An ode to my aunt

You never gave up on me

I would have left this world
in my teens,
had it not been for you.
You introduced me to God.
I learned that He loved me
regardless of my failings.

You wrapped me in your love,
a blanket I did not know.
Unfamiliar, caring, we were just children.
You taught me Gods love, church,
baptism, shared your devotion.

Only one year older, you mothered me.
You were wise, wore an armour,
carried personal pain.
My liftime of straying,
you never turned me away.

All my life I longed to emulate you.
I could not come near,
when I failed you lifted me up.
You never judged.

Heaven is blessed to have you.
I know you will share your beautiful
voice with the angels.
You will be missed, sometimes
beyond endurance.

You will be here always
whispering in ears,
wrapping us in angel arms.
You never gave up on me.

RDP Saturday Quench

Pieces
You break off minute pieces of your heart
pass them out like chocolates.
Greedily I return for more
arms outstretched, fingers grasping.

You dole yourself out sparingly
greedy with my share.
My sweet tooth longs for more
why must you leave me craving.

RDP Optimist

Maybe in another life

Although we tried to reconnect the path was rather quirky

We made a few good starts, life became too murky

You had your goals, I had my dreams, realities diverged

We chose paths that ran parallel, would never intersect

I required attention, a great deal of maintenance

Like an auto, single owner, pampered and well tuned

Your body was a taxi cab, fares that came and went

In and out. short trips and long, no attachment formed

It crossed my mind this couldn’t last, it would come to naught

Continuing on this journey disaster surely wrought

My heart it would be shattered, trampled on the ground

Your ego would be nurtured, notches on your belt

Maybe in another life we could have made it work

Pre disappointments, baggage carried throughout time

Unscarred hearts and damages, wounds refuse to heal

Entrenched in our ways, incapable of change

Maybe in another life should we happen to meet

RDPPuddle

Muddy waters

Exhausted at wading through these mud puddles.
Can’t do another lap against polluted streams.
I release your hand, you reach for me,
fingers grasping, I flinch.

Deep breath fills my lungs, leg extended, I leap.
Feet settle on firm ground, me steady, gasping.
I look back to watch you wade through murky water.
Confused look on your face, why don’t you understand.

Hot tears stream down dirty cheeks, burning gullies.
My heart cracks, it shatters in my chest.
You stood your ground, refused to step out of the mud.
I cannot bear to watch you as the muck sucks you downward.

You refuse to save yourself, you stand stoically,
sinking slowly below the surface.
I believe I see tears shimmer in your eyes as you disappear,
Perhaps my imagination, determined to make my way alone.

Coats

Friends wear many different color coats
Orange of passion, green alliance, gold forever friends.
Blue denotes laughter, red close although worrisome.
Silver coats strength like metal, strong unswaying.

I hope I wear a coat of many colors, stand out in your crowd.
Low ebbing tides of insecurity I need you to lift me up not swat
at me as an irksome fly.
I will lift you up through low ebbs, offer prayers to our God
to strengthen you, heal you and guide you through dark nights.

I will do my best to shield you, give my life for you if necessary.
I offer warmth in my embrace, salty tears of condolence.
I will laugh with at sophomoric humor only we would get.
Sit with you silence if that is what you need, I am here for you.

2 a.m.

  · 

Shared with Your friends

2:45 a.m. the night sky opens, it shutters,

it cracks wide open, it wails,spilling tears.

Lightening rips across the black backdrop,

jagged flashes light our world.

My home trembles, dishes in cupboards

rattle. Cupboard doors trembles.

Jazmine flies from the floor to land on the

foot of the bed, she trembles, vibrating.

King sized bed vibrates along with her.

Spasms wrack her usual docile body, fear.

Eyes wide, she awaits the next flash of lightening.

Saucer sized brown eyes glow in the dark room.

Thirty long minutes later the world goes quiet.

Dead silence, dense dark envelopes our room.

Jazmine continues to trembe, adrenalin courses.

I smell her fear, her dog breath assails my nostrils.

Her quaking body idles, even breathing ensues.

Head lowers, eyes close, she sleeps.

I am up for the remainder of the night,

here we go again….

Opportunity Lost

Walking side by side, shoulders inches apart

arms swinging gently, each longing for contact.

She looks down at his hand, inches from her own

resisting the urge to reach for it, unsure.

He senses the closeness of her slender arm,

the sculpted wrist and delicate hand, thin fingers.

The moment passes, opportunity lost.

She visualizes her small hand tucked neatly into his.

He fantasizes, her pressed up against the building,

his lips exploring her neck, her jawline, searching her lips.

She shifts her arm closer to his, her hand grazes his knuckles.

He twists his hand to reach for her, she has already receded

as though the heat of his knuckles has seared her flesh.

Another opportunity lost, their heat extinguished.

the daily spur return

Electric

Accidental graze of your warm fingers on my arm,

electrical surge shoots upward, heart palpitates.

Black eyes burn into my forehead, I raise my eyes,

blue water iris boils, heat overflow runs downward.

My skin singes, burned flesh perspires, glistens.

I turn and walk away, ten steps along I turn, look over my shoulder.

You remain in place, statuesque, ice. Eyes burn into my back, red heat.

You are danger, neon letters flash before my eyes, run, run.

I find myself walking back to you, cannot stop myself, mystified.

I stand before you, empty. You have stolen my soul, heartless.

RDP Irrelevant

Resignation

They smile across the table, politely,

ease of conversation, benign.

She watches his lips as he speaks,

expecting sparks.

He stares into her eyes

praying for longing.

They sit conversing comfortably

neither willing to stir the ashes.

The cold gray ash floats in the air

between them, ignored.

Pride grins, puffs his chest.

He licks his finger, holds it in the air.

Score another one for me he says to himself.

The couple part, hurt, no resolution.

Just thinking

Endings

I opened the door, stepped onto the leaning porch

to welcome the dawning day.

I felt you blow gently at the nape of my neck.

stirring the silver hair that brushed my shoulders.

I closed my tired eyes and leaned into you as you

rested your whiskered chin on my shoulder.

Long, sinewed arms, gnarled hands encircled my once lean waist.

My blue mapped hands covered yours.

We welcomed another day to those we had collected,

over the decades, from this very spot.

All the shades of sunrises painted on our memories,

the new beginnings etched into our hearts.

Our dreams no longer look forward, they have been fulfilled.

We now scatter offerings to the gods for blessings received.

We grasp each new sunrise and press it into the tiny crevices

of our lives, savoring the sweetness we shall carry with us.