Author: Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

Last on the Card – December 2022 hosted by bushboys world

Photograph by ©️Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

Prompt hosted by Of Maria Antonia December 31, 2022 Photo Challenge #53 / Perfect Shot

In response to KL Caley’s Weekly #Writephoto Prompt!

Dreams do manifest into reality
the test is in the waiting
the passage of time
patience

Waves caress the glistening sides
of the white sailing ship
her name a beloved acronym
a gift

Behind lies land and what used to be
ahead lives adventures to be found
hand and hand and arm in arm is life
profound

In response to pensitivity101’s prompt Three Things Challenge #M192 PENALTY AIM INTRICATE

His aim was true his future solid the plan he laid an intricate ballad of love lost and days spent in deep emotional torment

In a short time without much effort he stole her heart giving him comfort She didn’t know she didn’t plan to spend her life without this man

The truth came out painful and bold the ladies heart it grew quite cold He had cursed both of their destinies loneliness their ultimate penalty

In response to Bartholomew Barker’s prompt, “What does the future hold?”

Broken apart now faltering
angst anger regret and pain
A mother and father vow
never to speak again

Houses once homes
sold to provide funds
For out-of-state moves
beer and liquor runs

Electricity falters
smart phones and devices
Become treasured antiques
man left without his vices

Teenagers stay home
to help mom run the farm
Sisters and brothers
work together arm in arm

Through the heavy barn doors
walks a man scarred and torn
Demons and humans he battled
his soul thin and worn

The players are different
in this family once broken
Standing together as one
not society’s meager token

A strong family unit now
forms a community devoted
to save their Mother the Earth
by hard work and clean voting

A baby in a manger
wrapped in thin linen
smiled at the simplicity
of a rhythmic thumping drum

Over his head a stables roof
the songs of barn animals
serenade his first lullaby
a mother and father by his side

It mattered not to the tiny child
that others had much more than he
the healing light within his eyes
would bring joy to all for many years

In this world of violence and crime
where wealth and fame
eclipse love and care
wrap your heart in the barest linen
and remember

Cold wind howls in obscure octaves,
the notes lost among the cacophony.
Obsessed it is, the blustery wind.
Endless search.

Swiping Christmas decorations
from eave and porch, tree and bush,
attempting to hold on to mortality.
Useless endeavor.

Bitter air follows the whipping gusts,
the bite of it coats all it touches
with its frigid tenor, to ice.
Crystal sculptures.

Trees falter, statuesque trunks bend,
and fold beneath the weight and wrath
of Mother Nature’s moodiness.
Angry deity.

In my bed close to the frosty window,
freezing air drifts through warped sills
aged by time and neglect and time.
Endless loop.

Beneath the heavy blankets and quilt,
alone Christmas Eve on this wintry,
wet, windy night before the Miracle;
my pups bound up to sleep beside me.

I am blessed.

Edited by Gabriella Marie

Very honored to announce that some of my poetry has been selected for publication in HIDDEN IN CHILDHOOD: A POETRY ANTHOLOGY Edited by Gabriela Marie Milton to be released late January 2023!!!

By Tomasina Kat (aka Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris)

In response to Bartholomew Barker’s prompt,
“Why Do Cats Hate Christmas?”

I have been asked it seems,
tasked it seems,
by a poet more learned than
I

To explain why we cats you see,
do not like Christmas
you see,
or really no holidays at all.

First off and number one
on this poem,
Having taken a poll
just for this list.

Is the loss of our favorite spot,
our sacred resting berth.
You push us away blocking the way
to our sunny window sill!

Secondly my dear sweet human,
in my sleeping place you set
A prickly Christmas tree
then forbid a cat from climbing it!

Third and might I say
quite devious of you humans,
You place upon that Christmas tree hundreds of baubling baubles!

They jiggle and sway all of the day
taunting, teasing, torturing,
Our feline kind not to bat,
not to swat, lest we all go blind!

Fourth and this causes a quite a tiff,
you have turkey and ham,
Cornish hens and fried Spam,
but do you deem to share any at all?

Fifth and hear me human’s mine,
this is the most important
Reason why cats truly hate
Christmas after all!

Have you ever seen a little kitty cat,
jump from inside a wrapped
Christmas box,
a gift for that little boy or girl?

No you have not,
puppies galore all over the floor,
But Christmas kittens,
there are not!

The temperatures have dropped today
the Winter air is bitter cold
Hibiscus leaves have curled and dried
only stalks and roots survive
Soon those too will fade away
leaving deep buried roots behind

Gardenia blooms a sweet memory
tucked inside their stems until Spring
Bleeding Hearts and Sunflower discs
lay in wait for the warmth of the sun
To restore their lovely greenery
when Winter’s wrath is done

Wrapped up like Christmas presents
my favored Palm Trees stand
Bound around with burlap bags
protecting their wispy fronds
Feeding their roots with supplements
keeping them healthy and strong

My Cypress tree is truly bald
more naked it could not be
Just beside it’s barren form
two trees of bright evergreen
Underneath their long limbs sprawl
a remembrance of past splendor

The mulch is laid and piled around
the base of each and every bush
Christmas lights will fill the space
now barren of blooms and flowers
My garden sleeps in frozen ground
the silent night’s begin again