Liebster Blog Award

Poet Chhavi Vatwani who writes at Sour Lemons and Tequila awarded me the Liebster Blog Award recently.  Some busy times around here with a house full of sickies and what not but I wanted to make mention and thank her for thinking of me and allowing me to accept honorarily—she is sweeter than Banoffee pie (her favorite, by the way).  Thank you Chhavi!

We Said

you said,

no one ever believed in you quite like me

you said,

you found the seashell as you ran on the beach

and kept it in your pocket

to give it to me

you said,

i made you want to lay down

on the tracks of a speeding locomotive

and beg for my love

i said,

yes

Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

For Ian.  I was made to believe in you…15 years.  I still have the shell.

Fairy Tale, Ending

Brush my mind

with ticklings of innocence;

I’ve since passed them

sinking in the quicksand

of want;

disclosing destroyed

and heaving parts,

the remnants of ugliness

from connubial war.

Disgusted,

our most real selves

are painfully owning all of it, even

the gaps so richly fabled when it suited.

Cleverly cloaked

in our reckless game of moth-eaten promise;

the bearers of bad news

always held their tongue.  They all knew their fate,

when veracity

was so uncomely.

Solemn workers of the gallows have finally come

to set the masqueraders free.

It’s a ghastly job to examine the photo

pulled from the frame

when the lies were just so pretty.

Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Apparently I am indefinite article deficient.  I'm sorry if you read this post before I made the fix on the third to last line.  I'm going to blame it on the flu.  I'll be linking up at dVerse Poets Pub for OpenLinkNight tomorrow!

Date Night Kiss

forgotten

the car keys

and whose fault it was

Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

haiku my heart 

Postcard 77

i had just turned six when

Elvis died

my mom with her long, dark hair

and my aunt, blonde and long too—

sat out on the steps

with their friends

and their short shorts, sobbing;

Tab and real Pepsi

in the bottle

Virginia Slims between the index

and middle

age

i watched,

barefoot in the warm shade;

topaz eyes full and wide,

little legs tan; and tendril-bleached,

umber hair, wild—

even i knew i wouldn’t  forget

where i was that day

when i heard

‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’

in the background

and cried too

Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Sliding in to link up with the amazing poets at dVerse Poets Pub for OpenLinkNight.

revised 2.6.13

First Blush

mirrored

cherry lip gloss

in pale pink wish for spring

a light breeze bringing blossom thoughts

of you

Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

My adapted offering for the Weekend Mini-challenge at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads where Marian has challenged us to write a Cinquain; a form of poetry created by American poet Adelaide Crapsey.

Red-winged Blackbird's Funeral

Red-winged Blackbird, Wikimedia Commons

The sky played a trick,

impeding my flight—

dealing my doom.

The worm did not cry,

escaping to the depths

of a joyous homecoming.

Faces in the sky

of my sunset

held their breaths for me,

but brains

do not re-enter skulls;

and trash bags become funerary.

At least

I do not die alone

and without mourners.

Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

For Peggy’s prompt at Poetry Jam where the prompt is to write from the perspective of an animal.  This incident happened a couple of weeks ago.  A red-winged blackbird flew into our picture window so forcefully it could not recover.  The worm in its beak fell out and crawled away.  The bird, though so fatally wounded, struggled heartily. My boys were mostly fascinated by the scene and the science of it all.  But as the only female in a household of boys and men, it tore my heart a bit. 

Vamp

a murderous

winter passion

held its icy grip

on juicy melons,

mellow-rich

the blood

of raspberries

stained her fingertips

and mouth, lost

in strawberry sublime

found every drop

of juice

every seed

divine

Copyright © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

  

My smoothie obsession/therapy continues...

Emily (Hope Kicks)

hope

kicks

you

when you need it

if you must

cry

scream (it’s unfair)

swear (every word you can think of)

snot running,

mascara flowing

down your chin

allow it

for one hour

or one day

eat chocolate

eat the cake

the whole damn thing

pity party

like there’s no tomorrow

if that’s what it takes

and then

you get up       

Get      

Up

big girl

get off the floor

it won’t let you stay there

hope

kicks

you

when you need it

reminds you

it is the thing

with feathers

and wings that sing

your truth to you

when you’ve forgotten

how to fly        

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Inspired by my all time favorite poem by Emily Dickinson, “Hope” is the thing with feathers.

Slough

i wish to

shed this skin

of pain

of discontent

like a clinging, wrinkled

dress

crumpled

rolled around in

and pulled—

s  c  r  a  p  e  d

o  f  f

w

  i

g

  g

l

  e

d

out of

twisted

at my ankles

and dropped

like my

eyelids—

to drool into

the hair

of your chest

the pads

of your fingers

in that place

in the groove

of my back

hearing

no voices

and feeling

only

the breath

of your hungry mouth

satisfied

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

I'll be linking to dVerse with the amazing poets who gather there for OpenLinkNight.  

Mud Blossom

she washed herself

clean

in the dirty river—

sinking down

into

muddy banks,

covering herself

and the tar that lives

and thrives

raging

within her skin

emptied

the tree of herself—

leaves and

petals

flowing

buried

in layers

where dead things

find purpose

and nourish

the ground

lush with

undiscovered gold

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

The Beginning of a Poem

your life

began

as a song to me

your tender heart

beat

and when

your smile

was all i had

to get out

of bed

it was enough

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

for Andrew

dVerse OpenLinkNight 

Jukebox (Boombox), Baby

Joan Jett on cassette

softball summers

of field-dirt-crusted scabs

on my knees

and thighs

sliding into second

my dad said I never did it quite right

because there should be more on my thighs

if I were

a cherry Tootsie Roll Pop

with a ‘tude

sneaking gin and Jack Daniels

and smokes

dreaming of VW Super Beetles with glitter in the paint

or a ‘64 convertible Mustang, cherry red too, of course—

and The Outsiders

fast-forward

in audible

relief, mom and dad,

glad

I didn’t turn out wielding

a six-string and blowing sugar pops

but still I do

Love Rock ‘n Roll

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

At dVerse Poets Pub master prompter and poet Stuart McPherson has us writing about 'Growing Up'. 

Harbinger

Harbinger

by Andrew Romero

Haste the day the harbinger comes

With songs of loyalty and triumph

The sounds of life exude pain

The silence of existence is eternal

Death saddles his horse

At the living’s lamentation

He rides unto the cradle

Listening for Ataturk

Upon release he kneels

In respect for the deceased

At this he takes them within his bosom

Thrashing they vie for life

His icy embrace calms their tenacious fire

The horseman rides on

To father time, with emptied hourglass

Onwards he rides unto oblivion


Copyright 2012 Andrew Romero 

My son Andrew recently turned 18 and will graduate from high school this year.  Sigh...expect to see some nostalgic mama writes from me.  He writes poetry and wrote this piece a few months ago.  Also, he predicted, on the day of the Super Bowl last year, that the Seahawks would play in the Super Bowl this year.  Poet and possibly prophet?  Proud mama, no doubt.

January Smoothie

dark tart cherries

frozen

winter bliss

winter melancholy

the color of

iced blueberries

pomegranate arils

winter’s

escape pods

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

for haiku my heart

Old Man, Winter, and I

old man winter and i

standing on mountain grass and rocks

a slicing breeze

pulls the cork

and empties me

character failures spill out

on a screen of snow

i watch them play

with my mind

enter Remorse

followed by Blessed Forgetfulness

because the sun is up, bright

among sparse clouds

burning mercy, a silver lining,

into memories

that never forget me

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Linking up to another great day of poetry at dVerse.

Proximal

she hears it

thud

within her heart

darkening that softly whispered thing

he’d wept at her feet

squeezing his chest

begging her

to come back

where he could have her, love her

but, snow white

and glistening,

she congeals in

the rush of blood—

cheeks heated, flushed

and damp

spent where he

could never bring her back,

hold her into it long enough

to let it sink

into her skin,

her fluids,

her flesh and bones

holding her, hard

and pushing love into

that bruised place

she cries

every time he touches

forged with passion

sought with tears

a groove never deep enough

to reach the watercourse

and dangles

not siphoned,

a conduit,

clamped

as she turns away

too close

to feel it anymore

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Posting to The Poetry Pantry at Poets United

Sitka Pirates

a seashore moon

casting long sitka spruce shadows

            ghost pirate ship sails

Copyright 2013 Jennifer Wagner

  

haiku my heart 

Dreamwish 2013

Street art - Seattle, WA

photos © Jennifer Wagner

...

if your dream

doesn’t fit the page

color outside the lines

... 

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

Linking to imaginary garden with real toads and d'Verse.  Happy 2013!

New

in awe of His promise

to make all things new

even me

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

New for Haiku Heights and haiku my heart

Happy New Year :)

Inspiring Blogger Award

The lovely and amazingly gifted poet Janet Martin, who writes at Another Porch, has nominated me for the Inspiring Blogger Award.  What an honor!  She inspires me. 

So if I understand this right I am to give 7 facts about myself and then I have the privilege of nominating some bloggers for the award as well.  

My 7 facts:

1. I’m pretty good at Texas Hold ‘Em, if I do say so myself.
2. In my opinion ‘I Love Lucy’ is one of the best TV shows.  Ever. 
3. I enjoy Agatha Christie mystery novels.
4. My favorite food is a tomato right off the vine.
5. I (heart) baseball.
6. I do not (heart) squirrels. (don’t ask…)
7. book, blanket, fire = happy, happy me :)

You know how you get excited to see what some bloggers have come up with in every new post?  Here are a few I consider to be inspiring.  My nominations:

Margaret Bednar at Art Happens 365.  Poetry.  Photography.  Inspiration.  And she’s a mom of 6!  What can’t she do?  Amazingly brilliant lady.

Lolly at Look for a Lovely Thing.  Hers is a newly discovered blog for me.  She absolutely nails the ‘haiku moment’.  Her haiku are among the best I have ever read.

Yelena at moonlitpoetic.  Every time I read something she’s written I feel as though I’ve just witnessed something incredibly beautiful and delicate.  What a poetic gift she has.

So again, thank you Janet!  I’m honored and humbled and smiling straight from my heart!

Snowdrops and Sleigh Bells

snowdrops splashing

like citrus squeezed

onto feathered ice

---

snowdrops

dripping from the tongue

of the moon

---

sleigh bells

and a hush of snow

almost silent night

---

sleigh bells jingling

even the snowman

smiles and waves

---

the sky flinging snow today

just to hear

children laughing again

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

Haiku Heights 

Winter Solstice

frost sparkles on

maple leaf confetti

autumn’s party ends

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

haiku my heart 

Wintertide

snow,

heavy,

slush-like,

weighing down

burnt orange leaves

raked

and scooped

and heaped

in hardship

wishing now

to pull them out

turn them green

glue them back

one by one

onto trees

to rustle softly

an enchanted echo

hushed

in winter’s tide

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

For Three Word Wednesday where we were to use the words echo, hardship, and softly...and for  Poetry Jam where Brian had us take a walk and write.  Here's what I came up with.

26

26 reasons

to remember why

He came

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

It’s Christmas, but I find it difficult to feel celebratory.  I know most are probably feeling the same way with hearts heavy and broken from last week’s devastation.  And yet I am reminded of why He came.  He came not because He wanted us to decorate trees and drink egg nog and rack up credit card debt giving gifts.  He came because we are in darkness, and He is the Light of the world.  John 8:12  Come, let us behold Him.  Perhaps we have never needed to more.

 

Frozen Yesterday

I tied his little-kid size 12 gray converse shoes

while he crunched almonds

and bragged between swallows

about beating me at Go Fish.

I hid my grin

and tried to look disappointed

for losing.

Zipping up his green hoodie

we left

for afternoon Kindergarten

at 11:55.

He was concerned

that his friend wouldn’t be at school—

he’d made a paper Christmas tree

and put it into an envelope,

scotch-taped a blue candy cane to the outside

for a little present.

Walking him to the line,

I said “have a great day, buddy,”

then waved and watched as he walked through the doors,

backpack almost as big as he is, bouncing.

I thought of how many parents did this today,

leaving their hearts

in a five year old body

on cold tile floors.

And I couldn’t leave the parking lot.

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner 

Dear God, dear God…more tears than words for all who are gripped in this horrific tragedy in Newtown, CT.

Got the jump on this prompt with Brian’s post yesterday.  Linking up with the amazing poets at dVerse Poetics.  I'll also be linking to The Poetry Pantry.

When words are few, perhaps there is a song.

Ornament (Beauty for Ashes)

adorn me with your breath,

i will flower and grow

underneath the overgrowth

of black trees

that bear no fruit

and needle the ground

sleeping

in winter’s graveyard

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

The pizza delivery guy

drives the pizza to my house.

I tip him,

though he had nothing to do

with making it.

And I’m sure he keeps it all

for himself.

Next year I’m writing to the elves.

Signed,

New Perspective

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

For Words Count with Mama Zen at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.  The challenge:  A 50 words or less letter to the big guy.

Slave (The Calling of Manumit)

One lung full while the other

constricts,                      

shrivels,

crushed beneath this weight

I can’t think, can’t  resist,

weakened

by the purchase of screws

I held myself down for

and bled my tears

listening to the

sweet sound

of mourning doves.

I have forgotten You

and I confess

sometimes I think You are gone,

abandoned me

for greener fields

of those more faithful.

But You say I am Your temple—

chained as I am to memory,

so please keep holding out keys

to this puzzle of wings

I am putting together

to fly away from ghostly apparitions

that visit me in my dreams.

They kiss me on the forehead

and keep me from the tiny living temples

that matter at all to me.

Serpent of haunting,

you’ve bitten, but you are crushed,

and I, while breathing in a whisper from the moon

through windows

streaming enlightened threads

in reflection of daylight,

in the back of my mind

I hear it

in each pump of blood

from my heart

I know

I know

I was meant to be free.

 

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

I'll be linking this to Poets United Poetry Pantry

Forest

chestnut-backed chickadee

on the hemlock branch

chatters my arrival

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

for haiku my heart friday at recuerda mi corazon

Hollow

deep in the wintergreens

of twilight

it grows

 where birds of song

vacate homes in season’s passing,

gathering shadows of keeping;

 and berries, frozen—

are bejeweling 

the trampled floor

of the forest wide and deep

 of her glacial heart

Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

Poets United: The Poetry Pantry