A Street for Kings

I wrote a poem

about two people

I often see

strolling together

holding hands—

is that you now on streets unending?

Every morning made

fit for a king

whispering poetry

to the ear of the one you love?

 

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

   

Today at dVerse we are remembering poet Dave King.  I wrote my poem based on a comment he left me.

“Could easily have been Doreen and me, if we had been in Seattle. It's a beautiful picture you paint and you delineate it well. Thanks for helping to make my morning.” – Dave King on my poem 75.

The Color of Blood

photo © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

the red pony

the hunt

for red october

the red pyramid

redwall

red rabbit

where the red fern grows

the red badge

of courage

the signature of jesus

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

For dVerse Form for All:  The Hidden Poetry in Books.  I went a totally different way with this than I thought I would.  It’s more of a list type of poem, but it’s where my muse lead.

Books are from our family library:  The Red Pony by John Steinbeck, The Hunt for Red October and Red Rabbit by Tom Clancy, The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, Redwall by Brian Jacques, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane and The Signature of Jesus by Brennan Manning.

(In memory of Tom Clancy, Apr.12, 1947 - Oct. 1, 2013.  R.I.P.)

Mother's Portrait

Photo by Margaret Bednar

In the room of no music

and unlit fires

she hangs between us.

Her fingers continue to pound

the keys in my head

of all her expectations on me,

her hopes in you.

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

I’m a bit late, but this is for Margaret’s Artistic Interpretations at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads where she has invited us to concentrate on setting and mood as we write to images she took of place miniatures at the Art Institute of Chicago.

September Wish

photo © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

i know we’ll all

have our winters to face,

and for some, dark skies

may be just down the road—

but today, my hope is for light,

for rest on the journey,

and a place to sip sweet cider

with hints of cinnamon and clove

and autumn’s smile

to come and sit with us,

like a covering of colorful snow,

staying as long as it likes                    

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

dVerse OLN

Wrestling with Goodbye

At all the wrong turns

and times, and for the wrong reasons,

we vowed love

through false teeth.

You were looking for a mother

I could never be, an anesthetic

for your terminal sicknesses.

And I was hiding who I was meant to be,

afraid of myself.

I am sorry for the mask

and how long it wore me.

Still, I am not sure if you are as fatally sorry

for this headstone you’ve saddled me with.

No matter—

a dew dropped, more dark than red, rose

waits on the doorstep.

Take it,

I can live with your ghost no longer.

Plus, I’m learning what it’s like to be me    

without you

and how,

finally,

to like her.

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

For the prompts at Poetry Jam:  Battles and Poets United:  Just Past Center

*A poem of mine was selected for the dVerse 2^nd Anniversary Contest at Boston Poetry Magazine.  I’m thrilled to have had my piece be chosen.  Click here to check it out and read the poems of others who placed in the contest.  Thank you to all the judges and congrats to all the winners!  Great writing, all.