January Visual Poetry Prompt

Chocolate Covered Cherries

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

In response to Bartholomew Barkers prompt Chocolate Covered Cherries

I do not like cherries!
Said I, said I
He popped one in his mouth
Looking at me with crystal
blue eyes, blue eyes

I do so love chocolate
I do, I do
And cherry juice is very yummy
Watching the liquid paint his lips
Said I, said I

A big hand passes one half a nugget
To me, to me
Cherry juice dripping all over
He laughs as I lick it from
my knee, my knee

The box was soon empty
We saw, we saw
Time we headed home he said
his red stained t-shirt wipes
my mouth, my mouth

George Benjamin Franklin!
Said she, said she
What have the two of you
been up to this day?
This day, this day.

Stopped by the store he said
To her, to her
Chocolate covered cherries on sale
Got two boxes to eat and to share
Empty hands, Empty hands

Did you spoil girls dinner as well?
Said she, said she
Now wife you are wise and kind
I would never spoil this girl
Of mine, of mine

Mother fluffed and puffed my best
Sunday dress, Sunday dress
Not a single red stain nor a mess
on my dress did she find
She find, she find

Lucky you she said to Father
To Father, to Father
Her dress looks brand new 
Lucky for me I do not like cherries
Said I, said I

Written for Throwback Thursday, Hosted by Maggie and Lauren

This week Maggie asks us –

What makes you feel lucky? Is it a four leaf clover, a rabbit’s foot, or a lucky penny?

I have never been superstitious except in silliness. I.E. As a child chanting, “Step on a crack you’ll break your mother’s back!” Which no one ever believed, obviously.

I do notice omens, when they happen; especially in animal form or by animal spirit guides. A lot of these teachings are handed down within the American Indian tribes. My grandmother was of the Saux and Fox Tribe in Tama, IA. An omen, or foretelling happened when nature sent a signal and the tribal leader or medicine man paid attention.

Should a flock of birds swoop down suddenly from the north, more than likely a cold, winter storm was on the way or in the summer, a mighty thunderstorm. If all of the animals came rushing out of the forest at once; a forest fire could be blazing or worse, a mighty army was headed toward the village. All were signs of something about to happen, an omen, a foretelling.

For myself, the majestic hawk has always stirred my senses and asked me to pay attention to my feelings, my circumstances or the area surrounding us.

Just a couple of weeks before Christmas, I moved. It was more traumatic emotionally than I expected and physically demanding. Then, my daughter and her family had to cancel their trip down to spend Christmas with me because she had contracted COVID and was extremely ill. Christmas was less than lack-luster as I was in a new place, alone, with my Christmas tree still in its box in the guest room.

The beautiful hawk came a couple of days ago and not only came but stayed a good thirty minutes. He sat across my back yard on my neighbors deck railing. I stood dead still at my back door when I saw him and I was sure he’d fly away. But he did not. Instead, he turned his head very slowly and stared right at me for the longest time.

After that, he flew to the ground in my back yard and started stomping before hopping quickly out of the way. He was hunting, patiently with perseverance and the fortitude of experience. When he finished his task, he looked at me then flew to the highest peak of my neighbors home where he sat regally looking over his hunting grounds. When I looked down at my camera and back up, he had gone.

My message from Hawk? Persevere, never give up and keep reaching for that next highest peak. Who am I not to heed this omen?

Aho

Wounded by Cupid’s uninvited arrow …

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

Weeks and weeks of tortuous aloneness exacerbated by Christmas and New Years Eve holiday celebrations going on all around – me

Waiting for that text that email that call that says you are thinking of me you miss me you are coming to see me – soon

Christmas passes without a glance back to see who might be waiting New Year’s Eve approaches anticipation builds excitement that the drought will soon – break

The tree is up and decorated a week past gift opening day Ready for you are prettily wrapped packages Beneath a beaming Christmas tree giddy with – excitement

The home is adorned pictures hung against bare walls Floors are swept Curtain bottoms dance across a polished floor practicing for that first dance with – you

The smart device signals with a ping a text, an email, a call Plans have changed you may or may not come Another opportunity as arisen for you Taking you from me – again

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

In response to Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge – December 28, 2021 by DEVEREAUX FRAZIER and BETH AMANDA – Today’s prompt: Use “my sins beyond” in any form of writing.

https://godoggocafe.com/2021/12/28/tuesday-writing-prompt-challenge-december-28-2021/

You took our child support! You stole our inheritance! You cheated on our father! You! You! You!

Constantly and forever accused of sins beyond my imagining. What children have I wrought upon this world accusing me?

I give them freedom, they perceive neglect! I turn the other cheek, they perceive weakness and fear!

Be strong in your own minds I say, they believe me stupid and ignorant. Be of your own opinions I teach, they believe me deaf and blind.

In my heart I am pure, and good and kind and loving. I thrust my sins beyond the kin of humanity, into His arms only.

Christmas Tithe – 99 Words

31 December 2021

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

“I’m telling you, she’s a witch!” Said the boy carrying the end of the tree.

“She’s not a witch!” Chimed the other two boys.

“She’s just an old woman.” The first boy said.

“Besides,” the middle boy huffed, “a witch wouldn’t want a Christmas tree every year!”

“Momma says it’s a tithe to keep her happy,” the third boy whispered.

The old lady beckoned them in where they set the tree in its stand. She led them out and as the door closed they heard her laughingly say,

“I am not a witch love, not a witch at all.”

FLASH FICTION FOR THE PURPOSEFUL PRACTITIONER: 2022: WEEK #01

https://flashfictionforthepracticalpractitioner.wordpress.com/

Posted on December 27, 2021 by rogershipp

Mother

By Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher-Ferris

She told us, she warned us repeatedly through story, through song and finally, she showed us. Even with the showing, we did not listen. Even when chaos reigned down on us from above, when fiery rockets of molten lava spewed from below, when oceans rose and deserts disappeared; still we did not listen. We forced her hand and being who she is, she could not, would not back down.

We became the enemy. We became the infestation. We who had been given this paradise of greenery, of sustenance, of life; repeated our own history without garnering one single learned moment from the eons and eons of quiet pleas, the unheard cries, the high decibel screams she issued. The animals could hear, the flowers and the plants could hear, the mountains, the seas, the deserts and the trees could hear. But we could not hear. We did not hear. We would not hear. Some did. Some heard and tried to rally around the trees, the oceans, the deserts and the flowers; but they weren’t enough or they too, were too late.

Response to Sadje’s Sunday Poser #60 – “How was your Christmas Day?”

http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2021/12/26/sunday-poser-60/

No Christmas 

by Ami (Gypsie) Offenbacher -Ferris

Christmas forgot me this year

No tree no lights

No gifts to wrap 

No presents to unwrap 

Sitting beneath the stars 

The night cold 

The darkness endless 

The void calls my name 

Voice deep in my heart 

A memory of childhood delight

A sense of Christmases past

A past time of jubilant excitement 

Loved ones from heights above 

Touch my mind

Touch memories lost

Touch heartache forever sustained 

The peace of Christmas 

Lay in the stars

Lay on the Earth

Lay in my heart

Christmas forgot me this year

I do not need a tree

I do not need to wrap presents

I do not need gifts to unwrap

Christmas – I will never forget You 

Twisted dagger into my heart
jagged edges rip my soul

Din of darkness threatens within
exhaustion crushes from without