The gravekeeper’s child dances with me

He is my starlight, though this he can’t see

I wish he'd leave me on his own

But I'd hate to be alone

He must live, this he knows

But I can't stand it when he goes

He tempts the blade, I see his wrists

One for every night we've kissed

He and I are worlds apart

But death can't fell two lonely hearts

We sing and toast and dance in spite

Of the dawning morning light

I know he wants to join me here

In the tombs of yesteryear

He is lonely; hates his eyes

But I don't want him to die

Please, my friend, you've so much

To help, to hurt, to know, to touch

I'll dance with you, my darling dove;

Continue on, and live for love

--

a twin poem from the opposite perspective of "A Toast to Us"

don't know about the title for this one

#poetry

I am blind,

You are a ghost

And tonight,

We dance and toast

“To our health!”

Laugh you and I

Though we both know

I’d rather die

Than dance alone

Through this soft storm

Without your light

To keep me warm

Though I can’t see

I know your shine

And I wish

That it were mine

Though I know

It's one day soon

I must wait

Beneath the moon

For the day

When you and I

Can dance away

Our afterlife

--

Found half-finished in my notebook (stanzas 1&2 + concept), tidied it up and finished it

#poetry

Long ago, our starry nights

Were long and hard, bereft of light

The people wished to see their way

without relying on the day

And so they thought and thought and thought

But all that thinking came to naught

What on earth could light the skies?

What spark of fire never dies?

They took this matter to the king

For he knew nearly everything

A great laugh burst forth, a challenge indeed!

The king would sate the people’s need.

He knew at once what must be done

He must create a midnight sun

He gathered up his kingly might

And set about his task that night

A whisper ran through all the land

A great new world was close at hand

But the people did not know

Just how far the king would go!

He traveled up the highest mount

Up more steps than one could count

And at the top, he met a friend!

The king asked the sun what it could lend.

The sun just smiled, then she said:

“You do not know what lies ahead,

But I shall grant you this one gift:

Take these coals, but run, be swift!”

“If they meet a wind too strong

Or if they burn for far too long,

They will go out, my dearest friend

Then your quest will surely end.”

“Place them in the inky sky,

And then their fire will not die.

Your love for all your people shows

In the night that sparks aglow.”

The king bowed in thanks, and started back

To give the world the light it lacked

When he returned to his home,

He sat upon his brilliant throne.

“Call my subjects!” said the king

“Tell them I have just the thing!

These coals have come right from the sun!

Soon the darkness will be done.”

The people of the kingdom came

To investigate our wise king’s claim

And so when the next night fell,

The king addressed his people well:

He threw the coals up to the sky

And then it seemed they learned to fly!

They scattered all across the dark

Finally, a brilliant spark!

Alas, the wind, it grew and grew!

The final, brightest coal was through!

Its fire faded, the people sighed

It seems they would not get their light

The sun herself was looking on

And knew the king’s last coal was gone

She traveled quickly, down to earth

And then she said, “For what it’s worth:

“I know a way, just one, mind you,

To light this coal, once red, now blue,

You must believe in its strong light

And hang it yourself in the brand new night.”

The king knew that this awesome feat

Was near impossible to complete

“But for the people!” he said aloud,

“I will make my subjects proud!”

He hefted the coal upon his back

To chase away the night so black

He climbed the stairs he climbed before,

So his people could see forevermore

The subjects were worried for their king

He could not do everything!

So they rallied behind him, lent him their might

All together, they beat back the night!

The king trudged up the mountain, spurred by their love

And finally hung this coal far above

The people, they cheered, and at last,

The total darkness was a thing of the past!

Folks came from countries, near and far

To see the things the king called “stars.”

They marveled at the shining night

Then turned their eyes to the greatest light!

The coal the king placed with the help of his friends

Shines over mountains, fields, and glens

That great coal is now called the moon

And it won’t burn out anytime soon.

---

Children’s book assignment for my Creative Writing class

It’s a little too long :(

#poetry

I pick up words

as you would sticks

And build them up

As though they're bricks

In this way,

I built a home

And carried on

To build my Rome

I gathered all

the words I could

And placed them where

The world once stood

Piece by piece,

I made it new

Then one day

I showed you

My castles burned

as did the sky

And word by word

My kingdom died

Even now,

I hum along

And sweep the streets

I grew up on

Sometimes there

Among the ash

I find a word

Tossed out like trash

I dust it off

And set it straight

And though it might be

Somewhat late

I build it up:

An altar to

All the words

And friends I knew

#poetry

If stairs could talk,

They'd moan and groan,

And gossip with

The telephone

The telephone

Would ring the walls

Who, in turn,

Would tell the halls

Pretty soon,

The whole darn house

From creaking board

To tiny mouse

Would know the truth

And shout it, too;

If only humans

Had a clue

--

late for a challenge (what if stairs could talk?)

We're going back

to the place

that sparked our love

of outer space

We'll make our way

Beyond the moon

And hopefully,

we'll do that soon

Think of it:

Me waving "Bye!"

And taking off

Into the sky

Every night,

Until the day--

I'll dress for bed

And this I'll pray:

I wish I may,

I wish I might

Travel on

This next spaceflight

--

i!! am!! pumped!!

but also not

#poetry

we will kneel and you will stand

we'll both protect this sorry land

hand in hand and over heart

we have sworn to do our part

kneeling 'fore the nation's eyes

kneeling for their anguished cries

band together, save the small

justice for them, one and all

they sleep silent, brave and proud

we forge on, against the crowd

we will not rest until the day

no more lives are lost this way

--

i am so, so tired

#poetry

Build it up, and bring it down

Bleach the buildings, paint the town

An architect, perched up high

Builds her castle in the sky

A paradise for those with wings

Full of love and strange new things

Windows break the moonlit walls

And butterflies will walk the halls

Ivy climbs the grand staircase

While our hero takes her place

She sits upon her wooden throne

In this castle of her own

She saved this place from snow and ice

For the birds of paradise

Should you dare to take flight, too

She'll open up her world to you

--

Day 21 Prompt: Two for Tuesday -- De/Construct

#poetry

thinking about revising this one too

Today we leave, at bitter dawn

to find the strength to travel on

And though our search is all in vain

We soldier on, through sun and rain

For we have come here, just to fight

From fading dark to morning light

We stain the trees a brilliant red

And have no time to mourn the dead

We sleep, we scream, we carry on

Each of us, a simple pawn

Though we are soldiers, made of stone

We still miss our life back home

Lockets, letters, pictures, too

Remind us of the life we knew

And though my heart and face are stone

I still miss my world back home

--

Prompt: going somewhere

I may revise this

I don't want it sitting in my drafts anymore :(

#poetry

This poem is useless

As is its pen

I hate to say it

Again and again

Though I can't stop

And some say it's not true

I should write for me

But every one is for you

Everyone preaches

The same stupid line:

"Forget your readers

and let yourself shine."

If nobody sees it,

Then what is it for?

What is the point?

Should I try anymore?

I want so badly

Just to be heard

But nobody reads—

Not a one of my words

--

Day 18 Prompt: good for nothing

doubts are the worst and make for bad pieces, at least for me

#poetry