The Prince Who Failed to King

I built you a castle

with my heart in my hands,

but you turned the spade

and plucked it out by the roots.

 

You didn’t heed

the old gambler’s advice

to know when to hold ‘em.

 

You thought you’d win,

but we lost

when you folded

the best hand at the table.

 

I built you a castle,

it was only a little one,

but still.

 

 

© 2026 Jennifer Wagner

 

dVerse Poetics

 

 

 

two images: pixabay.com

Arrested

 

On the menu:

chocolate cakes.

Two, to be exact.

One with espresso in the batter, one

without.

One apple cake, one apple crisp.

One chocolate chip banana bread.

 

I am making these,

which I do not eat.

 

Pretzel peanut butter cookies are next,

or your mom’s pistachio bundt,

or pumpkin spice cupcakes,

some with sprinkles, some

without.

 

I will probably not eat much of them either.

 

Strangely, I am baking as if they are

for repast post funeral, attempts

at forgetting your superpowers,

the ones that always weakened,

arrested me.

 

Still wanting you to hold me,

settling for within,

but

without.

 

 

© 2024 Jennifer Wagner

 

 

For The Word Garden Word List—Tomb Sweeping

Boxed

 

Bring me hope

that hasn’t forgotten

that look in my eyes.

 

Capture

all my longing

long gone

 

and bring it back

as if you’ve wrestled Leviathan, 

stinging nettles,

the inky blackness of your own heart.

 

Bring it back,

run your hand over it,

as if you cared.

 

 

© 2023 Jennifer Wagner

 

OLN