The Bad Girl's Bracelets

joyreactor.com

The Bad Girl's Bracelets

Put on the bracelets, you common criminal!

That speeding ticket you forgot to pay

Has come home like a chicken to roost

Sitting like a caged bird in the roost

Not wanting to remain a criminal

She waited for her man to come and pay

Later, the judge told her the fine to pay

He thought her more a dizzy bird who left her senses in her roost

Than an actual, bona fide criminal

Adjudged not much of a criminal, she paid and went home to roost

To Cie

With love from Tempest

Notes:

Back in 1986, our own Real Cie forgot to pay for a speeding ticket and ended up in jail.

A little over an hour ago, Cie contacted her erstwhile team, asking "how the hell do we write a tritina that includes bracelets?"

Ask and ye shall receive, Dahling!

Thank you for being such a sport. I never imagined you'd actually agree to it's publication!

Prompts Used:

napowrimo. net

Our (optional) prompt for Day Seven comes to us from Gloria Gonsalves, who challenges us all to write a tritina. The tritina is a shorter cousin to the sestina, involving three, three-line stanzas, and a final concluding line. Three “end words” are used to conclude the lines of each stanza, in a set pattern of ABC, CAB, BCA, and all three end words appear together in the final line.

Imaginary Garden with Real Toads:

Bracelets

OctPoWriMo 2015: Day 20: A Realist's Love Poem

Photo by Morgan Dragonwillow

A Realist's Love Poem

Love doesn't have to be

According to other people's rules

Because love doesn't follow rules

Chasing down a dream

Dreaming of tomorrow

Fondness in your heart leading to

Gladness or sorrow

Here's hoping your attachment is returned in kind

Intimacy should never hurt

Joy should always follow expressions of tenderness

Kisses should not be prefaced by lies

Love should cultivate feelings of endearment

Mindful of the other's hopes and fears

Never should love bring about sorrow

Only warmth and happiness and cheer

Please do not think I am so naive

Quite so foolish as to believe this to be true

Ruined lives have resulted from toxic love

Sadness bleeds from many a broken heart

Truth and desire do not always go hand in hand

Unhappiness is too often the outcome of love

Victory is rare and to be treasured

Wait and do not jump in too quick

Xanadu may be your dream

Yet it is most elusive

Zest must not blind you to reality

If red flags warn you that something's not right

Then what you believe is love may just not be

~Tempest~

NaPoWriMo 2015: Day 25: Tom Thumb Gets Sauced Again

Tom Thumb is reveling in the spring air and swimming in the sauce

Tom Thumb Gets Sauced Again

Spammy Pipers tweeter Tom Thumb

Decided to sample some rum

He tasted and tasted

Till he got himself basted

~Tempest~

The Prompt:

And now for our prompt (optional, as always)! It’s the weekend, so I’d thought we might go with something short and just a bit (or a lot) silly – the Clerihew. These are rhymed, humorous quatrains involving a specific person’s name. You can write about celebrities, famous people from history, even your mom (hopefully she’s got a good name for rhyming with).

OctPoWriMo 2014: Day 22

Photo Source

For Amy Winehouse

(14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011)

They tried to make me do a video

Of myself reading a poem

But I said "no, no, no"

I'm going to write a poem

About Amy Winehouse instead

In many ways, Amy was the kind of girl

Who said "I can do anything I set my mind to"

She was adventurous

She was audacious

She was spontaneous

Her voice was tantalizing

Her look, provocative

But in some ways, perhaps Amy 

Was not as impulsive as she might have appeared on the surface

She may have needed substances

To feel encouraged to step outside her fears

To continue to feel elated when she came down

To feel motivated to keep on

When I think of Amy Winehouse

I feel sad for her troubles

I feel admiration for her talents

And perhaps I feel a little jealous

For although she was troubled and tumultuous

She packed a lot of living

Into her twenty-seven short years

~Tempest~

Avoid viewing the comments on this video if you don't want to start thinking that the human race would be better off obliterated; they're a worse cesspool than usual.

Word Prompts:

Tantalizing

Adventurous

Audacious

Valiant

Spontaneous

Feeling Prompts:

Encouraged

Motivated

Provocative

Impulsive

Elated

Sentence Starters:

I can do anything I set my mind to...

When I think of...

I feel...

OctPoWriMo 2014: Day 21

Image by Julie Jordan Scott

A Perfect Trade-Off

I used to crave fame as a way to leave my mark

But lust for adulation got in the way of creativity

I don't know if I'll leave much of an impression

I suppose I won't make a lasting impact in history

I'll be quickly erased from memory

But at least in the end, I was true to me

~Tempest~

OctPoWriMo 2014: Day 20

Down the Rabbit Hole

by John Tenniel

Public Domain

Too Late

Too little too late

Too much too soon

Soon it will all be over

Over the next rise

Rise with the sun

Sun shines bright

Bright lights, big city

City girls just seem to find out early

Early bird catches the worm

Worm your way into my heart

Heart of glass

Glass house

House of cards

Cards in hand

Hand in glove

Glove fits snug

Snug as a bug in a rug

Rug hides dust

Dust of time

Time to hurry

Hurry up and wait

Wait for me 

Me and you

You forgot 

Forgot to remember

Remember my face

Face the facts

Facts of life

Life and death

Death comes knocking

Knocking down doors

Doors of perception

Perception of reality

Reality bites

Bites like a dog

Dog of war

War is not the answer

Answer the call

Call for help

Help the hopeless

Hopeless romance

Romance the stone

Stone the sinner

Sinner and saint

Saint I ain't

Ain't you

You can't touch this

This is the end

This

End

~Tempest Nightingale LeTrope~

Word Prompts:

• late
• forgot
• rush
• hurry

Tempest's Note:
This form is a wild ride! I think I managed to get in all the prompt words except Rush.

30 Days of Haiga 2014: Day 24

Click to Enlarge

Original Photo:

Copyright: shamain / 123RF Stock Photo

Magical Verse:

Tempest Nightingale LeTrope

Mystical Photoshop Manipulation:

Cie Cheesemeister

Tempest Note:

I think that this might be the sort of nursery that Ron and Hermione might create for their children.

30 Days of Haiga 2014: Day 23

Click to Enlarge

Original Image:

3lian.com

Cautionary Verse:

Tempest Nightingale LeTrope

Sizzling Photoshop Manipulation:

Cie Cheesemeister

30 Days of Haiga 2014: Day 13

Click to Enlarge

Original Image:

"Circuspeanut" by Dictouray at English Wikipedia - Own work. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Circuspeanut.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Circuspeanut.jpg

Wikipedia Entry on The Horror of Circus Peanuts

Stomach-Churning Verse:

Tempest Nightingale LeTrope

Gruesome Photoshop Manipulation:

Cie Cheesemeister

General Monger Pulls Rank

General Monger was proud of his rank

So he rolled into town in a tank

It really blew his mind

When he got a ticket and fine

For running down the ATM at the bank

~Tempest~

For The Passengers of Flight 17

Photo source, with news story

In memory of the passengers of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

Men, women, babies

All gone in a flash of fire

Hate destroys all things

~Tempest~

Tempest's Fly-Ku

Image from this post

Fly-Ku

Outside the window

Spider spies the fly inside

Spider, frustrated

~Tempest~

This was inspired by a Mindlovemisery's Menagerie prompt.

W is for Wrapped Refrain (Form 2)

The music I was listening to when I wrote the poem

The Eternal Dance

I

Would you dance with me always, I wonder, and be my love

You are more beautiful than all the angels up above
I fell the moment I saw you
I died the moment I saw through
The mask you wear to hide the lies
The truth is plain behind your eyes

I love you even though you have torn my heart asunder

I ask you now: would you dance with me always, I wonder

II
Your heart beats to a melody untrue and makes me weep
Innocent eyes disguise all the wicked secrets you keep
You hold me in your arms while you
Consider plans to be untrue
You scheme about your next conquest
While telling me that I'm the best
I can't believe I fell for someone as wicked as you
You lie to me, your heart beats to a melody untrue

~Tempest Nightingale LeTrope~

Wrapped Refrain (Form No. 2)

Wrapped Refrain (Form No. 2), created by Jan Turner, carries some similar aspects as her Wrapped Refrain form, with further advanced techniques. It consists of 2 or more stanzas of 8 lines each, with the following set rules:

Meter: 14, 14, 8, 8, 8, 8, 14, 14
Rhyme Scheme: a,a,b,b,c,c,d,d

Refrain rule: In each stanza, the first 10 syllables in the first line (incorporating a phrase) must be the last 10 syllables at the end of the last line (line #8).


Example #1:
Castle in the Clouds

Bavaria, you render dreams come true on hills of white.
Your castle glints through moonbeams, snowy spires in the night.
My mind says it’s just a mirage
or nature playing with collage...
that if I turn around I bet
it shall just disappear, and yet
my eyes instead see parapets that break the skyline blue,
as straight ahead, Bavaria, you render dreams come true.

Bavaria, your Disneyland is mine this very night;
it’s just as if your castle planned its setting, out of sight,
for some of us to stumble on.
But, if I blink will it be gone?
This castle you have hid so well
enchants me with its magic spell;
it lures me into fantasies enwrapped with snowy pine.
You render dreams, Bavaria... your Disneyland is mine.

Copyright © 2009 Jan Turner

V is for Ville-nelle

Ville Valo

There are styles that start with V which have already been invented, one of the most famous of which is the Villanelle. I was thinking of using that one, but then I thought to myself, why not instead pay tribute to one of the most talented modern vocalists and songwriters, Ville Valo of the fabulous Finnish melodic metal band H.I.M.? Thus, lovers of music and verse, I give you the Ville-nelle. First mine, and then a sample from the master.

Ville's song lyrics are characterized by dark and romantic subject matter. There is often a sense of longing or heartbreak, and the setting of the piece tends to allude to the supernatural.

Alone in the Night

Tossed about like driftwood on a stormy sea

I prayed that you would see me through the eyes of love

But there was nothing real within your heart for me

The angels turned their backs and closed off the heavens above

Left broken-hearted and alone in the night

There is no reason left for me to fight

I was just a toy to you, and nothing more

You don't know my heart is broken

Because you don't care at all

You got what you wanted, and you went on your way

You are a dark shadow hanging over my life

I try to escape the memories of you

But I can't find a way to tear you from my heart

Even in death, I'd only dream of you

Although you no more dream of me

You're still the only vision I see

~Tempest Nightingale LeTrope~

**************

 Kiss Of Dawn

Album: Venus Doom

Blinded I am and so are you

By shedding tears

Confusion that separates us two

We hold dear

Just look into my eyes

Kiss our fears good bye

[Chorus:]

I'm reaching for your shadow drowning in

The kiss of dawn

Touching the pain that you left me with

At the kiss of dawn

I'm tired of the games I'm playing with you

When you're not here

Death frees from the fear of dying

it's true, have no fear

Let me look into your eyes

and see death pass us by

[Repeat chorus 2x]

You've read it, now hear it!

A Tribute to Lou Reed

March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013

I wish more people
Were vicious like Lou
We should all strive to be
As intolerant too

Lou was one of a kind
His tunes may be imitated
But his heart, soul, and mind
Can't be duplicated

Still, it would be nice
If we all could just be
So vicious like Lou
And just let others be

Love,
Tempest

No Quarter

Note: I am currently in quite a low place emotionally, and this poem is what was inspired by the 100 Word Song challenge. If the only thing you have to say is to tell me that I "shouldn't" feel how I'm feeling, then kindly fuck right off. I am feeling how I'm feeling, and I don't have the patience to argue with the sort who wants to sanctimoniously lecture me about it.

I've found in my long and often difficult life that the people who want to tell a sad or angry person to stop feeling that way have gleaned some sort of uncomfortable truth from said individual's work. I've got some bad news for you, Sunshine. Life is not always a happy place, and there are some for whom it's always a struggle. If you can acknowledge that with an open mind, read on. Otherwise, go here.

No Quarter

When you are

Middle aged

Mentally ill

And

Badly Broke

You realize

That there are no

Opportunities

For those like you

To triumph

Ever

You stop trying

Because you can never triumph

You stop sharing

Because the only thing that happens

To the words you share

Is that they are torn down

Love is meant for beauty queens

And opportunities

Are only given

To those who meet certain qualifications

Agreed upon by a shallow

Youth-oriented

Society

I learned the truth at seventeen

But fueled by denial

I hoped that the bleeding hearts and artists

Would embrace me

It never happened

~Tempest~

Daring By the Numbers

 

Daring By the Numbers

 

1

 

Some people think me daring

Though I never sailed the straits of Bering

Nor did I ever meet Mr. Behring

Or battle Mr. Goering

I might be prone to fits of swearing

If I slip on a ball bearing

I occasionally fish for lake herring

And spice up my writing with red herring

 

2

 

Do you believe yourself daring?

Your scrutiny is unsparing

You enjoy making people sad

Tearing down what makes them glad

Your attitude is very bad

I think you to be a cad

Who always follows the latest fad

Your meanness makes me mad

I'd like to set up nets of snaring

And feed you to the king herring

 

3

 

I

am not

sexy hot

or daring cool

I'm not a pepper pot

But I just might take you to school

Maybe you should go jump into the pool

You think you're a truly irresistible guy

I think you make yourself look like a fool

You get off on being cruel

Trapping hearts in your knot

Lord of misrule

caring not

soul rot

lie

 

~Tempest~

 



Shadows of Me

 

Shadows of Me

 

Angry

Belligerent when threatened

Cantankerous

Depressive

Evil Thoughts sometimes fill my head

Foolish

Greedy

Hateful

Irrational

Joyless

Kinky imagination fueled by past abuses

Lovelorn

Mean-spirited

Nasty

Obstinate

Questioning everything at all times

Rude

Snide

Touchy

Ugly thoughts form quagmires in my soul

Vicious fantasies form when I feel betrayed

Whiny

X rated thoughts during times of hypersexuality (thanks, Bipolar)

Yearning for the impossible

Zoned out

 

~Tempest~

 

The prompt was to explore the shadow side of our psyche. These are parts of me that I try not to present to the world.

 

The Same Mistake Twice

The Same Mistake Twice

Twenty-five years passed

Since the time I saw you last

You sent me a letter

Saying you were in town

Wondering if you'd see me 'round

Hoping we could meet

I convinced myself that you'd changed

That you had gotten better

But like every other sweet word

It was all a lie

You said you'd ditched the booze and the coke

You said you no longer even smoked

You said you'd learned your lesson

About playing around with hearts

I thought you'd come clean 

But I discovered the truth

You weren't any better now

Than you'd been in my youth

You said you weren't tied down

You made me look like a clown

You took off your ring

In hopes of a fling

Turned out you'd married a stripper 

Your fourth wife, I hear

Glad I found out

Before I let you get near

Near my body, that is

But you still invaded my heart

Even when you'd gone from my sight

Thoughts of you tore me apart

I know that you're all wrong for me

You're all wrong for everybody

The women you meet are nothing but toys

Who fall for the sweet little wounded boy

Your wife is your mistress

You like to engage in group scenes

With her, pornography, booze, and cocaine

And anyone else foolish enough

To walk into your snare

I've learned my lesson

I'm never going back there

But the heart is an illogical thing

And sometimes it still conjures up

Dreams of you and me

And what I once thought could be

~Tempest Nightingale LeTrope~

The prompt asked us to use another poem for inspiration and continue on the theme.

I tend to do everything in a really roundabout and convoluted way, because:

My inspiration points were the tribute poem to Ronnie James Dio written by Spectra Ghostseeker, Ronnie's song Rainbow Eyes, Sheryl Crow's song My Favorite Mistake, and the fact that there's no expiration date on stupidity. Even at my age, a person can still put on blinders and convince themselves that something bad can be good.

 I woke up and called this mornin'
The tone of your voice was a warnin'
That you don't care for me anymore

I made up the bed we sleep in
I looked at the clock when you creep in
It's six a.m. and I'm alone

Did you know when you go
It's the perfect ending
To the bad day I was just beginning
When you go all I know is
You're my favorite mistake

Well, your friends are sorry for me
They watch you pretend to adore me
But I'm no fool to this game

Now here comes your secret lover
She'd be unlike any other
Until your guilt goes up in flames

Did you know when you go
It's the perfect ending
To the bad day I've got used to spendin'
When you go all I know is
You're my favorite mistake
You're my favorite mistake

Well maybe nothin' lasts forever
Even when you stay together
I don't need for ever after
It's your laughter won't let me go
So I'm holdin' on this way

Did you know, could you tell
You were the only one
That I ever loved
Now everything's so wrong

Did you see me walkin' by
Did it ever make you cry
You're my favorite mistake
You're my favorite mistake
You're my favorite mistake