I Write Her

Bill Engleson

Published on February 13, 2026February 1, 2026 by Susi Bocks8 Comments

Smokin’

Burn pile smoke swirls, strays
into eyes, into airspace,
and dances a jig.

Monday

The herring fleet swarms,
racing up and down the sound
hauling a slick catch.

Qualicum Wind

A Qualicum wind
sweeps in from the Beaufort Hills
shattering my peace.

Storm

The sky darkens black,
fir trees bend, some breaking back,
snapping to the earth.

The Cowardly Poet

The storm rages on.
The sea bubbles, slams, and swirls.
I hide in haiku.

~~~

Denman Island’s Bill Engleson has published two novels, 2013’s Like a Child
to Home, and 2023’s The Life of Gronsky, as well as a collection of humorous
literary essays in 2016, Confessions of an Inadvertently Gentrifying Soul. He
also writes flash fiction, essays, poetry, and reviews. His website/blog:
www.engleson.ca This is Bill’s first feature with The Short of It.

If you’d like to be featured on The Short of It in the future,
click here for the submission guidelines.

#TheShortofIt– Vol 1 The Sound of Brilliance, Vol 2 Reflections & Revelations,
and Vol 3 Natures Discovered, all on Amazon

Eternal Life

Published on February 12, 2026 by Susi Bocks17 Comments

***Carrie Borden – Unsplash.com***
***Inspired by Reena’s Xploration Challenge #417***

boredom can’t exist when there are…

books to write on subjects not even dreamed of
an eternity of movies to watch, new or old
tried and true recipes to make and eat
foreign foods to taste and enjoy for the first time
dance moves to learn, old ones to practice
tunes of yesterday and the future to listen to
hours of nestling in soft sheets, fluffy pillows, and oversized comforters
new hobbies to learn, old ones to perfect
travels to be had to see every corner of the world
children and loved ones to snuggle
more and more books to read
humanity’s advancements to master
eternal upheavals requiring our attention
things to do we’ve not had time for, discovered yet, or overcome the fear to try

they say the lack of life is what creates its value
i say there’s never enough time navigating eternity to continually experience its value

Chronic Ambivalence

Published on February 11, 2026February 6, 2026 by Susi Bocks18 Comments

a heaviness surrounds
the lonely veil i wear
of not being remembered
while i’m right here
silent tears trickle
from an ache to be wanted
arms reaching out
only to be met with distance

what’s the anti-venom for disgust
because it’s slowly killing me

Shades Of You

Published on February 10, 2026February 6, 2026 by Susi Bocks11 Comments

Redux

anticipating honesty
searching for it in your eyes
show me the good
the ugly
the meh

looking for your soul
needing to know your essence
in your lit up expressions
and the tears you may shed
or in the bored yawn which escapes

leaning into what you offer
questioning
will you match up to my humanity
or disappoint my sensibilities
are you my friend or foe

Originally posted 4/29/2019 on I Write Her.

Patiently Waiting

Published on February 9, 2026February 9, 2026 by Susi Bocks25 Comments

***Richard Stachmann – Unsplash.com***
***Inspired by What do you see #327***

what’s good to eat here
i sure hope grandma is ok
we need healthy food

Grief

Published on February 8, 2026February 8, 2026 by Susi Bocks8 Comments

“Wings beneath my wind…” came out before I realized my error. My voice cracks, and I cringe at my mistake. I distract myself by watching a cute calico kitty stretch. How cute. Time to split the scene and cause some chaos. Something in me hesitates, though, as I approach the ship in the harbor, and spin on my heels in the other direction. I breathe slowly and begin putting together the bits and pieces of memory flooding my head into a sensible order. No one tells you how bad you’ll feel when you start remembering those devastating moments of life.

***Inspired by The Sunday Whirl – Wordle #743***

SenHai Saturday #38

Published on February 7, 2026February 7, 2026 by Susi Bocks27 Comments

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

Please create one senryu and one haiku to accompany this image prompt. Remember that traditional American haikus and senryus are three lines presented in a 5-7-5 syllabic pattern. The haiku describes nature or a season, and the senryu focuses on human nature and emotions.

This image shows a variety of leaves in different colors, sizes, and shapes floating on the water on the ground.

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!

Punam
Tears filled soulful eyes
heavenwards lifted waiting
for deliverance

some gold-flecked pebbles
paving pervicacious path
leading to nowhere

Carolyn – SenHai Saturday #37

Eugenia – #SenHai Saturday – 1/31/26

Ange – SenHai Saturday

Carol Anne – Sen-hai Saturday #37

Sara – multi-colored rocks

Misky – 0202: Journal of Thoughts

Tenzemen – Jigsaws

Cheryl – SenHai Saturday

Indira – SenHai Saturday #37

Sadje – Illusion or reality

Violet – Flame

Frank Hubeny

Published on February 6, 2026January 25, 2026 by Susi Bocks13 Comments

SMILE

Judgmental with a bossy tone,
others soon left me alone.
They knew that I preferred to moan
while they preferred to smile.

MULTIPLICATION RULES

Rejoice while there is light of day
and rest throughout the night
and don’t divide. Love multiplies.
Both light and night are right.

MORE LOVE

I used to love while thinking of
the things I thought were from above,
when they were from some realm below.
I do still love, but now I know.

STRAYING HEART

Our hearts stay near to what we hear.
Should it deceive the eager ear,
turn back. Don’t get so close, but fear
it might lead one astray.

WELL-KNOWN SECRET

There is a secret that’s well known.
We just refuse to see.
I’ll tell you after you have grown.
Perhaps then you’ll tell me.

DOING

It’s what we do with words we say
that fills our hearts and leads the way
and may that be the truth. Today
we choose to rise or fall.

~~~

Frank Hubeny lives in the Carolinas after having lived for many decades in the Chicago area. He posts photography, poems, stories, and short prose to https://frankhubeny.blog

This is Frank’s first feature with The Short of It.

If you’d like to be featured on The Short of It in the future,
click here for the submission guidelines.

#TheShortofIt– Vol 1 The Sound of Brilliance, Vol 2 Reflections & Revelations,
and Vol 3 Natures Discovered, all on Amazon