Open as breeze

call in and drop by anytime for a ball
ball of patterns as we work on the call
keys are never needed, flat is open as breeze
breeze so easy as righteous ends are keys
feed us with different experience as we all agreed
agreed to hold on lies and welcome things to feed

be grateful for whoever comes, give them a cup of tea
tea is always good for the soul so we accept them be
even if it’s bad news, one day it will shine, the sun
sun rises and sets no matter what happens even
as with life, it could be fun, sad, up, down and jazz
jazz up life with all the different experience so as*

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

* The Mirror Sestet, created by Shelley A. Cephas, is a poem that can be written in one or more stanzas of 6 lines each. The specific guidelines for this form are as follows:

The first word of line 1 rhymes with the last word of line 1.
The first word of line 2 is the last word of line 1
and the last word of line 2 is the 1st word of line 1.

The first word of line 3 rhymes with the last word of line 3.
The first word of line 4 is the last word of line 3
and the last word of line 4 is the 1st word of line 3.

The first word of line 5 rhymes with the last word of line 5.
The first word of line 6 is the last word of line 5
and the last word of line 6 is the 1st word of line 5.

The Mirror Sestet can also be written in non-rhyme.
All rules must be followed except there is no 1st and last word rhyming.

For: Writing Prompt #187 “Collage 34”, Wordle 275 Nov 20 by Brenda Warren

Writing Prompt November 13 – Abecedarian

Apple baked caramel dusted every flavour
Great harvest in juicy kaleidoscope
Lovingly marinated Nutella overall
Pampered queenly rain-stained
Turning under viola waltz
Xylophone your zoo

arabesque pose, Aisha is really good with that!
branch manager is her Dad’s job
complex world we live in
deadfall and the twitch-up snare to be sure
error always happens, I make a lot of that!
flash all over the news
gristle and meat stuck in his teeth as he smiles
hard not to laugh hee hee hee ha ha ha
itsy bitsy tinee winee yellow polka dot bikini
jaundice was the son when he was born
kookaburra’s raucous laughter seems to mock
lachesism is not something I wish to happen
mud flood I don’t give a thud
numb I become when I don’t move an inch
obey me today, you say no way Jose
pulse is racing when I get excited
quill driver I hope to be one day
rough as toast as could ever be
saliva from the dog as he licked me
trembling with excitement and anxiety
upturned tubs and all flowers were thrown about
verse one, chapter one and I can’t wait to read
wistful thinking if I can finish it in one sitting
Xerarch that’s a new word for me
yield afield as I shield the unrevealed
zigzag course when chased by predators

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Writing Prompt November 13 – Abecedarian

Music – Writing Prompt #183 “Collage 32”

music is a world within itself
with a language we all understand
making me find my own self
and where I stand

a thousand ways to make or break
waking up to a lovely music
I’ll bake a cake when I awake
getting ready for treat or trick

we can tell what mood we’re in
makes us bounce and thrive
genius and madness are akin
gives us the drive to strive

from birth to death it’s part of us
we can delve deeper into the matter
our energy so boundless
we can do things in a spur

planting us with roses as birds sing
making us travel to see the world
waiting for what the day will bring
as we swirled and twirled

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Writing Prompt #183 “Collage 32”, Wordle 271 Oct 23 by Brenda Warren

Mr. Sandman’s Gifts

mimic of a dream
in a state of spin
flash and fade it seems
rim in the park I grin

in a state of spin
flip a coin and kick
insulate I have been
limit of a trick

flash and fade it seems
forgetting all my lines
swimming in stream
taking me to fine dine

rim in the park I grin
promise me the moon
you, the yang to my yin
your kiss make me swoon*

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

* Created by C. G. V. Lewis, the Quadrilew is a form of quatrain poem with an abab rhyming scheme, repeating lines, and contains an alternating syllable structure.

In the first verse, the poet may either start with a five or six syllable line. If the choice is five then the ‘sounding’ syllable count is (and opposite if the count is six):

VERSE ONE,
Line 1, 5 syllables.
Line 2, 6 syllables.
Line 3, 5 syllables.
Line 4, 6 syllables.

VERSE TWO,
Line 1, (which is a REPEAT of line 2 of the FIRST verse) has 6 syllables.
Line 2 new line of 5 syllables
Line 3 new line of 6 syllables
Line 4 new line of 5 syllables.

VERSE THREE,
Line 1, (which is a REPEAT of line 3 of the first verse) has 5 syllables.
Line 2 new line of 6 syllables.
Line 3 new line of 5 syllables.
Line 4 new line of 6 syllables.

VERSE FOUR,
Line 1, (which is a REPEAT of line 4 of the first verse) has 6 syllables.
Line 2 new line of 5 syllables.
Line 3 new line of 6 syllables.
Line 4 new line of 5 syllables.

For: Writing Prompt, October 16th, 2016:Gifts from Mr. Sandman, Wordle 270 Oct 16 by Brenda Warren

Think! – Writing Prompt #181 “Collage 31”

Think left and right, think low and high
A needle in a haystack, clouds in the sky
The view from the bridge, that’s amazing
Put chillies in cooking that gives it zing
Play hide and seek by the big pear
And all the while she’s sitting on a chair
So cosy enjoying the breeze in the garden
Trimming the soil and the job’s done
Three dried roses on the wall
Still some mist this morning’s fall
Colourful bowls from my last trip
Filled up the cardboard, that’s a blip
Giggling I walked down the stairs
The end of rose petal trail, you my bear!

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Writing Prompt #181 “Collage 31”, Wordle 269 Oct 9 by Brenda Warren

The Discovery

“Bye, Dad, don’t forget to bring me back some chocolates!” that was my daughter bidding me goodbye this morning. Jessie is a lovely girl, my own jewel. She was playing in the garden with her dog Pogi.

My name is Craig and I’m a construction worker. My work starts early and it’s a hard job. I’ve learned the trade from an early age, as my father was a construction worker himself. I used to be his assistant. He taught me everything he knew. I work as a freelance constructor, getting contracts from different firms and projects. I earn enough to keep my small family being fed and clothed. There’s Louie, the love of my life, 10 year old Ben and 5 year old Jessie. We have got a cosy home in the suburb of the city.

Today was a normal day. The journey from home to work was about an hour. We have to construct a building in the heart of the city. It’s a big project. First we have to dig deep for the foundation to be laid. I didn’t know what happened but I was trapped in one corner. I was there for about an hour before my colleague saw and helped me get out of there. That hour was the longest hour in my life. I thought about my life, my family and how I would do everything to make them happy. That I appreciated what life has offered and given me so far and that I was very grateful for all the blessing that was given to us. When I came out of there, I felt as light as a feather, feeling free and ready to see life in a different way. If only I have a set of wings, then I could fly and be home sooner.

I bought Jessie her box of chocolates, a big bunch of flowers for Louie and a toy car for Ben. I even bought Pogi a chewing toy. I told them how much I love them and said we’re going to go on holiday this summer. They can choose where we can go. They chose Garda Lake. And so that little accident made me think about my priorities in my life. I’d say I found my own pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and I’m very grateful for it.

For: Writing Competition by Esther Newton

One more chance!

He really stepped in it this time. He has to remain in focus, despite the pain in his chest. After the three men left him in this awful state, he has to think fast. He tried to free himself, wanted to scream but couldn’t. He suffered in silence. What a mess he got himself in. This time, the love of his life is also in trouble, if he cannot give them what they wanted.

When he woke up, the pain was gone and he could stand up. He went home, rinsed himself and made himself a pot of tea. They gave him the date when he has to submit what they needed. He has to steer hard right rudder to get out of this trouble. The will to survive this is stronger, especially if it also involved the safety of his lady love. One more chance to live or die.

For: Writing Prompt #179 “Collage 30”, TBP’s On-line Writer’s Guild #32, Wordle 267 Sep 25 by Brenda Warren

Writing Prompt #177 “Collage 29” – Friends

Happy am I when friends listen to me
They tilt their heads and lean closer to me
Especially when we’re talking about love
While munching our crisps and olives
Gossiping about breakups, without doubt
Going out Friday nights, having our freak-outs
Happy am I when I know they are authentic
We may be all different, somehow we all click
Real friends, my allies, my critiques, too
Sticking with each other like glue
Meeting with them, shopping, having coffee
Going through a lot, ride smooth or bumpy
Telling about our pain with wild abandon
Crying together but most of the time, fun

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Writing Prompt #177 “Collage 29”, Wordle 265 Sep 11 by Brenda Warren

A Month of Mini Writing Challenges

Day 9 – Write a haiku inspired by the theme “night”.

Soft whisper of wind
Light of the silvery moon
Children fast asleep

Crickets chirp, owls hoot
Angels sing halleluiah
Total darkness

Day 11 – Write a story set in a forest in 100 words or less.

Adventurous as she was, she walked further and further from her friends.
Looking at all the exotic plants and trees, she didn’t noticed she’s getting lost.
And that she’s moving around going back and forth and the paths crisscrossed.
By the time it was getting dark, she didn’t know what to do, how to get help.
She bumped into something mossy and spooky, that’s when she uttered a yelp.
Only silence in that eerie place, she’s imagining a lot of different scenario.
She waits; such tight corner she has entered and she doesn’t seem to get out.

Day 13 – The prompt is “space”. The format and length are your choice.

Leave me alone, I need my space
I don’t want to hear any gossip
As I walk around the room with grace
Don’t want to be the cause of any breakup
Especially sour grapes and anything bad
Keep your secret to yourself or write a poem
Don’t want to add anything to my keypad
I’m sure your poem will be awesome
In a fiction of course, no one knows it’s you
Alarming as it sounds, I’m not thirsty for it
It’s tough how those words could be construed
Let alone if they’re written in Sanskrit
I’m having a long bath, with loofah and razors
To contemplate on what I really like in my life
Hoping some of my questions will have answers
Like about the universe and is there an afterlife?
Storm comes and goes, then calmness will come
Peace at last, I say and speak to myself in sigh
Now I can do anything like wriggle my thumb
Give me my space, I want my life to simplify

Day 16 – Write a poem on the theme of “reflections”. Any length.

golden pond
water lilies, frogs, turtles
living happily

living happily
water lily in my hair
see my reflection

see my reflection
enjoying the gorgeous day
sitting by the pond

moonrise
holding their hands by their knees
evening at a house

peaceful evening and some wine
reminiscing bygone days

candlelite dinner
hold hands under the table
her eyes are sparkling

crickets chirping by the trees
soft breeze whistling in the night

full moon reflection
lovers walk by the sea
man gave her his coat

they promise to love each one
kiss by the light of the moon

grandad telling jokes
everyone’s eager to hear
laughing our hearts out

granny’s apple cake all gone
now having nice cups of tea

For: “A Month of Mini Writing Challenges“, Taboo Words, days 7, 8, 9 (he, with, on)

Prompt Nights – We tend to smile in the exact same language – [27]

smiling of eyes
sincere and pure emotion
the eyes never lie

when someone smiled at me
it pierced through bad things of life
all was well again

a ray of sunshine
a smile is so contagious
you pass it on

the presence of heart
sharing a smile is a gift
it lights up the world

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Prompt Nights – We tend to smile in the exact same language – [27]