A flash poetry writing post composed for February, inspired by the photo prompt; above. Written in the form of a Pattern Poem.
137 Words.
Edited from an Original Post on:
Scribblers Forum – Flash Poesy 282
Image by Kevin Mc Loughlin from Pixabay
Category: Flash Poetry
A flash poetry writing post composed for June, inspired by the photo prompt; above.
The Message
From my fragile grasp both taken,
Dreams and aspiration,
A frozen life without another,
Choices made and I’m forsaken.
A thin jacket and woolly jumper,
Wrap my body’s senses duller,
I lace-up boots and strut.
Leaving my flat in a deep stupor.
Town streets, chilled and frosty.
Silent, muted, and empty,
Like my heart,
Struggling to beat with energy.
Those I see mind their own,
But trees greet with leaves un-grown,
At the edge of town country park,
I shuffle in, accepting fate and walk alone.
Along grey gravel pathways, I dream,
Betwixt herds of deer snorting steam,
An unknown, predetermined route,
Over fallen trees, a smoky frozen stream.
Tramping feet on iced puddles slip and skate,
Hours without the certainty of fate,
Body chilled, numb fingertips and toes,
Lost, I approach a tall, enchanting gate.
Rattling metal links echo a clunking din,
Secure lock and chains permit no way in.
Holding on, I fall to my knees,
The metal bites into my palm’s skin.
From my phone a text ping ricochet,
“I’d love to,” and emotional disarray,
Pulling myself up, the gate creaks open.
My destiny, this must be The Way.
192 Words.
Edited from an Original Post on:
Scribblers Forum – Flash Poesy 281
Image by The Author
A flash poetry writing post composed for May. This piece is a poem, of no more than twenty-five lines, using the following words: verdant, open, silence, richness, compassion, and recipe.
The Recipe
The recipe,
I crave it, desire it,
Must open the page of measurements,
To prosper and thrive,
Not survive.
The recipe,
To climb it, walk it,
A verdant landscape to explore,
To grow and improve,
Not prove.
The recipe,
To read it, study it,
Sit in its silence to breathe,
To stop and meditate,
Not deliberate.
The recipe,
To enjoy it, utilise it,
Consider the richness of narrative,
To discover and expand,
Not reprimand.
The recipe,
To embrace it, love it,
Unlock answers within compassion,
To gain and promote,
Not remote.
90 Words.
Edited from an Original Post on:
A flash poetry writing post composed for October, entitled Light. Written following the rules for an acrostic, then as a cinquain: 2 syllables in the first line, 4 in the second line, 6 in the third, 8 in the fourth, and 2 in the fifth.
Bright Light
(An Acrostic)
Let us start our story, way back at the beginning,
Introduce conflict and concern, charm with characterisation,
Great skills we must show, not tell. Be erudite, entertaining as well,
Handle flow and feelings, formulate drama to be fascinating,
Then illuminate and inform, climax at the conclusion.
Bright Light
(A Cinquain)
Shed light,
Portray your tale,
Entertain us with words,
Create thoughts, feelings, change, delight,
Be bright.
62 Words.
Edited from an Original Post on:
Scribblers Forum Thread – Flash Poesy 253 – Light [Word Prompt]
Image from Shutterstock.
A flash poetry writing post composed for March, inspired by Paul Gustave Fischer’s painting Copenhagen Tram; above.
Carriage Hats
Puff, puff on his fat cigar,
This time, he’s gone too far.
“How embarrassing, I should jump,
I’m an old fool, a silly chump.”
50 dollars! Oh, what a mistake,
Surely one any bloke could make.
Stylish, pretty, such a looker,
No reason to think Red Hat a hooker.
“Serves him right, he needed a whack,
My heavy handbag packs quite a thwack.”
One in the eye, dollars drop to the floor,
Next stop, both’ll flutter out the door.
Between the two the inspector stands,
He pushed them apart with his bare hands.
“Sir, Miss, stop at once, if you please,
Wait here, I’ve called the railway police.”
He turns, and out the corner of his eye,
A self-erecting newspaper he did spy.
Spectacled man is a private detective,
Owner of false arm that goes undetected.
“Clever, iPad hidden in daily broadsheet,
No fingers seen tapping, and comfy seat.”
His hand from beneath folds of raincoat,
Records evidence in pictures and in note.
False arm, nearest Red Hat, has finger missing,
Broke off following Cigar’s attempted kissing.
“A jolly good job nobody cared to look,
Uploaded video to YouTube and Facebook.”
That’s why the detective smiles a grin,
Live fracas upload means views for him!
For a client, the private eye is on a mission,
Two chatting ladies opposite are under suspicion.
“So, Pearls gives flowers to Blue Piping hat,
A lesbian affair you can be sure of that.”
Backed up with presence of a gardening glove,
Detective believes two are certainly in love.
“Trilbys, Panamas, other Fine Hats” take a look,
Cover story for the Detective, author of a book.
“Cigar’s Norwegian roebuck headwear is of interest,
Not the colour of Red Hat’s hat I must confess.”
Private dick doesn’t realise Red Hat is a gardener,
With Pearls, Blue Stripes there’s a ménage à trois.
Spectacles’s signed fiction, Pearls’ hubby’s present,
But hiding a tracker inside is not time well spent.
“Little does he know he’s looking at the wrong lover,
I’ll soon sort his dilemma and pull out my revolver.”
Red Hat wants to shoot Spectacles, as he stole her MS,
“The Lady Milliner’s Guide to Gentleman’s Headdress”.
361 Words.
Image: Paul Gustave Fischer (1860-1934) Copenhagen Tram
Edited from an Original Post on:
Scribblers Forum Thread – Flash Poesy 121 – Copenhagen Tram [Photo Prompt]
Day Tripper
A flash poetry writing post composed for March, inspired by Paul Gustave Fischer’s painting Copenhagen Tram; above.
Day Tripper
It’s really very important not to over-stress,
Try not to do more, but attempt to do less,
Being calm and relaxed is the way to impress,
Take a jaunt on the Cornish Riviera Express.
If life drags you down and you’re feeling shitty,
Jump on board, leave the smoke of the big city,
Countryside scenery is beautifully fresh, so pretty,
Ticket inspector loves a joke, he’s awfully witty.
Chilled and happy you’ll arrive ready for fun,
Rush from the platform like a bullet from a gun,
Looking forward to ice-cream, sandy beaches and hot sun,
First to the parlour, so many flavours, but which one?
It won’t be long before you stop feeling glum,
Talk to the locals make a friendly new chum,
Drink pints of West Country cider and Pirate’s rum,
Careful, not too much, don’t want to fall on one’s bum!
Such fun and don’t worry if you miss the train home,
Stay in a B&B, or guesthouse and write a topical pome,
Not too short, but not to long, we don’t want a tome!
Stroll around Torquay, read it aloud wherever you may roam.
Time to travel back to the city, but darling don’t distress,
You’ll be travelling again on the Cornish Riviera Express,
Visit the dining car for sandwiches of egg and cress,
Arrive in the smoke all rested, happy and refreshed.
229 Words.
Image: bnps.co.uk
Edited from an Original Post on:
Scribblers Forum Thread – Flash Poesy 119 – Railways or Trains [Photo Prompt]
A flash poetry writing post composed for February, inspired by Welcome to the Asylum and Lewis Carroll’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; above.
Asylumed
Lock the door, throw away the key,
You’re safe outside, not here with me.
I’m happy inside, an empty room, all alone,
Theories orchestrated, debated, ideas grown.
A den of defiance, stable of sublime,
Parlour of perfection, study of mine.
It’s not empty, but full of inanity,
Crazy actions, teetering on insanity.
Loud funky music, frantic shouting, hushed whispers,
Intoxicating aftershave a mix with smells of misters.
Copious coffee and tirades of tea to my cell,
Sweet chocolate snacks add to the belly swell.
Words on scraps of paper, notepads, books full too,
Fingers tap on computers, screen edits, always new.
Muse, drafter, writer, editor, critic, they’re all near,
Nice to meet you, see you, touch you, steel you, and hear.
Although, I’m alone in my asylum, there is no-one else,
Only me, not lonely me, just me and I and myself.
143 Words.
Edited from an Original Post on:
Scribblers Forum Thread – Flash Poesy 116 – Welcome to the Asylum
A flash poetry writing post composed for February, inspired by the photo prompt; above.
The Plank
‘Neh, sire, tis you, sire,
‘tis you who has to walk,
For ‘tis you, sire, the liar,
With one leg, the stork.’
‘Shiver mi wotsits, capt’n,
I’m innocent of that crime,
No idea how it happen,
That musket weren’t mine.’
A sharp stick pokes in his back,
Further he hops over the plank,
Timber squeaks, doesn’t crack,
Swordsman pushes, hand on flank.
‘This, sire, is my brig,
You’re nothing but a marauder,
A one-legged pirate pig,
Only fit for slaughter.’
‘Capt’n please, I beg of ya,
Mi leg is made o’ cast-iron,
I’ll sink down even faster,
‘an a fully laden gallyon.’
Feet an’ peg scuffle along,
Further, further to the end,
Who’s right? Who’s wrong?
Creaking wood starts to bend.
A loud crack and crunching splinter,
Capt’n and Pirate drop, voices shrill,
They land on grass in fits of laughter,
And two boys roll down grassy hill.
150 Words.
Edited from an Original Post on:
A flash poetry writing post composed for December, inspired by the photo prompt; above, and written as an acrostic.
This Place I know
What a familiar view! This place I know. Do you?
Early evening silhouetting, orangey-pink sun is setting,
Lights sparkling, on show, the whole town a warm glow,
Coming alive, so strong, night-time liquor and happy song,
Overcrowded bars with laughter, echoing over rippling lake water,
Make a trip to the other side; a joyful starlit boat ride.
Excursion, you can keep! Not across still dark-water, so deep.
To sit under canvas up so high, looking down with all-seeing eye,
Over the vibrant town I am watching, waiting, procrastinating.
Mountainous evening hideout, or holiday trip gadabout?
Yet neither adventure is practicable, comfortable, or reasonable.
With self-admonished isolation, my cerebral hill and valley location,
Offset planted mind above matter, away from reality and chatter,
Reclining in a doubting position, of unfocused intention,
Left to my own devices, deeper become uncontrollable rifts and vices.
Do they see me? Do they care? Better sited exclusively way up here!
159 Words
Edited from an Original Post on:
Scribblers Forum Thread – Flash Poesy 108 – This Place I Know [Photo Prompt]