Day 22 PAD 2023

This poem is presented in its rough draft form for the PAD 2023 challenge and will be revised.

“What of a Breath?”

What of a breath? The first - the last
and all the ones in between that
we forget to count as we live
without guarantee of the next?

Hands shaking, chest too tight to breathe.
What of a breath? The first - the last.
Years of sweat and tears coming due.
Sweet taste of air when dreams arrive.

The one held before the first kiss
then lost when she smiles goodnight.
What of a breath? The first - the last.
Moments that change your views of life.

Holding hands as life fades away.
Too many questions to ask but
knowing that all you have is now.
What of a breath? The first - the last.

Poetic Form: Quatern

PAD 2022 Day 11: Power

 This poem is presented in its rough draft form for the PAD 2022 challenge and will be revised. 

PAD Prompt: Power

Poetic Form: Stornello

“Power Over Me”

Like the cold wind during a December storm,

you fill the spaces between my bones, can’t warm

my hands or my breath while caught in your dark swarm.

I shield my eyes against the hail of regret.

The driveway a winter percussion duet

with the cement of choices I can’t forget.

Poetic Form 55: Golden Shovel

Why Poetry

-after Langston Hughes

Even in the darkest moments I hold

a pen with a fire to capture the fast

and fleeting muse that commands my mind to

fill the spaces between walking and dreams.

The strokes of ink are arrows, hoping for 

the gods, for the titans, to reveal if

I am worthy to mix a life with dreams,

or if words stay in my mouth when I die.

Each step I take is a verse of my life,

that I write with rhyme - sometimes. Breathing is 

a pact between impossible and a 

faith in flight. My heart can be broken-winged,

but poetry sets me free like a bird.

No matter the hue of the moment that

spurs my mind. These words, windows that cannot

close, allows my muse open lines to fly.

Poetic Form #55: Golden Shovel

The Golden Shovel form uses a line or two from another poem.  Use each

word in the line (or lines) as an end word in your poem. You keep the end

words in order as they appear in the original poem. (So, you can read their poem

reading the end words.) Make sure to give credit

to the poet who originally wrote the line (or lines). Your poem does not have

to be about the same subject.

These Words

Let these words wash over your dirty hands

    Cleansing the world from your life lines

Let these words flood your covered ears

    Drowning out the pollution from your prayers

Let these words blind your watery eyes

    Dilating your vision to a single meaning

These words are more than my breath crossing through vocal cords

    They are bread crumbs for you to follow

        as you walk past the witch's home

            chimney billowing smoke

            door open so you can hear her mumbling about

            how she will get you someday

But not today

Not at this moment

These words were once mine

they are yours now

Meant for you to consume

To savor

To break off a piece

and share with someone who is hungry, too

   

        Just remember that I wrote them for your happiness...

I wrote a poem...

I wanted to write the greatest poem of all time

but what did I know of life

I am only a father and husband

a friend

a dreamer

a poet

a man standing at the center of his life

What could I share with you that would connect to your everyday life?

I wanted to write the greatest poem of all time

but what did I know of pain

I only have my past and heart

my blood

my failures

my loss

a man still hurting from his life

What could I share with you that would connect to your everyday life?

I wanted to write the greatest poem of all time

but what did I know of answers

I am only a lonely soul

a heartbeat

a breath

a moment

a man made like no other

What could I share with you that would connect to your everyday life?

I wanted to write the greatest poem of all time

but what I wrote was this poem.