Alien

Alien:
Foreign
Different
Unusual
Strange
Out of place,
But not race
Or ethnicity–

This place
My home
Now unknown
Hatred sowed
Divided
Despair
Unfair
Unrecognizable:
Alien–

Migrants in a makeshift encampment outside a Border Patrol station in McAllen, Tex., in May.

– Written for FBCWoo Poetry Group Prompt 3: List Poem. Write a poem that takes the form of a list. Photo from Loren Elliott/Reuters featured in the New York Times article, Squalid Conditions at Border Detention Centers, Government Report Finds.

Sunday Trees #416 110319

In Murfreesboro, TN

– On Dragonfly Wings with Buttercup Tea’s Sunday Trees #416 – November 3, 2019. Photo ©2019 Leara Nicole Morris-Clark.

Still Small Voice

A murmur from the crowd —
Raging awful sound

Cold and bold, growing louder
Stoked by fear uncontrolled —

Shouts of doubters who were sold
False narratives
Foretold —
Impending doom

Imperative truth among raucous
A still small voice still speaking veracity
To those who will listen

– Written for dVerse Quadrille #85, prompt was “voice.” WC 44.

Twisted

twisted bare vines crawl
all around the weathered cross –
air whirrs with power

– Written for Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge #266. Word prompts were “Twisted” & “Cross” or synonyms of those.

The Gift

She wrapped her scarf and sighed visibly in the morning air.

On the recurring drive, she replayed the first visit. Tubes, wires, alerts of all kinds overwhelmed them.

The season closed with a new beginning; baby is finally coming home.

– Written for YeahWrite Microprose Challenge #434. Prompt was to tell a story in exactly 40 words that evokes a specific season without using the names for that season.

Limbo

In between
Living and waiting to live

Songs of mourning and lullabies
Life as it were and as it will be
Tears for the loss and baby cries

A cycle that ends
And begins again with no surprise
Twilight and morning sunrise

In between
An ultrasound and looking into my newborn baby’s eyes

– Written for dVerse Poetics, prompt was “limbo.” I also implemented the Form for All 55 word challenge. WC 55. Photos are of my daughter. She was born 1lb. and 10oz. at 27 weeks. She is now 6 months old (3 months adjusted) and 11lbs. 7.5oz.

Symphony of Spring

wind plucked branches played
a symphony of springtime
colors exploded

– Written for Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge #251. Word prompts were “plucked” & “played” or synonyms of those. Image by Lolame from Pixabay.