Showing posts with label metaphor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metaphor. Show all posts

Thursday, April 1, 2021

A Rumpled Thing Left Out to Dry

 


Image by Kranich17 from Pixabay


and now, introducing me
when you look at this rumpled old thing
just what is it that you see?

I've spent an entire lifetime
trying to iron myself out
and I claim that I'm almost there

but the truth be told
I feel like I was left 
for too long in the spin cycle

I try to tumble dry
the tears from my eyes
as I realize

that I still haven't managed
to warm up to myself
I emerge from each battle with me 
dizzy and covered in dryer fuzz

although I have a big body
I mostly feel mighty small
I know people don't care for bulky me
the way they do for silky bits of finery

folks think it's perfectly acceptable
to snub those who look like me
they tell me I'm carrying too big a front load
and I have too much junk in my trunk

when I try to think about me neutrally
I know that I have a good quality or two
I'm an easygoing cuss
a wash and wear kind of gal

I'm definitely not one of your fine delicates
one of those dainty damsels 
that dashing heroes like to pick up
like a lace hanky dropped on the floor

ladies whose unlined faces
appear to be permanent press
so long as you machine wash warm
and dry flat

but as these downy chicks
tumbled by life's tide
become wrinkled 
they are folded up and put aside

it isn't that the fellows
won't take a tumble with me
it's just that they think of gals like me
as a pre-soak

a warm-up for the dainty delicates
that they drape from their muscular arms
to accessorize their designer suits
when they go out on the town

a pretty little accessory
that they can fluff and fold
and tuck away in a drawer
until they're ready to use her again

I decided to rinse my hands of men
who cycle through women's lives
with all the tenderness of a tropical storm

I don't want to be kept
hanging on the line
with clothespins or lies
waiting for the prairie wind to dry my tears

~cie~

Prompts 
April PAD Challenge
Countdown Day 2: Write an "almost" poem.

Countdown Day 1: Write a warm-up poem.

PAD Challenge Day 1: Write an introduction poem

D'verse Poets

D'verse Words
fluff & fold
spin cycle 
permanent press 
wash & wear
cycle 
dryer fuzz 
machine wash warm 
tumble dry 
dry flat 
presoak 
wrinkled 
front load
rinse 
fine delicates 
clothes pins
downy
tide 

NaPoWriMo
Day 1: See the world in a new way
I did not expect to metaphorically be comparing myself to laundry, but here we are.

The Icky, Sticky, Nit-Picky Legalese If You Please (Or Don't Please)


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Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Carpe Diem Tan Renga Wednesday: White Chrysanthemum


White chrysanthemum
I look holding it straight
no dust at all
nothing can remain unchanged
all will become dust in time

~Basho & cie~


notes
The Hokku was written by Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694). The Ageku was created by me.

Friday, February 21, 2020

Carpe Diem Love Month + Haiku My Heart: Butterflies, my First Love (Senryu)

Image by Schwoaze from Pixabay

lovely butterfly
small girl cries with all her heart
you lie motionless

~cie~



notes
I didn't want to write about romantic love. (Blech.) So I decided to write about one of the two things I loved very much as a child. My first experience with death involved finding a butterfly still on the sidewalk on a cold, rainy day while walking with my father at three years old. I was devastated. 

Fifty-two years have gone by since then. My father is now gone too.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Carpe Diem Renga with Issa: Sparrows


spring peace--
after rain, a gang war
garden sparrows
the seeds that I have planted
are a victory buffet

don't let the plum blossom guard
cut your tongues...
Sparrows! 
let voices be a whisper
until you are safely past


are the sparrows too
having a private party?
plum blossoms
no, I was not invited
I now watch from the window

while I watch
he's off to make a living alone...
baby sparrow
sometimes the ones who leave home
invite the parents to stay

living in harmony--
the sparrow has
both parents!
will the parents be able
to live in harmony too?

on the tip of the
newly sprouted bamboo...
a baby sparrow
a small and innocent thing
in a world without a heart

~Issa and Cie~



Notes:
The Hokku stanzas in these Tan Renga verses were composed by Kobayashi Issa (June 15, 1763 – January 5, 1828). The Akegu stanzas were written by me.
The Akegu in the last three verses are references to my son, without whose kindness I would be homeless. The property he bought will eventually also become home to his father who is currently living in Arizona helping his own father. When his father passes, he will sell the place in Arizona and move here.
We were divorced in 1994 when our son was four years old, and we have lived in roommate situations since then, although I was always relieved when he moved on to something else if I am honest. That probably won't happen this time, due to compromises in his health as well as mine. However, this is a big enough place that we should be able to keep from killing each other.

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #90: Crossroads: Summer Solstice Troiku Hineri

Image by yibg from Pixabay

This Short Night

this short night -
from a shallow well I scoop
a persimmon flower

Insomnia

this short night
like many others, sleepless
I dread the morning

this short night
my mind is filled with worry
rest cannot be found

like many others, sleepless
I try to find some comfort
in the quiet dark

I dread the morning
unwanted expectations
putting on my mask

From the Well

from a shallow well I scoop
water kept cool underground
safe from sun's harsh blaze

from a shallow well I scoop
another cup of water
binding me to earth

water kept cool underground
safe from the sun relentless
shaded from the heat

safe from the sun's harsh blaze
wish I was one with water
wish that I could hide

Persimmon Flower

a persimmon flower
holds the promise of autumn
solace from the heat

a persimmon flower
yellow petals and green leaves
floats on the surface

holds the promise of autumn
but what does autumn promise
but solace from heat

solace from the heat
the best that I can hope for
in this weary life

Yosa Buson & Cie

Image by Couleur from Pixabay

The Peach

solstice splits
between the peach halves
a red stone sun

Solstice Splits

solstice splits
lovely flowers everywhere
unrelenting sun

solstice splits
beautiful harvest promised
nothing guaranteed

lovely flowers everywhere
I wish I could be happy
but nothing changes

unrelenting sun
beats down on another year
desiccating hope

Between the Peach Halves

between the peach halves
the promise of a future
more peaches next year

between the peach halves
the promise of a new tree
providing its shade

the promise of a future
but there are no guarantees
some win and some lose

more peaches next year
a momentary sweetness
in life hard and dry

Red Stone Sun

a red stone sun
holding the promise of life
within its hard shell

a red stone sun
color without warmth or light
shining nonetheless

holding the promise of life
promises not always kept
dreams don't always thrive

within its hard shell
sits the seed of tomorrow
yet unrealized

Jane & Cie


Notes:
Why do one or the other when you can do both?
Why kill when you can overkill?
The "sleigh" for the first Troiku Hineri was created by Yosa Buson (1716-1784).
The "sleigh" for the second Troiku Hineri was created by Jane Reichhold (1937 -2016).
All Horses of the Apocalypse are my own undoing.