Poetry

The Paper Box

~ whisperingsbyjkl ~ Leave a comment

While looking through pages and pages of my journals to compile my poetry book, I came across this poem that I wrote a couple years ago when I thought I had lost my best friend.  I had forgotten that I had wrote this and it brought back sweet memories.

The Paper Box

I looked down at the crisp sheet of paper.
I had written his name in cursive letters.
Whether it was superstition
or a sign of faith,
I slipped his name into a paper box.

My best friend had been gone for days.
Where did he go?
I didn’t know.
I looked far and near –
from the neighborhood to the parks,
I searched everywhere.

I longed to see his face –
his round little eyes,
his pink curling tongue,
his floppy, girly ears.
I wanted to hold him near.
I wished that he was happy.
Yearning for his return,
hoping and praying,
and continually saying
that he was “OK.”
Then my prayers were answered
and he came home one night.

Wagging his tail and full of life,
pouncing with all his might.
He was glad to be home.
We embraced him with our love.
He had been gone for a week.

His energy decreased
after the first night
and he refused to eat.
Skinny and starving,
looking frail and weak.
My heart ached to see him.
The poor boy was ill,
but I loved him still.
With tender loving care –
stroking, feeding, petting –
Slowly, but surely,
we nursed him to health.

Happy was home,
that much is true,
Paper box, thank you!

A photo of Happy
A photo of Happy

The Courage of Youth

~ whisperingsbyjkl ~ Leave a comment

As people get older, they tend to lose a part of their childhood wonderment as they often let fear, social status and pessimism consume their minds.  As we approach the new year, I want to encourage all of you to let loose and have a little fun.  Let your inner child shine through =)  Here is a poem of my random adventure in the park.

The Courage of Youth

Climbing
through the jungle
gym, reaching for ropes
and bars and handholds,
you pull yourself through,
with strength
from your arms
to your knees,
with your agility,

you pull yourself up,
slightly breathless,
gasping for air,
grasping for balance,
reaching the
satisfaction
of being
on top,

fulfilling
a challenge
that’s twice
as difficult
at your size,
and at your age,
but knowing
that you’re never
too old

to be silly
enough to try,
to be brave
enough to fall,
to be determined,
to be challenged,
to be a kid
on top of the world.

jungle-gym

Not Even the Trees

~ whisperingsbyjkl ~ 1 Comment

Steel-toed boots, high-heeled shoes,
K*Swiss, Nike, Doc Martins –

Soles on wet pavement
taking step after step,
long-legged strides,
some in jeans, some in skirts.

Soles on reflected orange lights,
shimmering green, flickering yellow.
What does it mean?
The meaning is lost.

Owners of soles
on the same path.
North, South, East, West,
they converge and diverge,
but it’s still the same path.

Through raindrops on wet pavement,
passed storefronts and passing cars,
longing for merchandise,
longing for the past.

Heads bowed down
staring at puddles
of memory,
ripples
of emotion.

The soles walk on,
seeing but not seen,
seen but not seeing,
in the dark, dark night.

The wind whispers
to the trees
and the trees
whisper back,
pondering, contemplating
the meaning
and the meaning
is lost.

trees

Writing Challenge:

Now it’s your turn –

  • This poem was inspired by the song “Not Even the Trees“  by Hootie & the Blowfish
  • Write a poem based on a song that speaks to you.
  • Enter your poem as a comment below.