Exercise #10: Life and Milk

Insufficient

He lived in a house full of estrogen.
Surrounded by Mom, my sister and me
Dad had to create a way to cope.
He had his own little hiding place
for whenever we fought or talked
about something he didn't want to hear.

We came home every day to his teachings
on worm holes and String Theory and
on understanding imaginary numbers.
We rolled our eyes and made fun of his
contraptions and tendency towards tech.
But he kept teaching us.

On Christmas Mom opened her present
from my sister and me that we had bought
with our allowance money.
She held the necklace up to the light
and commented on how nice it would look
with her blue blazer on Sunday.

Dad looked at the present we gave him.
The box was very small and he already
knew exactly what was inside of it.
He opened the lid and said "Oooh,"
faking his excitement for the grocery store
candy that filled up the inside.

Dad taught me to ride a bicycle,
he showed us how to look at the stars
and record ourselves on the tape recorder.
He put our Band-Aids on and kissed our knees
and somewhere in the top of his closet
That box of cheap candy sits, untouched.

Exercise #9: Villanelle

In the darkest shadows I find where light begins.
The truth creeps in when I'm trying to hide;
God does prevail and love will always win.

There are so many distractions I forget to listen
To the Voice that calls out and beckons me to abide.
In the darkest shadows I find where light begins.

I can't see more than a foot ahead and the light is dim.
The door is closed and I wonder if I will ever get inside.
The race is starting, if I don't make it how can I win?

The light peeks in through the cracks like a fruit through the skin.
Shapes take form like a map made out of the light.
In darkest shadows I find where light begins.

The map paints a picture of a future beyond my whims.
It's the beauty, the Artist that moves me to cry.
There's such a big picture and every intention to win.

The battle is over my feet move again.
There is no more sorrow, no fear left or pride.
In the darkest shadows I find where light begins.
God does prevail and love will always win.

Excercise 8: Ghosts, Monsters, Bullies

Write a poem about one of your childhood fears.


I stared down at the white napkin and see
two round cookies waiting to be eaten.
They were the good kind, too,
with rainbow chips and chocolate;
Not too crunchy, not too soft.

Mom goes back to unpacking her bags,
the ocean roaring outside.
From inside it sounded more like a whisper,
sending chills down my spine
as I a wait out this feeling I just can't shake.

I look at my sister who has already eaten one.
The crumbles pitter patter on the floor
as she picks up the other one to devour.
I pick up mine and inspect it slowly,
sniffing the surface for some kind of sign.

I take my napkin and brush off the tops
of the cookies as hard as I can.
Hopefully if there was any poison left
It would not be enough to do any harm.
I throw the napkin away.

I look long and hard at Mom,
searching for signs of foul play or some signal
from the universe that I could proceed.
The ritual cleaning has helped and now my
desire for sweets trumps my fear and I take a bite.

Excercise 7: Mother, Father

"Let's start from the beginning..."
Here comes the intent stare
the rolling up of the sleeves
in preparation.

"First we need to look back at the beginning of the chapter."
A heavy sigh is drawn from my chest;
He begins drawing a diagram full of numbers and symbols
I flip back in the text.

"What is interesting about this theory is..."
His voice squeaks and stutters
I am staring deeply at the cracks in the ceiling
and pet the cat.

"Just wait a minute, look at this diagram first!"
His face tenses like my fists;
I stomp my foot on the ground
and lose my patience.

"Dad, I just needed help with this one problem, not the whole chapter!"

Excercise 6: No First or Last

If indeed there is no First or Last
then why do we spend our lives
working and fighting and struggling for equality?

Is it an illusion or is it real?
Why do little children already complain
about being in the back of the line?

Why have their been wars fought and
Actions filed and seeds sown and tears cried
if it is all in vain?

Maybe the answer is in the idea;
A vision of no First and Last.
Maybe this equality is something paint with our minds.

Fake it until we make it.

Excericse #5: A Recipe Poem

Recipe For Keeping a Cat

Ingredients:

Shelter with one or more rooms
Cat food
Bowls for food and water
Litter box
Windows with blinds and large sills
At least one extra soft blanket or throw
Couch
Bed
Newspaper
Cardboard box
Flip-flops

Instructions:

Invite the cat into your shelter. Provide her with the two bowls one filled with water and the other filled with food. Change the water daily. Every time the end of the bowl is visible, refill the bowl with food. Scoop out the litter box daily. The cat will wait until you have freshly scooped it to use it again, so be sure to follow her schedule on this. Lay the soft blanket on the bed for the cat to sleep on. Keep the cats' nails sharp and long so that she can enjoy scratching the couch until the wooden interior is exposed. When eating breakfast, be sure to pick up the newspaper and read it so that the cat can come and lay down on it on the table while you are trying to read. Be sure to give the cat  your leftover milk in the cereal bowl while she is laying on the newspaper. Keep window blinds open during the day so that the cat can sit on the sill and look outside. It is preferable at times to closet he blinds, however, so that the cat can stick her head in and eventually birth her way through the blinds to get to the window. Rotate the blinds up and down so she can have both experiences. Finally, leave your flip-flops out overnight so that the cat can enjoy gnawing on them. You will pleasantly wake up to see the teeth marks she has left for you. If you read them left to right they will reveal a special message she has created expressing her true love for you.

If you follow these directions and pet and love your cat daily, you will be a successful pet owner.

Exercise 4: A Curtal Sonnet

How long we wait for sunny skies--

For late breakfasts and sleepy days;

For crisp autumn leaves or blossomed buds;

When the fledgling bird from its nest first flies;

We wander off the path to find more adventurous ways. 

How sudden it is we become aware--

A deep red cardinal rests upon a limb;

Two girls make angels in the snow;

A star peeks out from its cloudy lair; 

No longer will winter seem so dim,

                                              So bare.