The Torn Red Dress

Twilight gathers in shades of dusky blue,
And almost obscures my strip of red dress.
It ripped when I fell from my lofty view.
Birds are eyeing it for use in a nest.

I am unharmed by the fall yet I stay,
And stare at the tattered red piece of cloth.
I have ruined my finest dress today,
All for the love of climbing high aloft.

I must return home alone in the dark,
And face angry questions about the dress.
Who knows what trouble this torn dress will spark?
Perhaps staying here in the dark is best.

I will make my bed here on the cold ground,
And sleep all of my worrisome thoughts away.
I’ll go home when I’m sure no one’s around.
I won’t explain what I did yesterday.

Oh, how sweet it would be to be honored,
And to be taken at my truthful word,
Instead, I am quizzed, queried, and cornered,
And no one believes the answers they’ve heard.

If I had bird wings I’d take to the sky.
I would fly away and never return.
I would go where I’m never told I lie,
And the facts of my story are not spurned.

Rising Above the Crowd

These wings will fly me far above the clouds. 

I don’t fit in with these faceless crowds.

I can’t bring myself to look in their eyes.

They use these umbrellas as their disguise.

I close my eyes and pretend I’m asleep.

And long to be far from these mindless sheep.

They are satisfied to all be the same.

No one wants to stand out ,so they claim.

They glumly trudge on through the pouring rain,

 Dampening their spirits while they complain,

 And bunch up together like one big flock,

 Hurrying to get there to punch  the clock.

                             

 I am unique and think with my own mind,

 And I’ll never become one of their kind.

I’ll take my daisies and fly far away.

I’ll never conform and do things their way.

Thanks to Bluebell Books for honoring me with the Story of the Week Award for this poem. It's funny because I didn't particularly like this piece, but I'm glad that they did.

Tea Time for Cinderella

Hello little bird; I’m glad you flew my way,

As I rest while sipping my tea today.

Have you heard any news about the ball?

It is the grandest event of the fall.

I don’t think that I will be attending.

All of my clothes are in need of mending.

I have no fancy gown to wear to a ball.

My mean step sisters have gowns, shoes, and all.

My stepmother says I must stay behind,

And clean the house, so I know I must mind.

Life isn’t fair for a young girl like me.

I pray that someday things change instantly.

These old shoes could turn to slippers of glass,

One of these pumpkins to a carriage fast,

My shabby dress could turn to a ball gown,

By a fairy waving her wand around .

Enough of day dreaming; tea time must end.

I’ll go back to work; there are clothes to mend.

Someday my prince will come and that’s a fact.

I’ll leave this drudgery and won’t look back.

Isn't It Ducky?

Oh swell, oh ducky, I’m so very lucky,

Standing out here in the rain, it’s plain,

I’m ugly in my yellow boots, well shoot!

My toes are pointed out; my mouth’s in a pout,

And I’m in doubt that these ducks know what’s about.

They’ll probably get mowed over by a yellow Land Rover.

I’d shoo them with my umbrella or maybe find a fella,

Who’ll chase them to the pond that lies beyond,

But then I’ll get all wet and I never would forget,

How homely I would seem to the fella of my dreams,

When he chased the ducks to the pond that lies beyond,

So I’ll just stand in the rain and watch this little duck train.

Someday I’ll turn into a swan and this duckling will be gone.

The Time Of My Life

Time is measured in small increments.

Seconds turn to minutes, minutes to hours,

Hours to days, days to weeks, weeks to years,

Until life has slipped away as sand through an hourglass.

When the last grain of sand has fallen through,

And life ebbs from this body what shall I say?

Will I say that life was worth the living?

How have I chosen to fill my allotted time?

Have I been self-centered or petty?

Have I spread good will or been mean-spirited?

Have I loved and been loved in return?

Have I gone the second mile for someone?

Did I bring a smile to some soul who needs it?

These few things I know deep in my spirit;

I must make the seconds and minutes count,

For once passed they cannot be retrieved.

I must not squander them on meaningless pursuits,

Or on superficial relationships.

I must fill my precious time with things of beauty,

Noble things, and those of good report.

I pray for wisdom in using the days I am granted.

I must make a difference in this world.

I must let the inner light of Christ shine through,

And show others the richness of His divine love.

Outstanding Writer Award

Thanks to Blue Bell Books for this lovely award!

Bubble Bath

Let me rest, close my eyes, and drift away.

I will go where diapers are never found,

Where no one spills juice as they run and play,

And no cracker crumbs spread all around.

This bubble bath soothes both body and mind,

Taking me from the chaos toddlers bring.

When I step out of this tub I will find,

Renewed strength to rock my children and sing.

As I look down at the rubber ducky,

And the puddles all over the floor,

I am reminded that I am lucky.

I have a family worth living for.

I needed this time to relax and reflect,

And let my tensions go and be relieved.

Now I’ll return to them and reconnect.

I’m given more love than I can receive.

Tree Reading

On this tree limb, I sit alone and read,

 Escaping the world which makes my heart bleed.

I leave the turmoil down there far below,

As to a happy fairyland I go.

With every single page I read and turn,

I forget about the hateful things I’ve learned,

From those earthbound souls who should teach noble things.

The words I read make my poor spirit sing.

Each time I climb up high to read a book,

I visit some new place to take a look.

My mind is fed with thoughts extraordinaire,

And I leave behind each worry and each care.

Bubble Worlds

Fragile little transparent worlds
Each encapsulating
Its own realm of beauty
Floating upward, ever upward toward the sky
Only to be popped midair by a child
Or some object in its way
And it is gone forever.