How to Open a Door

Photo by Nick Page on Unsplash

 

It’s really such a chore.
First: Put on your shoes.
No wait, back up and choose
socks thick and woolly
or cotton thin. Choose fully
aware that at the end is the door.
So perhaps your long fuzzy socks,
or those colored like phlox,
or socks with bold polka-dots?
Carefully arrange your thoughts
ere your feet hit the floor.
Second: Examine the shoes,
for again you must choose,
before you can grasp the handle.
Glass slippers or boots or sandals,
it all depends on what you intend
to find on the other side of the door.

How to Read a Book

Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

It’s a quest to pick just the right book
as you search through every nook
running your fingers over the spine.
Does the title sound sublime?
is the cover so faded it’s hard to view,
or is it crisp and bright and new?

When you finally pull the tome off the shelf
and hide away with just the book and yourself
do the words erupt and leap off the page,
or are the characters all hiding backstage?
Where are you going as the pages flip by
while alone upon your couch you lie?

Now that your journey’s begun
there’s work to do before you’re done.
For you’ve become both jury and judge
opinions are forming; will they budge?
Does it please you, or do you learn?
Will you set it aside before the last page turns?

Each and every book is change
no matter how large the range,
they cause your thoughts to readjust.
Inspiring doubts; creating trust.
So will you venture into the fray
and learn how you will change today?



Looking for a life changing book? Try The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Directions

Photo by Brianna Santellan on Unsplash

This way to your life, my friend

Go straight three blocks to the bend

Turn left there and slowly wend - 

No! Not to the right, come back!

Didn’t you hear a word I said?

Don’t you see this map I’ve got?

Better follow it to the end.

But now since you’re at the beach

To keep life’s goals within your reach

Go buy a ticket for the boat,

The boat I said, not the ferry!

No one gets anywhere on a ferry!

Once you’re there don’t set up camp

Don’t you know what the weather’s like?

Oh, very clever, you’ve brought a tent

A sleeping bag, a camera, and a lamp

But listen, you can’t stay here

You’ve got to live your life my dear!

And yet you’re living without a map

How do you do it without mishap?

This is not to say that all life advice should be ignored. But I'm sure we all have people in our lives who wonder if we even know where we're going.

Written for the Poetics Aside prompt Dicrections.

Shared with dVerse.

Monster Recipe

Photo by Calum Lewis on Unsplash

1 pound of paws

2 large wings

A handful of fangs

4 sets of claws

A tail that stings

Mix together and set aside along with tears the maidens cried.

1 cup of fear firmly packed

Blood and guts to taste

A dash of salt 

2 tablespoons hatred extract

1 spoonful bone paste

Lump it together and let it congeal until it has a viscous feel. Then pour it on top of the things set aside and wait for it to smell like an army died. Then into the heat for thirteen months and a day then it’s fully complete. 

Eats whole villages and shining knights too. If you aren’t careful, it might eat you.

How to Love a Baby

Happy National Poetry Writing Month! 30 days, 30 poems. Let's get started!

Photo by Christian Fickinger on Unsplash

Step One

Counting his toes is easy

And caching his smiles for winter days

Rocking, rocking, rocking

As he snuggles into dreams

Step Two

Is diapers

Attention to his every comfort

Changing, changing, changing

Repeating once you’re done

Step Three

Asking impossible questions

He won’t answer

As he cries

And rocking, or

Soft words, or diapers

Isn’t the answer

Step Four

All the hours of every day

Gathered in his fist

Clutching your hair

Anchoring him

Step Five

First is waiting

Nine months

Then minutes and days

For giggles,

For crawling, walking, running

Waiting years

For soccer games, his driver’s license,

(The first crash)

First date

His career

(Astronut? Electrician? Painter?)

Wedding bells

The beating heart 

Of his new baby

Prompt: Instructions.