#OctPoWriMo Day 29: Poem — Octain Refrain/Double/High — “Trains of the Past” #amwritingpoetry


For OctPoWriMo Day 29, the prompt is “what stories do you have about railroad tracks from your childhood? Write for ten minutes exploring the tracks.” The poetry format is an Octain Refrain. Abbac / cabA Abbad / dabA


Credit: Ashley Richards via Unsplash.


You walk, you wander, hands out distracted,

You ponder life’s questions, words unsaid.

One shoe in-front of the next, your head —

Down, thinking: “Don’t step off the track,

Or, you’ll fall and break your back.

The railway tracks go for miles, detract —

From dust, pebbles, sky’s blank-grey; huge black —

Trains, steam hissing, iron rockets that sped.

You walk, you wander, hands out distracted.

You walk, you wander, hands out distracted,

Time interlaces, train rides where shredded,

Memories, rail-cars people hustling spread —

To present planes, replacing trains cast,

In time, coal shovelled, train whistles pulled.

While you balance on railway tracks hold,

Steady, look! Envision more than wood paths.

Labor, men hammering tracks to here led;

You walk, you wander, hands out distracted.


©️Amanda_ME. (2020) All Rights Reserved.

#OctPoWriMo Day 24: Poem — LaJemme — « Healing » #amwritingpoetry


For OctPoWriMo Day 24, the prompt is on something you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t allowed yourself to do it, yet. The type of poetry is called LaJemme — 5 stanza, some 10/10/10/10 syllables, some 8/8/8/6 syllables. All iambic pentameter. The 4th syllable of each line rhymes with the end word of the next.


Crédit: Alwin Croon via Unsplash.


I’d love to see Paris, Italy’s pearls;

There’s a world out there that I’ve not seen,

Art I still dream, perceive unwhirling;

Fashion some deem gorgeous, some un-esteemed.

I’ve outlasted pains, without gain;

Known that life’s vain, passes too fast.

Fallen in gaps, tried still to recast;

Stuck in vile gamestraps.

What helps the most — I’m not lost!

Where ever I’m tossed, I’ll still thrive,

I’m still alive, though accosted,

I’m with great cost striving.

Still at night, in the torture of echoes,

I lie awake, think of real, imagined sins.

I know forgiveness, still vanity aches;

Let me outlive — rewrite the narrative.

I’d love Santorini, some world

Time with those loved; knowing all times concealed.

Places without whiney imps, no weapons hurled.

Grant me quiet grace, time for time to heal.

*****


©️Amanda_ME. (2020) All Rights Reserved.

#OctPoWriMo Day 23: Poem — Troolan — “An Awkward Life” #amwritingpoetry


For OctPoWriMo Day 23, the prompt what you are grateful for, and how gratitude shows up for you in life. The poetry type is Troolan, with 4 quatrains that begin with the same letter — the rhyme scheme is abab.


Credit: Facebook


I’m grateful for this awkward life,

Each second of rich delight.

Memories, days of hurtful spite;

Creative flight — resilience.

I’m blessed to have family near,

When life was murky, and rough.

When I’ve cried, experienced fear;

Chattered with mom, time ne’er enough.

Movies and popcorn with brothers —

Dinners with family, and friends.

Youth, adulthood with grandmothers;

Choir heard with Dad sung blended.

Somedays I’m grateful for quiet,

Some the gusto of discovery.

Others, I’ve suffered silently,

Guided through faith, recovering.

*****


©️Amanda_ME. (2020) All Rights Reserved.

#OctPoWriMo Day 9: Poem — Loop Poetry — “Press On” #amwritingpoetry


For OctPoWriMo Day 9, the prompt is based on ‘your head and your thoughts.’

The prompt style is Loop Poetry, which are couplets mixed with 4 line stanzas, where the last word, first word scheme is maintained in the stanzas. It can also be used in the couplets. Rhyme scheme is ab, cc, defg, hh, ii, jklm, nn, oo.


Credit: Ruan Carlos via Unsplash.


If each thought paid dollars and cents.

If you could buy food with just cents;

If you could love anyone,

If you’d more time with anyone.

****

There’s too many if’s and but’s,

No use recollecting them.

Each thought or memory saddened,

That you could or wouldn’t receive —

****

All that your heart desired most.

All of the life you dreamt most.

Go over each memory dear,

Go spend time with each person dear.

*****

You can peer back to each day with,

Simple wishes, you could live more;

Exist in moments of elation,

Improve where you disappointed.

****

So, with fearlessness you can fight,

So, don’t forget your past won fights.

As yesterday has long passed on,

As today you conquer — press on.


©️Amanda_ME. (2020) All Rights Reserved.

Poem: English Sonnet — “She Is Loved” #amwritingpoetry


Credit: Jonathan Borba via Unsplash

She is a blink, and no more, sunlight lit;

Now dimming, stars gleam, night’s ink hovering.

Soon she’ll fly, for now moon-kissed, wild bliss;

She’s your violet crushed, strong but still missed.

Later, she’ll lay in sharp grass, memories held dear;

Wandering gravel paths, pollen and dogs fly.

Quiet, first sight not much, endurance in fears;

Queen of a glimmer, in God’s time she’ll flit.

In lush road-side fields, white deer leaping lost,

Or at an aqua poolside skin sun-screened.

A dream misting, soul assured of naught;

In life nothing’s promised — she’s no whim deemed.

Don’t forget, though at time her eyes are fraught;

She’s a moment loved, blessed; in God’s love caught.


©️Amanda_ME. (2020) All Rights Reserved.

Published Poem on Spillwords: “Light, Darkness, Battle, and, Glory.” #amwritingpoetry #Spillwords


Credit: Spillwords


Please check out my latest poetry piece published on http://www.spillwords.com: Light, Darkness, Battle, & Glory.

–A.M. Eifert


©️Mandibelle16. (2019) All Rights Reserved.

.

#NaPoWriMo Day 3: Lunes – “Seconds Slip” #amwritingpoetry


For NaPoWriMo Day 3, the prompt is:


“Today’s prompt is based in a poem by Larry Levis called “The Two Trees.” It is a poem that seems to meander, full of little digressions, odd bits of information, but fundamentally, it is a poem that takes time. . . I’d like to challenge you to. . . write something that involves a story or action that unfolds over an appreciable length of time.”


Credit: Heather Zabriskie via Unsplash.


Levitating light, airy and ethereal.

Baby’s mobile spins,

As the sundial’s shadow wanes.

*****

Ticks — children sigh, clocks circling.

Can’t read minutes,

Deduce digital numeric language better.

*****

Somewhere neither young nor old,

Decimals on smartphones,

Grandfather chimes, seconds slip, lost.

*****

©️Mandibelle16. (2019) All

Rights Reserved.

Sunday Writing Prompt/ Music Challenge: Poem – “Never Forgotten Twilight Hours” #amwritingpoetry #musicchallenge #MLMM


Thanks to MindLoveMisery’s Menagerie for hosting Sunday Writing Prompt. For this week’s Prompt we had to choose 4 terms, and I chose the texture jagged, the occasion just because, the feeling expectancy, and the sound grinding. Thanks also to MindLoveMisery’s Menagerie for hosting the Music Challenge using the A Star is Born’ song, “Always Remember” sung by Lady Gaga.


Credit: Darryl Brian via Unsplash.


Always Remember” sung by Lady Gaga


Hot red rock, stacked sediment,
A river ran through it grinding crimson, mango, snow-white gleaming;
The Arizona sky blends in painted fusion; you’re alight with night fire.
The scars on my arms lashed, from the welts of the past;
But you love me as gold, see there’s light inside.
I can’t find it, it hides; but your eyes peer through.
It hurts, a jagged line of bruises –I can’t read past the shadows of addiction in you.
A lifestyle that’s claimed you, makes a monster sometimes.
But, I’ll never forget those night’s when we were done strumming our melodies and dived.
I won’t forget those ethereal evenings, stars shooting into the bluish-blackness beyond; the blood moon rising against maroon midnight-blue.
And just because, I’ll remember us always; just because, I won’t forget your azure eyes.

Together we rhyme, croon the words as they form in our muddled minds,

Dream, as our skin brushes close, sweat drips, as the cliffs glow in layers, sediment crushed grande.

In Arizona we rise, together here — there’s no expectancy, no need to hurry, scurry in time.

We hope this occasion is better that the crimson and marmalade sky won’t stop glistening, as fireballs glint on.

We’re lovers in the night, sometimes were poets singing, delineating a phrase or line.

Sometimes we’re opposites screaming, and no words describe the knife slashing; the war wounds are mutual.

But just because I love you still; just because we’re each other’s glue, I’ll never forget these forever nights.

We attempt to rhyme, splintered sounds bite, but we keep writing our, hands entwined.

I don’t know who wrote our ambitious story, but I don’t want to be without your arms, your stardust eyes.

In the ink of night I sigh, as it doesn’t matter where you go, the part of me that’s you won’t die.

Just because, I’ll never forget the fire dancing in the twilight, the jagged edge of morning, ’cause I’ll never forget our time — just because.

You peer in my eyes, the whole world fades black, nothing is left slack, and we argue and snap.

But, I don’t want to be without your laugh-lined smile; I don’t want to be only a memory, beneath the sun-jewel morning.

I want to be forever, together no matter the time, don’t make me a memory — I’ll never forget these twilight hours we’ve espoused.

*****

©️Mandibelle16. (2018) All Rights Reserved.

Three Line Tales: Fiction – Future Change #amwritingfiction #3LineTales


Thanks to Sonya of Only 100 Words for hosting #3LineTales.


Credit: Jan Genge via Unsplash

There’s a butter gingerbread house peeking through the refinery basins. An out of place dwelling reminding me that all eras and styles of design must merge; the essence of past centuries meet in the present. A chemical acridness fades at the refineries as residents don’t comprehend efficient and green technology used to refine oil today; people forget merging the old and new is a necessity for future change.


©️Mandibelle16. (2018) All Rights Reserved.

OctPoWriMo Day 20/Saturday Mix: Poem – Lunes – “Preserve Hope” #amwritingpoetry #SaturdayMix


For OctPoWriMo Day 20 the prompt is time stands still. Also combining with Sarah from MindLoveMisery’s Menagerie Saturday Mix double-take Prompt. The word homophone sets this week are: groan – reaction to hearing a pun, and groan – has gotten larger, and guessed – past tense of guess, along with, guest – a visitor.


Credit: OctPoWriMo Day 20

“Someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. But I rather believe that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey, and reminds us to cherish every moment because they’ll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we lived.” ~Captain Picard, Star Trek: Generations


Popcorn groans, flowering fluff unbeknownst,

Crackle, crunch; dust —

Evenings remembered butter-soft delight.

*****

Guessing if tonight, presents unpackaged;

Cheeseball, vegetable rolls,

Summer sausage, spinach dip, crackers.

*****

Time you don’t amble here,

You speed-walk,

Then, in terror groan — pause.

*****

Predator or prey, Grimm Reaper,

Perhaps you’re one?

Companion or foe, frequent guest.

*****

Our little moments add together,

Time pace beside;

Where’s the meaning? Preserve Hope.

*****


©️Mandibelle16. (2016) All Rights Reserved.