Category: creativity

Spotlights Burn

She amassed children while
he pursued accolades

Family photos display
northern shorelines
tanned faces, white-toothed grins
parents not represented

Lost her childhood
at the bottom of a ravine
laid beaten and shattered
no one came to rescue her.

Guess that’s what drew her
the his light; money, she hoped
would not abandon her.

But muck tracks the same
and children need feeding
and absent a co-parent
she sleeps most days.

Offspring learn independence
a product of adults’ disarray
outlasting the fickleness of fame.

(For Reena’s Exploration Challenge:  prompt is the last line of the poem.  Image my own.)

Need an Opening

Images stir beneath the surface
butt up against unyielding skin
doubts crust interior motives

I am restless, tormented
pray for an opening
a release…

…that creativity
will prevail, break
through stagnation.

(Tuesdays I borrow from my Twitter account: @Vjknutson.  Image my own.)

I’ll Sit This One Out

Death invites me to dance
extends crooked hand
for crooked hand
takes the gentlemen’s lead

I know his moves –
have watched a time or two
even partnered a few
long, slow waltzes

But I prefer to tango
like the spice and thrill
of life’s lively step
bid him, politely, to move on.

(For Reena’s Exploration challenge: Antidotes to Fear of Death.  Also linking up to Eugi’s Causerie Weekly prompt: dancing.  Image my own)

Survival of an Artist

He had lost everything of value to him. There was an empty canvas on the easel, his colors and tools.  What would he paint?  *

Eyes reddened from tears
he bears his soul, like a wolf
howls into the emptiness

No response

Life shrinks at the sight of him
wounded creatures fearing
his motivations, advances

Entrapped

Escape alludes – walls
structures of his fear
he is his own obstacle

Alone

He will find his bearing
claw his way through faithlessness
Solitude, after all, an ally to his breed.

(For Reena’s Exploration challenge:  *quotation captioned.  Image my own.)

 

Edit Me, Please

Skies draw me –
the allure of wings
the inference of escape

Not afraid to dream –
imagination fully engaged
willingness set on go

Till darkness encroaches –
a black line blotting
periphery

Imperfection an ugly
critique – self flails
doubt becomes certainty

Wrench my perspective
away from the gloom
need to crop the image.

(Inspired by the promptings of Reena’s Exploration challenge:  addiction or depression; and Bushboys: Last on card April 3.)