pages of its tomb, wanting to protect the treasure held within.

© 2010 by Maureen Newman. All rights reserved.

Written in response to a prompt from Magpie Tales.

Relax

Relax; it will only hurt for a minute. In an instant it will be over with and you will be well on your way to healing. Every time you think about this event you will be thankful you stepped up to the plate and had the procedure done. I mean, why would anyone want to feel sad, lonely, depressed, discouraged, unloved, unhappy, undesirable, un -anything, ever again? Once the needle is inserted into the proper location, negative emotions will be gone forever. How nice is that?

“Fantastic!” Eric announces as I rolls up his sleeve.

© 2010 by Maureen Newman. All rights reserved.

Written in response to the prompt "relax" from Theme Thursday.

Maligned

He stood afar off, away from the crowd, his quiet demeanour echoing the gentle spirit I know so well. Aghast by the vigour of the other participants, I draw my memoir close to my chest, endeavouring to keep it pure, unsoiled by the hateful comments flowing from the mouths of the malcontents. How could they believe such a thing? Why would they accept such blasphemy spoken from such a wily character? Once they would have stood firm for their king, and now they seek to destroy him. To believe the raucous comments maligning the words I so loving penned. My book should have set him upon a pillar; a place deserving of such a man. Will he ever look upon me the same again? The fire within me burns away my hope, and the book held close to my chest crushes my heart.

© 2010 by Maureen Newman. All rights reserved.

Written in response to a prompt from Magpie Tales.

An Invitation

You give me the eye
What? What’s up!
No roasting pan, no rotisserie
No deep fryer, no wok
What’s the plan!
You invited me for dinner
I paused to consider
Funny, so it seems
But the fat just hit the pan
And I, have other plans

© 2010 by Maureen Newman. All rights reserved.


Written in response to a prompt from Magpie Tales.

Halloween

Black cats
Orange pumpkins
White ghosts
Grey tombs
Colors waiting the darkness

Flaming eyes
Witchy screams
Creaking doors
Misty paths
Environs positioned for fear

Fluttering angels
Stumbling scarecrows
Eager Egors
Strutting cowboys
Evil spirits disappear

Happy faces
Candy kisses
Sugar highs
Late night vigils
Once again it’s Halloween

This poem is written in response to a prompt from Jingle Poetry PotLuck.