Being Not Monsters

Published on by Susi Bocks13 Comments
Molly Blackbird – Unsplash.com
Inspired by Reena’s Xploration Challenge #405

all humans are capable of being monsters

and we hope we’d know
if they were

the deceivers will display the opposite of appropriate
a caricature of reality
a physical trickery

the good will always be angels
those we can trust
fall into for recovery
know we’d found a safe space

deception is always a possibility
but knowing the truth brings us security
a feeling of trust
and a foundation of ease
the chaos falls away

there is a fearlessness of honesty
a fortitude of genuine display
a calmness rippling throughout
again, fortitude presented during tough times
a gallantry possessed and exhibited
and an intrepidity aggressively laying claim to integrity

conscience stops us from crossing the lines of indecency

A.mazing I.nsight

Published on by Susi Bocks30 Comments

I discovered an interesting feature on the drop-down menu on my phone while using Google Chrome. There was a piece I wanted to share with a friend, and when I tapped the three little dots in the top-right corner, I saw they had a “Listen to this page” option. Well, I immediately thought it meant they would read the page it landed on. WRONG! What it actually gave me was an AI-generated synopsis of I Write Her.

Fascinating! You can listen to it here.

I do wish they would at least pronounce my name correctly or put the emphasis on Write, not Her, in the blog title. They’ve still got a bit of a way to go.

AI-generated smiley to match the theme. lol

Cold

Published on by Susi Bocks9 Comments

Redux

pxhere.com

you threw the first rock
the force of it landed
the pain came in slivers

you broke open
love’s shelter
it’s no longer safe here

our warmth escaped
cold steeliness seeped in
my blood curdled icy

Originally published 4/10/2019 on I Write Her.

This Autumnual Session

Published on by Susi Bocks15 Comments
Doncoombez – Unsplash.com
Inspired by What do you see #312

it’s begun
nature is coming to order
as the aged and rigid
pass the torch
to the next season

what was learned
what has changed

nothing

Transgression

Published on by Susi Bocks29 Comments
Adrien Stachowiak – Unsplash.com

It seems like the breeze was getting stronger—the atmosphere’s ferocity matching this bloody scene we were investigating. One man with a broken back, and the other victim, a large crane strangled in its nest. Guess the news people had no life and felt the need to fill their 24-hour cycle. Rumors were floating about a ghost and people into magic in the area. Everyone had a different story to tell and was eager to share it. There was no need to drag anything out of anyone. This apparent crime scene was the highlight of their evening, maybe their entire life.

Inspired by The Sunday Whirl – Wordle #729

SenHai Saturday #23

Published on by Susi Bocks32 Comments

Here is this week’s image to get your creative juices flowing!

This image is not a photograph but rather a digital creation. The hubs shared it with me and thought it might be a fun one this week. I agree! It is a night scene with a rather large moon radiating like a sun, seemingly teetering on the edge of a waterfall, also illuminated. Two tiny people are standing at the edge of the waterfall.

Please create one senryu and one haiku to accompany this image prompt. Remember that a traditional haiku describes nature or a season, while a senryu focuses on human nature and emotions.

Then, provide a link in the comments below or ping back to this post on your blog.

Here is a wrap-up of last week’s prompt. I appreciate each of you for sharing your thoughts!

Eugenia – #SenHai Saturday – 10/18/25

Tina – SenHai Saturday

Carolyn – SenHai Saturday #22

Destiny – #shades of time#

AJ – Ice Kissed SenHai

Carol Anne – Sen-hai Saturday #22

Misky – Cold Fire

Lisa – Skeletal

Sadje – Reaching for the sky

Ben – 22.10.25 — Haiku/Senryu

Violet – Aged Digits

Shalini – How High is the Moon





The Short Of It – You Still Have Time!

Published on by Susi Bocks9 Comments

Can you believe it – we’ve got about ten weeks left in this year?!? It’s amazing how quickly the time has flown by since I opened the latest submission cycle. While I don’t have the roster completely filled for next year yet, I’m about one submission away from reaching the single digits of how many I still need. I encourage anyone who wants to participate in The Short of It this year to submit their entries! If you wait until the last minute, I may have reached capacity. I really don’t want to turn anyone away. Don’t dilly-dally!

I’m thrilled to share and feature the new talent and hope you are as impressed as I have been so far. The work of our past loyal supporters of The Short of It is also exquisite. So much talent out there! You all knock my socks off. :)

Not Found

Published on by Susi Bocks19 Comments
Rida KHOUNA – Unsplash.com
Inspired by Reena’s Xploration Challenge #404

missing common sense
critical thinking missing
missing brain power

Further Ponderings

Published on by Susi Bocks27 Comments
Shubhashis Roy – Unsplash.com

Have you ever read someone else’s work and left a comment on what you read, then realized that the comment in and of itself required deeper pondering? And then the additional pondering produced another piece of poetry?

Well, that exact scenario recently happened when I was fortunate enough to read two pieces: Ken Gierke’s “Without, as within,” and VJ Knutson’s “The Magic of Poetry.” And on the same day! I loved their thoughts, and they inspired me further. Every opportunity to think a bit more in-depth and reevaluate settled thoughts is one of the best parts of being a poet/writer.

inspiration
leads to emotions
then leads to truths

the cycle of life
twisting and turning
up and down

life happens to us,
but is experienced within
providing a constant dance between the two

To The Manner Born

Published on by Susi Bocks14 Comments

Redux

Xaviel Lugo Arias – Realismo

she, being pristine
deserves all the finer things
simply elegant

Originally posted 4/9/2019 on I Write Her.