The rodent pops from the hole
not a weasel, not a mole
like a turtle from its shell,
we gather round waiting for a tell.
Winter, winter, go away…
Too bad, his shadow’s here to stay.
Somebody better get a gun–
that groundhog better run!
Alliterations, Cacophony, Consonance, Elisions,
Diction, Homonyms, Hyberboles, Imagery, Irony,
Oxymorons, Prosody, Puns, Metaphors, Rhymes,
Synonyms, Tones, Similes and Smiles.
The rodent pops from the hole
not a weasel, not a mole
like a turtle from its shell,
we gather round waiting for a tell.
Winter, winter, go away…
Too bad, his shadow’s here to stay.
Somebody better get a gun–
that groundhog better run!
Elves around the yule log
singing merrily;
one pokes at the fire,
which sparks it scarily.
Others start to push, and then
shove others mercilessly.
Some begin to cry and yell,
shouting extremely loudly.
They wake the reindeer in the barn
who begin to bay ragingly.
Lights flicker on in the cabin;
the snow reflects brightly.
Santa opens up the door
and peers out intently,
“What’s going on out there!”
he bellows angrily.
One lone elf creeps to the door,
looking down bashfully;
“I’m sorry I started the ruckus, Santa,”
he sniffles softly.
Santa leans in and pats his back,
then smiles forgivingly.
You’re
Unforgettable.
Love,
Emmanuel
Every one in the world
May have a gift this Christmas
Most will doubt the validity
And offer up resistance, but
No one is excluded from
Unconditional acceptance
Even when they don’t accept themselves.
Love, hope, and peace in Jesus.
***This is a sonnet in the form of ABBA ABBA CDECDE***
When King Herod called the money changer
To count all the people across the land
From Galilee Sea to Bethlehem sand
Baby boys were born in extreme danger.
Wisemen came from distant countries stranger
While sleeping lowly shepherds took a stand
When an angel came and held up his hand
To share the news of hope born in a manger.
Followed across the fields a glowing star
to a stable with animals so stark
the humble bundle lay awake that night
as shepherds and wisemen traveled so far.
To this world of despair and broken dark,
He’s brought peace, hope, and joy, ’cause He is light.
The horse nickered.
The knight clutched the reins tighter as he waited.
She glanced down from the turret window and wondered, “will he come for me?”
Thunder clapped.
The horse jerked, fearful of the coming storm as he waited.
“Should I run to him? Shall I pack my bags and ride away with him?”
Mist rolled in.
The horse danced and nickered again as he waited.
“I had better decide what to do, before he disappears into the night.”
The horse neighed.
The sound of the horses hooves grew quieter in the mist as he waited.
She threw her belongings into a bag and ran down the steps out the front door.
Gravel crunched.
The horse calmed and sighed heavily as he waited.
“Where is he? Oh, where did he go?” She screamed at the mist, watching it clear.
Lightning flashed.
The horse vanished, though the knight held tight as he waited.
She cried out. The mist had stolen him away from her. Again.
*This is a poem I wrote after delivering my only child to college for the first time, making us empty-nesters.*
The sun has absconded with my heart.
I am betrayed.
Prepping the introvert for a world of adulting
created an unintentional bandit, who stole my wind.
Watching her confidently walk away, alone,
salty rain shrivels my skin as clouds move in.
We can’t leave her here, amongst the unknown—
a desert of people, with no one to watch and care.
My eyes bloat as mucus runs like a river.
“Come back!” I yell, as we drive away, stormy-eyed.
Stepping back into home after the sun has gone,
a hurricane spins in my chest at the emptiness.
Will the clouds ever brighten anew in my soul?
Shield, sow, weed, water, prune, and feed that warm child.
Prepare her for an arid cold winter at college.
She sends me texts, and then when I call, talks and smiles.
I am betrayed.
No one told me to prep myself for the tornado of pain.
The worst part of parenthood is letting go.
How did the butterfly get its name?
Did it land on a stick of butter?
Or maybe on the butter churn?
Did the first one have wings of yellow?
Or did it slide down a window easily?
Did it flutter around with pollen on its feet?
How did the butterfly get its name?
Did it steal the milk and butter?
Photo cc0 from Pixabay.
Most days I swim in the shallows of daily life,
“What’s for dinner;
Honey, help me please;
Oh, that looks good;
Where is this thing?”
Occasionally, Great White dives into the abyss
and pulls a glowing creature
from the depths of my darkness
that illuminates a way for others,
be it a story, a poem, or a painting.
Starlights twinkle bright
Everyone sings lively
Christmas kindness ignites me.