Scarlett's Pantry

My stash of dark chocolate
is in the pantry
between the applesauce I bought for the child
(wrong flavor, but kept anyway)
and a little jar of instant coffee
(in case of emergency, break glass).
There -
behind the candy canes
(ghosts of a Christmas past)
and the marshmallows
(big ones like I used to roast before everything burned).

I learned from my Mama to make something
out of a half pound of nothing and a can of mushroom soup.
Lord, that woman could Shake and Bake!
I was years gone into on my own before I could face
another tuna casserole.
Now, my tuna is stacked neatly can on can
next to a sample of something or other a nice man
at the grocery store gave me for free.

Let's see; bottled water, marinade, enough hot
sauce to give a full city block the trots . . .
baking powder, flour . . .
got chocolate chips,
but I don't bake anymore.

I just settle for one of those rice cakes
(every flavor known to man)
that I tell myself are just as good
as bread (they taste like a dead man's hand).
I've got the celiac, you know,
and it's an unbuttered bitch biscuit,
but I can still suck/lick
black olives from my fingertips
or slip into my chocolate stash for a bite or ten,
and as God is my witness,
I will never be hungry again.

Blinded Proper

Poor thing.
So unstructured.
What could he have been
if he'd been
blinded proper
like me?

Poor thing.
So cluttered.
She can't go where I've been.
She's chained
to her map,
but can't see

the equator snake off the side of the page
as the latitudes loop
and the longitudes stage
a laughing rebellion
that plays out
beneath the notice

of those who won't know us
and our wild, wondrous strange.

Where We're Kept

Bottled like wine.
Labelled like specimens.
Tossed in the attic
like a knock-off Van Gogh.

Shelved like a book
that's too rare for reading.
Urned in fine dust
too dry to take seeding.
A semi-stitched wound
that dare not risk bleeding.

Bleeding
is a loss of control.

Poem For Papa

It was a ratty ass rent house,
but I wanted you to see
past the hip high weeds,
the crime scene carpet,
and the lack of working a/c
and be proud of me,
all grown-up and independent.

But, it was such a scorcher that summer . . .

that when you showed up
(all gravelly and gruff)
with a pizza and a window unit,
I got willing to settle
for cold air
and knowing that you loved me.

Bareback

A real woman rides

bareback.

Cinnamon thighs

astride

and hair 

undone.

Sun chasing.

Breakneck.

Split skin.

Bared bones.

Red dirt teeth

and tongue.

Heart racing.

And, comes back

balancing

day and night

on her hip

and tasting

of solstice.

a mini history lesson

The

British burnt

Down

Washington’s White House

Two hundred years ago

Although few people here seem

To know that it had happened –

Lost between the War of Independence

And the American Civil War

While we were busy with Napolean

And gearing up for Waterloo -

Another part of British History

To feel embarrassed by

And ashamed of

But with things to teach us

                                                                    Nevertheless.

Penny Said

Penny said to Pocket Cross,
"I've an offering for your plate.
Lincoln always loved the Lord,
but I kept a separate state.
Still, in this khaki cavalry,
I've come to love your ways.
So, I'll be yours for all I'm worth,
if you don't make me change."

untitled

It's that time of year when seeds call out
'Plant me, I'll grow', you hear them shout.
So in good faith you toil away,
Happy in your work all day.
But come September, what's to show,
Holes in leaves; slim trails in every row.
Oh well, the wildlife will live for another year at least!

(A disheartened gardener. - Thank you for sharing that, I think many of us with fumbling/failing green-fingers can understand. Also, thank you, whoever you are, for the poem via my pigeon hole... I remember my old English teacher (who was a bit like Major from Fawlty Towers) would say "I keep pigeons in my pigeon hole"... I can say I get poems in mine! Thank you!

Questions?

Is this a poem

If I say it is?

Must it rhyme

And use clever words?

Does writing one poem

Make me a poet

Or must I intend

To write more?

Locked Room Poem

Our messes mesh well, don't you think?
Dirty plates in the sink and slates on the brink
of never being clean.
Your scrips for day and mine for night -
no unaltered time
to think

or be driven to despair
by a longing to repair
our tears and tatters.

These things don't matter

in a locked room
without a key.

The Buck

The buck, throat cut,
bleeds dry about six.
Half-hidden in nightfall,
I redden a stick

and dampen the doorway -
a Sunday school lesson

pass over
pass over
pass over.

Suno Suno In Lehron Ki Aawaaz Suno

Suno suno in lehron ki aawaaz suno
Yeh kya kehti hain, aey dil-e-gudaaz suno

Yeh aayi hain sumandar ki gehraahiyon sey ho kar
Kitna kuch paa kar, kitna kuch kho kar

Yeh aayi hain paigham deney, Himmat naa haarna
Chaahey manzil hi thokar maarey, dam naa haarna

Jo haar di himmat, to phir naa paho gey
Umeed hi chor di to mit jaho gey

Jo mit gaye to kon Tumhey jaaney gaa
Is zamaaney mei phir kon pehchaaney gaa?

himmat ho to parwat bhi khood jhuk jaayega
aur saagar bhi raaste ko kaha baandh paayega
haare hue insaan ki kadra kabhi hoti nahi hai
himmat ho to manjil tu kadamo tale paayega

Do You Still Have Hope?

If you can look at the sunset and smile,
then you still have hope...

If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower,
then you still have hope...

If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly,
then you still have hope...

If the smile of a child can still warm your heart,
then you still have hope...



If you can see the good in other people,
then you still have hope...

If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep,
then you still have hope...

If the sight of a rainbow still makes you
stop and stare in wonder,
then you still have hope...

If the soft fur of a favored pet still
feels pleasant under your fingertips,
then you still have hope...



If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism,
then you still have hope...

If you give people the benefit of a doubt,
then you still have hope...

If you still offer your hand in friendship to others
that have touched your life,
then you still have hope...

If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise,
then you still have hope...



If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration,
then you still have hope...

If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end,
then you still have hope...

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection,
then you still have hope...

If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy,
then you still have hope...



If you can look to the past and smile,
then you still have hope...

If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile, you can still
look up and end the conversation with the phrase... "yeah....BUT.."
then you still have hope...


Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides,
but rarely does it break...



It sustains us when nothing else can...
It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead,
when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in...

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage...
Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it...
Hope moves us to act when
our souls are confused of the direction....

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured,
and
something that will refresh us in return...

And it can be found in each of us,
and it can bring light into the darkest of places...

Never lose hope... NEVER!!!

THE DOOR OF HAPPINESS

When the door of happiness closes,
another one opens;

but often times we look so long
at the closed door
that we don't see the one
which has been opened for us.

Don't dwell on the past when things go wrong.
Look for the opened doors all around you!

Live In Peace

Peace is not something that happens to you.
Peace is a part of who you are.

Peace is not something that can be taken away from you.
Peace comes from the way you choose to be.


Though the world around you may be filled with confusion,
noise and turmoil, you can choose to be peaceful in your own heart.
Though life is filled with difficult challenges and
setbacks that pop up out of nowhere,
you can choose to move through each moment with a peaceful heart.


When you live only for the shallow, fleeting, frivolous things,
then true peace will most certainly elude you.
The way to choose peace is by investing yourself in real and lasting values.


No one can force your heart to be at peace.
And no one can chase true peace away from you when it is there.


Imagine how powerful it would be to live each day with peace in your heart.
And know that it is always there for you to choose.

The Greatest Gift

Know not why we nations war causing terror and loss of life;
beyond the comprehension of warring nations the reason for strife

Even as we see the innocent,the children,the mothers lose;
families seperated by new boundaries by force without any truce

Rendering refugees in thousands in their own mother-land;
warring leaders seen justifying the nation's last stand

Ravaging man-made structures down to mother earth;
crippling economy to conceive poverty's birth

Fully aware though of aftermath of dire consequences galore;
Is it personal goals of terror-crats or over-ambition
for vested interests naming it valour

Rendering thousands as orphans whose eyes reflect unending pain;
yet trudging on uncertain path of life
with hope in their hearts like parched earth for rain

If only realisation dawns-what we are at war with
are not nations nor humans but the greatest gift of Creator-Humanity,
Realisation be the path to ensure a stop
to this with profanity

Friends Are There

There is no greater blessing
than an understanding friend,
who's there in times of trouble
and on whom we can depend.

A friend who knows our every mood
And brightens cloudy days,
One who's slow to criticize
But quick to offer praise.

There is no greater blessing
Than a friend who always cares,
One who will remember us
In daily thoughts and prayers.

You were given precious life
Eighteen years ago today
Blessed with plenty,
And loved much,
You were set upon your way.

Now as you come of age and begin a lady's life anew
May you seek God's guidance and His strength,
In everything you do

For as He made you as precious
And as special as you truly are,
Keep in mind His plans for you
Are the best ones by far.

Know you'll always be the rose
He's crafted with great care
And that with prayer, grace and faith
You will grow all the more fair

Look ahead but don't forget to see others
Make this world a better place
Know where to look for good advice
For all that you will face

Live life with joy, keep your chin up high,
To childhood simplicity never say good-bye,
Always have great hope as trials you overcome
And keep in your heart that the best is yet to come.

Gungunna Rahe Hain Aaj Hum

Gungunna rahe hain aaj hum, raagini ko dhoondhte huey,
Aa gaye yahan jawan kadam, zindagi ko dhoondhte huey.

Do dillon mein yeh umang hai, hum jahaan naya banayenge,
Zindagi ka taur aaj se, doston ko hum sikhayenge,
Paudhey hum naye khilayenge, taazgi ko dhoondhte huey,
Aa gaye yahan jawan kadam, zindagi ko dhoondhte huey.

Baimaani ka bura riwaaz hai, aaj desh ke har samaaj mein,
Hai tabah aaj sara insaan, loot paat ke samaaj mein,
Hum samaaj bhi banayenge, sarfarozi ko dhoondhte huey,
Aa gaye yahan jawan kadam, zindagi ko dhoondhte huey.

Smile A While

A SMILE COSTS NOTHING,
BUT IT IS WORTH SPREADING,
WHY KEEP A SMILE AT BAY,
KEEP SMILING EVERYDAY,
SMILE IS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER,
SPREADING FRAGNANCE LIKE A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER,
IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO SMILE,
IT CAN MAKE HARD HEARTS GO FRAGILE,
ALWAYS KEEP ON SMILING,
THIS WILL BE TO EVERYBODIES LIKINGS,
SMILE IS A GODS GIFT,
SOMETIMES IT CAN MEND A RIFT,
ONLY MEN HAVE THE POWER TO SMILE,
SO LEAVE ASIDE ALL WORRIES AND SMILE.

SO KEEP MY ADVICE IN YOUR MIND AND DO SMILE EVERYTIME COZ ONE LITTLE SMILE WILL HELP YOU A LOT IN YOUR LIFE.

Guzratey Lamhon, Mujhey Batao Ke Zindagi Ka Asool Kya Hai !

Guzartey lamhon, mujhey batao ke zindagi ka asool kya hai,
Tamam cheezein agar haqeeqat mein eik hi hain
to phool kyoon hain babol kya hai,
Jo meri aankhoon key dairey mein, hazar rangoon mein muntashir hai,
Har eik manzar, har eik aahat, har eik rastey ka humsafar hai,
Kaheen samandar sey mehw-e-kherat, kaheen hawaoon sa bekhabar hai,
Kaheen bayabaan misal khali, kaheen sadaoon sey pur nagar hai,
Yeh sab tamasha, meri hi khwahish ka aks gar hai,
To phir bataoo, siwaey khwahish key merey hathoon mein kya hunar hai,
Gharoon say nikloo to yeh soch laina,
Ke beghari ka asool kya hai,
Dilon ki tameer mat giraoo keh khwahish ka yehi to ghar hai.