Nonet: Doors

       end  
       doors locked                                                          
       closing  day                                                              
       graduation                                                                 
       wedding, parting ways                                                 
       tears, memories, regrets                                                         
       none but gratitude, hearts full                                                       
       we looked at the pictures fondly                                                          
       and placed the album back on the shelf                                                                  


       turning around, we open the mail 
       invites and possibilities     
       YES, the magic answer to        
       new doors; we ring the bell     
       raising up glasses  
       with friends, we toast      
       as a new   
       journey        
       start     

Author's Note:   Life is a series of doors, closing and opening.  And this applies to relationships as well.   If you are not happy with your relationship, just walk out of the door.  If you don't want complications, don't open the door when someone knocks (specially in the wee hours of the morning).   If you are happy, keep the door locked, and throw away the key.    


As one door closes, another door opens.  Shared with One Shot Wednesday final post, I wrote my first nonet in tribute to OSW, Form Monday.  Hosted by Gay Cannon, Corbie Sinclair shared this form:  In writing it involves a poem with a total of nine lines. The first line must have nine syllables, second line eight syllables, third line seven syllables and so on until you end with one syllable. It has a ABCDEFGHI or alpha numerical form, so each line is a different ending word. The corresponding syllables are 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. (The first part goes in reverse;   the second part follows the rules, hopefully.)   

Today is the formal launch of the new poetry community, d'Verse Poets.  Join us for the party (OpenLinkNight every Tuesday) 3 pm EST).   Say YES, link your poem and meet new (and old) friends. Cheers ~

Picture credit:   beautiful-portal.tumblr

Dragonfly

she swallowed her tongue  
soft voice, though stuttering 
she hid her lies behind the veil      


she wiped her crimson nose
hair swept up in a bird's nest  
in her finery, she felt her nakedness & shame   


oh if only she could, she would 
break the silver glass of the caste ceiling
and return the dowry, and bouquet of flowers 


the family jewels weighed heavily around her neck 
her body was but a debt or maybe a price
a pawn for a rich man but a stranger, sealed her fate     


the dragonfly tattoo etched on her back 
a reminder that freedom is on the wings 
if only she can find the courage  


she took a step, haltingly, to open the door 
mind wallowed, hands trembled
now.....pushing another step, then another

until she was running along the polished steps   

not faltering steps but fleet footed

wanting to fly on the wind's first breath

she stumbled and fell, splitting lips
tongue tasted the blood of freedom
hands touched the dirt on the ground


she pushed herself up to stand
gown soiled and torn at the edges, 
she ran, finding her wings at last       




Author's note :  Generally, in Japan dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness.  

This post is my heartfelt wish for women who wants freedom and independence.  Offered for One Shot Wednesday and Friday Poetically of OSP.   Sadly, Brian Miller is hosting this for the last time and will be moving to another community.   Thank you Brian for all your hard work in OSP.   Fly freely and courageously ~


picture credit:  sensuelle92000 

Lucky Day

an invite to their civil wedding came
no fancy envelope nor big entourage names
a date chosen by a Taoist priest 
July 4, a lucky day to be wed


she had fought bravely for this day  
her freedom came when her abusive ex-husband
finally gave her the divorce she always sought 
now blessed with a child, with a man who cherish her  
the lovers felt lucky to be finally wed 


when the moment came to say
their sacred vows, she felt shy as he
proudly recited the often said words 
her eyes pricked with tears of joy
today, she is lucky to stand as his wife  


dining later with their small band of guests 
the bride showed off her wedding silver band
the eternal ring, with diamonds running around it
she said it was a lucky ring for love


they invited guests to their beautiful new house
wide fields and trees dotted the horizon
like some castle on a hill fitting for their lofty dreams
they flew in a fung shui master to appraise it
they wanted to have a lucky house 


rooms, kitchen, storage area, mirrors, ceiling, doors
the fung shui master opened his red magnetic compass
looking for the perfect spot, all to bring good luck 
until he proudly declared that luck is everywhere
the house and business will surely flow and flourish


i am quiet amidst the declarations
the couple or anyone believing in luck is 
halfway winning the mental battle in the game of life   
after all, when i opened my fortune cookie earlier
i believe the words in the wisp of paper  

Love is the most valuable thing in life.     

Author's Note:   This post is for One Shot Wednesday for One Stop Poetry.   Please check out the others participating this week (party starts Tuesday 5:00 EST).    

I wrote this after attending my cousin's civil wedding yesterday.   I got some "lucky tips" from the fung shui master.  For those not familiar with Asian culture,   a fung shui master is hired to make the business and house more auspicious.   The term feng shui literally translates as "wind-water" in English. 

Happy lucky day ~

Love rules

she was young, temperamental and impulsive
she knew she met her man
he was the love of her life, she was convinced
no one could changed her mind
so one day, she left her home, 
boarded a plane and eloped with him
all her life, she fought to love him
against her family wishes, against all odds
she was my mother
love rules her  




i was young, temperamental and impulsive 
i knew i met my man
my first love, my only love i was convinced
no one could changed my mind,
not even my mother
i wanted to marry him and follow him wherever he goes
i soared high with my love and fought to stay airborne  
my mother watched and waited on the wings
i was just like her
love rules me




she is young, calm, and even tempered
she is my beautiful daughter
she is blooming and smiling nowadays
has her heart been ruptured by Cupid's arrow?
i always tell her to be a strong woman 
with or without a man
she looked at me with love
grabbing my hands, we stepped out into the streets
swaying to the drum beat, we danced as
love rules us 

Author's Note:    This is my entry to One Shot Wednesday, for One Shop Poetry.    I tweaked the ending a bit to give it a celebratory mood as the community is turning one year old.  Do join the party starting Tuesday at  5:00 ET (the party is every Tuesday/Wednesday).  

Thanks for dropping by.   Nice to meet all of you ~




picture credit: http://intensifyit.eu/post/5505593733 

Heart on her sleeve

She said she was broken inside

Her hands clenched in despair

Her eyes weary from sleepless nights

I see a woman with beautiful gray eyes

Her long lashes fringed with black mascara

Her slender hands adorned by rings and trinkets

She said she lost her will to live

Her face lined with worries and what ifs

Her shoulders slumped from the weight of her cares

I see a woman with long black flowing hair

Her body is slim, fair and perfect

Her feet encased by beaded slippers   

She said she can’t live without him

Her body feels empty without his touch

Her heart is shattered, can’t I not see it?

I see a woman who wears her heart on her sleeve

She falls headlong into love, oftentimes recklessly 

Foolish she may be, but a braver woman than most 


Because she is a survivor.

Author's note:   This is my entry to One Shot Wednesday at One Stop Poetry.   Please see the others participating this week. 

picture credit:   aqueuse.tumblr

Kiss me goodnight

your eyes are unblinking 
as you gasped your last breath
your hands are cold
as you trembled in my warmth  


i held your face so pale and fair 
though in the shadow of sadness
tis your courage that gives me courage
tis your strength that gives me strength


my pulse quickened and vibrated strongly 
as death finally embraced you    
your heart, though still now, beats in me
resonates within me, around me


you are free now to soar to the heaven
your pain and aches are gone
don't say goodbye, my love
just let me kiss you goodnight



Author's Note: This is my first entry to the One Shot Wednesday.  Do check out the others participating in this community.


picture credit:   cristania.tumblr