Category: Poetry

Amber

~ Jo-Anne Teal ~ 10 Comments

His arm outstretched on the bar top so long

Defining wood grain has marked his skin with deep welts, lines,

Semi-permanent tattoos, depicting the aching magnetism

Of old fashioned, warm amber, honeyed,

Pain relief. Waiting.

Just beyond his fingertips, though never beyond his grasp.

d’Verse quadrille (44 word poem) prompt: magnetic (in any form)

Blanket

~ Jo-Anne Teal ~ 8 Comments

Upon waking from brief escape,

I’m anxious, timorous.  

Sky’s darkest blue is unrecognizable.

For all-consuming shades and shadows,

Blanket dreary these cold, unknowable hours.

Is it morning or midnight?

I tuck my exhausted heart beneath the crumpled duvet,

And await a calm of light.

***

d’Verse prompt this week: blanket (44 word quadrille form)

Brambles

~ Jo-Anne Teal ~ 38 Comments

Before our worlds unraveled, then knotted,

Before life pulled our friendship apart,

Untethered our hearts, then shattered,

Do you remember,

Our laughter and blue stained fingers,

Our common goal, our only enemy,

The laden branches and brambles,

At the edge of your grandma’s garden?

44 words for this week’s Quadrille on d’Verse Poet’s Pub. The prompt: brambles.

Dust motes

~ Jo-Anne Teal ~ 8 Comments

Closed window blinds hide her form from view,

Though a sliver of sunlight spies its way through

Dust motes.

It doesn’t matter.

Paper scratched, life-weary words flutter about,

Then fall away.

Her silent silhouette slumps,

Disappears.

Her heart’s voice breaks,

But no one hears.

44 words for this week’s dVerse Poets quadrille challenge: voice

Descending up

~ Jo-Anne Teal ~ 5 Comments

Disappointments descend, flutter, circle down, surrounding me

Like autumnal crimson leaves fall to rest at the base of a maple tree

Like layers of discarded, crumbling leaves, covering me up

Like last night’s blankets and denied possibilities

Like last night’s dreams

Disappear      

Like me.

44 words for this week’s d’Verse quadrille prompt: up

Ace

~ Jo-Anne Teal ~ 5 Comments

And while I was within
An ace of falling for your lies,
Believing your cries of devotion,
Waiting for Spring to begin.

I heard my heartbeats.
Louder than words,
Moving me towards,
A life that would not repeat,

The pain of loving you again.

***

44 words Quadrille for this week’s d’Verse Poets prompt: ace

Still waters

~ Jo-Anne Teal ~ 13 Comments

We spoke for hours that dusty cloud day,

Grandfather and I in a dented rowboat,

Fishing lines poised over a cool, still lake,

Trolling shallow.

Yet with water surrounding,

We caught by surprise, threads interweaving,

To something deeper, a gathering place.

Respect,

Understanding,

Love.

 

44 words for d’Verse this week. The prompt: Troll

Sip

~ Jo-Anne Teal ~ 12 Comments

Together, our moments, first gently, awaken this
Unexpected, fragile flicker.
Warmth rises from deep within,
Blush rushes to my surfaces,
Exposing my quietest secret.
Your voice is autumnal afterglow,
Baritone whisper a sip of fine wine.
My lips part, always wanting one drop more.

This week’s d’Verse  Poet’s Pub’s quadrille prompt (44 words): ‘sip’. 

Rapport

~ Jo-Anne Teal ~ 25 Comments

We could not capture the rhythm nor rhyme of each other’s stories.

Conversations weaved and wandered, mundane and misunderstood.

We heard sentences not sentiments,

Feigned commitment to our cause.

Curiosity faded so we cast hopes towards the stars.

Too many explanations spoiled our love.

44 words for d’Verse Quadrille prompt today: ‘Spoil’