Category: Author

By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

Stars of yellow
Stars so bright
Stars that bring
me such delight

Not in the night sky
Not way above our heads
Not sparkling on the horizon
but in my garden bed

You twinkle in the sunshine
You twinkle in the wind
You don’t even mind
twinkling when you bend

Little yellow star flower
Little do you know
Little bits of love and soil
help your flowers grow

By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

A tiny frog leapt out at me
as if to say hello
Although in all reality
he was running from my hoe

After that a pretty ribbon snake
lifted its triangular head to see
Who was disturbing his grassy home
No worries little snake – just me

From underneath my long front deck
deep with cool damp earth
Slithering out into the sun
a blue tailed skink came forth

Big and green with strong notched legs
a giant grasshopper stopped to preen
Glistening beneath old sol’s rays
he was already squeaky clean

In 95 Words

By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

Austria in 2000, a glorious trip. Sound of Music trilled through my mind as I toured estates, castles, landmarks, massive natural lakes and unbelievably statuesque mountains.

I attended my first opera there and as I was in Europe, the words were in English. Heaven! The
hors d’oeuvres were even more heavenly. Humongous ripe strawberries dipped in the most devine chocolate served with exquisite champagne. I had several of each.

The staff member handed me the bill. I had no idea each strawberry had cost $25.00 U.S. dollars and each glass of champagne was $40.00!

By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

There I am
on the outside
different
but somehow the same

Air charged with the tension
of unsaid words
arcing through
a molasses of hurt feelings

Eyes leak scalding tears
trailing hidden scars behind
Unseen by the others
bone deep to the one

Always separate
ever alone
excluded
in all things meaningful

There I am
on the outside
different
not at all the same

By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

The water a mottled green
hiding untold treasures
hiding unfathomable danger
beneath the dark rolling surface

Dark gray clouds competed with white
against the incandescent blue
of the Carolina sky teasing the ground with light sprinkles of rain

Stable Old Town canoe etched
the top of the inky blackness
with diamond cutter precision
creating mini-waterfalls at the bow

Old Town bobbed joyfully
upon the dark essence of the creek
dancing in the jubilant spray
heralding its release

A Great Blue Heron careened
out of a huge copse of reeds
startled by the silent approach
of the long green canoe

Eddies swirled invitingly
the mesmerizing ripples
hypnotizing in their opulence
capturing insects for delighted fish

Sun warmed shoulders glisten
beneath suns life-giving rays
paddling up current against the wind
southern breeze transforms the soul

By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

In response to KL Caley’s
weekly #writephoto prompt!
FLEDGLING

I will wait right here
that’s what I will do
Away from home
about life I haven’t a clue

She didn’t mean to leave me
of that I am sure
Mommy owls love
is so strong and so pure

The other fledglings left her
but I stayed by her side
They learned how to fly
They mastered their glide

I am a little different
my wings are too small
I couldn’t lift my body
not even at the mall

So Mommy owl brought me
to wait in this old pot
But I’m starting to wonder
if she’s coming for me – or not

Cee is the host of the photo challenge: https://ceenphotography.com/2022/08/23/cffc-basically-two-colors-in-your-photos/

Sleeping Koda hiding not one, not two – but three bones while she sleeps! 😊

By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

In response to the prompt word redivivus posted by Bartholomew Barker @ Living Poetry

As summers heat dissipates
leading seasons end to fall
The flowers I diligently guarded
against pestilence and drought
are withering now to ground

Yet I have no fear this time next year
out of the rich soil they all will sprout
For perennials are all I plant
counting on their redivivus nature
one hundred plus next spring

By Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris

It is a prison
more confining
more defining
locked tighter
than the Castle of Alcazar

There is no abdication
no way to get out
no way to escape pain
unable to avoid the aging
the only release unacceptable

Skin is the tourniquet
bones are the cage
sinew and muscles
held together
in unbearable torture

The Body of Alcazar
traps the spirit
traps the will
captures the mind – ensnares the soul
the human body makes it so