A Scary Story

Have you heard the one about
The ghost of Christmas past?
He rode around on a dark horse
Without a head,
The rider, not the horse,
Throwing flaming jack-o-lanterns.
His name was Casper, I think.
He had a hook for a hand, or was it a machete?
And like to terrorize teens
At make-out spots.
That’s my favorite ghost story.
Or maybe my favorite is the one
About the ghosts of my past mistakes
That keep haunting me.

The prompt is “my favorite ghost story” from Maria Giesbrecht @theguelphpoet on Instagram. April 18, National Poetry Month 2022.

Sock-napped

I found a ransom note in my lint trap
What do you think of that?!
APB for a missing sock
I wish it would come back
But if it’s being ransomed
I’m too stubborn to comply
I’ll find another single
Tragically separated from its mate
In a previous incident
Mismatch made in heaven
A precarious arrangement for sure
But I don’t negotiate with terrorists

The prompt is “a ransom note” from Maria Giesbrecht @theguelphpoet on Instagram. April 17, National Poetry Month 2022.

The Middle Child

I know why I was born a middle child
Because the oldest was lonely
And needed a friend
But I’m not that friendly
So in the end
You had another
Hoping for the best
Turns out we got a sister
Who’s a disaster
So we made a truce
Formed an alliance
To keep her in her place
And nobody better even look at her sideways
Or they’ll regret it
When we have to put them
In their place

The prompt is “I know why I’m a middle child” from Maria Giesbrecht @theguelphpoet on Instagram. April 14, National Poetry Month 2022.

Copper Oxidation and the Subway

I watch the blur of green trees
As the train speeds past

I see layers of graffiti on the overpass
The most recent tag green

I pick at the peeling green vinyl
On my backpack

I scuff the toe of my shoe
Against a green penny stuck to the floor

The subway car is full of people
Passing time
Passing life

The prompt is “green pennies” from Maria Giesbrecht @theguelphpoet on Instagram. April 15, National Poetry Month 2022.

Epic Fail

My glass is sweating
And so am I
It’s hot as, well
You know,
This 4th of July
Southern summers,
It’s hard to beat the heat
So I’ll sit my bare bottom on this
Frozen seat

Mistakes were made-
Ice is nice in my tea
But a block of ice
To cool down my tail
Is not risk-free
Take it from me
And my cold ass cheeks
Now adhered to this chilly chair,
Not all ideas are created equal
Or good for one’s derriere

The prompt is “cold ass cheeks” from Maria Giesbrecht @theguelphpoet on Instagram. April 14, National Poetry Month 2022.

Emerald Escape

Eyes of emerald green
Wading pools
Surface so serene
Rippling undertow unseen

The prompt is “emerald escape” from Maria Giesbrecht @theguelphpoet on Instagram. April 13, National Poetry Month 2022.

Drive-thru Lightning

Elvis in the chapel
Drive up to window #2
I vaguely recall
We said our “I do’s”
20 years later
Drinking champagne to celebrate
How we caught lightning in a bottle
In that Vegas drive-thru
In our late night, love-drunk state

The prompt is “drive-thru lightning” from Maria Giesbrecht @theguelphpoet on Instagram. April 12, National Poetry Month 2022.

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