Hope Chest

childhood dreams, neatly folded, safely tucked away

wrapped within whitewashed sheets, cleansed with salty tears

victim of perverted desires, to demons falling prey

childhood dreams, neatly folded, safely tucked away

buried ‘neath  emptied bottles of Zin and Chardonnay

locked away in rotting trunk, forgotten were those years

childhood dreams, neatly folded, safely tucked away

wrapped within whitewashed sheets, cleansed with salty tears

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In addition to my usual Friday 55 post (although I had a lead foot and exceeded the speed limit just a bit) I decided to participate in d'Verse Poet's Pub challenge: compose a TRIOLET. What is a triolet you ask. It is a poem composed of 8 lines with an ABaAabAB rhyme scheme. The first, fourth, and seventh lines are identical; the second and the last lines are also identical. 

Preying: A Flash Friday Offering

Photo belongs to coupekid.deviantart.com

black-wolf prowls

perimeter  

of conscious thought

as desire to

adopt him,

train him,

control him,

consumes

every thought,

every action,

stealing time away

from search for

long lost child.

blackbirds spy,

keeping guard,

watching,

waiting

for moment

when memories of

how powerful,

how cunning,

how baffling,

predator can be

fades...

meanwhile,

ever vigilant…

black-wolf prowls

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Today's FF55 is based upon a dream from last summer. For more 55's please click on the link below:

The Parrot Dream

Photo Courtesy of Hideaway Farms Aviary

wasting away

imprisoned within

was he

plumage once

brilliant now dull

quite grey

how could she

have forgotten

glorious he?

morning’s light glints

off metal lock of

rusting cage

she takes note

memories rushing

guilt coursing

trembling she

attempts to make

amends awkwardly

placing wet offering

quenching parched,

aching thirst 

thinking he need

be grateful to she

this act of kindness

Instead he greedily

sucks dry, to his fill, 

and beyond

Horrified, she bears

witness to this

self imploding

this exploding,

bursting from within,

feathers flying

she was either

too late, or

not yet ready

to face fears

locked away

later realizing

what you feed

will grow beyond

all proportion

serenity found

by turning the key...

addiction set free

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The above free form poem is from a recently recalled dream I had when I was in my 20's (and in the throes of an eating disorder). I dreamt of a formerly beautiful parrot, locked within a cage. I had forgotten and neglected this bird for far too long. He was terribly emaciated, molting, no food or water to be found anywhere near. I gently placed a bowl of water within its cage. The bird eagerly lapped it up, but it was too much, too soon. It didn't know when to stop and ended up destroying itself. I was horrified. 

Fast forward 25 years. One morning last week I was at the kitchen sink. Something in the backyard caught my eye. It was a parrot! A large bird with green plumage and a crimson head. It looked just like the parrot that was in my dream. Fearing that the bird was lost I went outside to see if I could catch him, but he flew away. I haven't seen him since. 

Do the two things (one a dream/one a real occurrence) have anything to do with each other? I believe so. I feel that my God is telling me that the caged bird is now free...I have nothing to fear, not even surfacing memories. I am no longer on the path to self destruction but rather I am on the right path. I am exactly where I am meant to be as I continue to "trudge the road" towards my happy destiny.

Saturday Census: A Study in Black

Ms. Jenny has played a trick on us...but unbeknownst to her, it's a treat for me! Micro-fiction (25 words) using a photo prompt! Right up my alley! Then I saw the photo. Ooooh, she's a tricky one, that Ms. Jenny. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dreams fade

to black

RELAPSE

road  to abyss

of self pity

blinded

weakened

trapped

struggling against

bondage of self

held captive

by chains

of choice

Copyright 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written in honor of a dear friend struggling against her slavery
to an addiction that shows no mercy. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Affects of Addiction

Anger lies beneath

surface of conscious thought

simmering

festering

awaiting

first strike

Apathy wraps around

compassionate spirit

binding

enslaving

tethering

authentic will

Ambivalence invades

plundering faith

clouding

confusing

concealing

spiritual truths

Ardor misappropriates

selfless love into

abusing

by misusing

destroying

life once worth living

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alphabe-Thursday/Flash Friday 55: V is for Vulnerable

Vulnerable to the Vodka

sitting upon the shelf

and to vintner’s special vintage

a carafe all to myself

Vermouth of particular value

for daddy taught me right

mix with gin; add olive

to serve him every night

Vespers from a bottle

vanishing beneath its veil

ever vowing every morning

in vain attempts to become well

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This verse is in honor of those I know personally as they find validation for their truths in their valiant efforts to remove the chains of addiction. I admire their vigilance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Flash Friday 55: The Addiction

Isolating

Hiding in secret

Attempting to get that quick fix

That emotional release

From the pain of

Burying thoughts, words,

Fantasies, ideals, faith,

And even political beliefs

Ahh!

Blessed relief coming

As I step into the dark, empty bedroom

Reaching down into my bag

Pulling out my laptop

Denying no more

My addiction to blogging

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Flash Friday 55 is where you must compose a poem or short story in exactly 55 words. For more information on this meme, or to participate, please go visit G-Man at Mr. Know it All.