ON THE VERGE OF YEARS

ON THE VERGE OF YEARS

She is just fourteen, and thinks she knows
all there is to know about life, and she shows
it off in an off-hand kind of comment
about the state of the world, and we should lament
these grim times ...
on the verge of years
way beyond her time.

She is twenty-five, not that old at heart
growing up too fast, wants a new start
a chance for a life that works out for a change
finding it hard to leave that fast lane ...
not yet her time ...
on the verge of years
falling back into time.

More than fifty is she, with grey in her hair
two not so young children still in need of her care
but the loneliness that comes in the dead of the night
cannot be filled by children in her sight
sad, sad, times
past the verge of years,
the ending of time.

mebw
© 6/9/13

NaPoWriMo # 24 LETHAL ELEGANCE

LETHAL ELEGANCE

He sits there on the sill
waiting to make a kill
still thinking of the thrill
that will bring him
new life.

He watches and he waits
for some thing to take the bait
hating that his fate
on this date may
bring strife.

He struts, he coos
oozing pure elegance
visage of defiance.
He will roam, combing
the greenery for some
bit of scenery that moves ...
his clue to strike.

Strike he does ...
And there, in the back
viewing his rapid attack
waits the lady in black
there is never a lack in her life
of lethal elegance.

mebw
© 4/24/13

SIRENS IN THE NIGHT

SIRENS IN THE NIGHT

Dark sky and swirling cloud
... thunder rages, screams out loud
falling raindrops drench the crowd
umbrellas explode in silence.

Darkness did not come this night
when all tired souls were filled with fright
and lightning flashes ripped with hot light
across the screaming skies.

After midnight the world asleep
behind locked doors, sweet dreams to keep
suddenly shocked into a sobbing heap
with the sirens in the night.

Sirens to warn of danger near
sirens to warn, to raise the fear
sirens to wake, even the dead can hear
the sirens in the night.

mebw
© 4-18-13
for my Mom, Kay Balletto.

NaPoWriMo #14 I NEVER MEANT TO MAKE YOU CRY

I NEVER MEANT TO MAKE YOU CRY

I don't understand
these puddles at your feet,
the streaks down your face.
Why are you running down the street?

I just took your hand,
it was time to say good-bye,
time to reach for other stars.
Did you want me to lie?

This was so unplanned,
it was only just a fling,
just a way to pass the time.
It really did not mean a thing,
to me.

But here you are with puddles,
running away from this good-bye.
Please, understand, it was just a game.
I never meant to make you cry.


mebw
© 4-14-13

OLD MAN'S GATE

OLD MAN'S GATE

Flowers grow a bit wild now.
He's killed the hog and sold the sow
Winter winds, they don't abate,
They just blow by the old man's gate.

Life got bad a year a go -
Lost his wife in a winter snow.
Never recovered from love's cruel blow.
She's buried by the old man's gate.

Spring may come again they say;
Flowers bloom another day.
All we can do is hope and pray
For fairer breezes through the old man's gate.

Michelle Balletto-Wooten
© 7-5-11