Response to Photo Challenge #28 / Dazzling
JULY 15, 2023 / Hosted by OFMARIAANTONIA




Response to Photo Challenge #28 / Dazzling
JULY 15, 2023 / Hosted by OFMARIAANTONIA





Crafty was he
trapped was she
Lips dipped low
to drain her life blood
He swallowed her cry of pain
shifting her to settle against him
The brilliant shine of his dark eyes
devoured her slim form
Never stray from me again
his voice hypnotic compelled
She knew she was not brave enough to stay and would run again
He – knew – it – too …

A specter came in the night
Very quickly I turned on the light
And set everything right!


Another margarita again
alone in my window booth
Watching couples come and go
Another margarita again
missing him
The server asks if I’d like another
another margarita again
I sit and sip the pale green brew slowly licking the salted rim
missing him
Cherry sinks to the bottom
another margarita again
Lime absorbs the salt
orange makes it sweet again
missing him
Hot sauce is finished
chips are all gone
Another margarita again
empty plate last bite taken
missing him
Lights are dimming
sun has gone away
Another margarita again
maybe this time I’ll add tequila
still – missing him

Ragtag (RDP) Sunday Prompt
hosted by drkottaway:
TRUE LOVE – What that means to you.
Lifting a dog weighing over
one hundred pounds
racing to the vet
to save her
TRUE LOVE
Waiting for someone far away
who may come sooner
or may not come at all
because he’s worth the wait
TRUE LOVE
Listening to a daughter
ravaged by mental illness
alcoholism and drug addiction
repeat herself on the phone
TRUE LOVE
Remaining hopeful and hoping
beyond hope that an estranged son
will one day see through
perceived pain and come home
TRUE LOVE
Standing firm beside a friend
facing a life riddled with disease
pain and mortifying debilitation
remaining joyful and supportive
TRUE LOVE
And not purchasing a BB gun to dissuade a very hungry bunny
from decimating a garden full
of beautiful flowers to fill his tummy
Definitely TRUE LOVE
I am honored to announce that my poem, Season of Change has been accepted for publication in the
North Carolina Bards Poetry Anthology 2023 published by Local Gems Press in late August or September of 2023!!
Thank you so much to The North Carolina Bards Poetry Review Team
Maddie and
Bards President: James P. Wagner (Ishwa)

Tiny sparks
like flames of life
Die in the night air
Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge – Variegated Hosted by Sue W and GC




Deep within the damp shallow grave
the Seer’s inner gaze
watched a finger twitch
Her vision dim and the call
of her spell shattered words
split into silence by fear
Fractured images mingled together
drifts of newly dug earth shifted
a scream and her creations emerged

I love to rock
it soothes my soul
back and forth
forth and back
Then do it again and again
Slow or fast
sometimes in-between
sitting way up front
or curled into the back
It doesn’t much matter to me
I rock in the morning
I rock at night
I rock in the evening
and at dawn’s first light
Often I rock myself to sleep
I’m an old woman now
not much more to be said
except now I can rock
morning, noon and night
And no one can complain about that!
