All writing

The forest reddens; it can't help but blush,
a maiden shyly starting to undress,
clothes falling on a carpet, soft and plush,
her lips to form a bashful, breathless yes.

And soon it stands stark naked, who'd have thunk it,
as northern winds extend their bearish hug,
and cloak it in a sparkling white blanket,
each cozy limb enshrouded, safe and snug,

to sleep until the sounds of warmer weather
awaken it: a pastoral motif
performed by preening lovebirds of a feather,
embraced by budding branches as they leaf,

each sprout to dress its eager, willing bosom.
It is among them that I found this blossom.

Author notes: image generated by author prompt to GPT

An acorn snaps and cracks beneath my sandal,
the sound ignored by flower-munching deer.
The driveway is a messy, shameless scandal
of leaves and acorns; not a spot is clear.

My neighbor waves. She has a new leaf blower,
electric, from the sound of it, but still…
Ugh, wish I had a real gas one to show her,
Wait till she gets that new electric bill.

Across the street, their skeleton is bigger.
It looks as if it climbed out of a bog,
and chuckles with a ridiculing snigger
whenever I walk by to walk the dog.

I'll show them who's the real country bumpkin.
We're going to have to get a bigger pumpkin.

Author notes: image generated by Gemini

if you give a mouse a cookie
he will ask for milk
but I gave my mouse a bouquet
and his ears turned to silk

Author notes: wc 25

Stars shine, cold and distant, safely out of reach.
Ankle deep in moonlight on an empty beach,
I can't help but wonder if each grain of sand,
searches for a soulmate, seeks to understand,
why they shine and sparkle, shimmer and delight,
up there in the heavens, letting there be light.

Author notes: image from Freepik

rusty vessel
splash of color
flowers nestle
shorter, taller
best in the bouquet
somewhat hard to say
but don't call me crazy
maybe oopsie daisy

Author notes: Wc 25

an artist dares to juxtapose
a grand piano with a rose
and my eyes see a wild romance
two lovers met as if by chance
loves, loves me not, each petal sings
piano keys stroke metal strings

Author notes: Image from Facebook

Wings folded, resting in the sun
among the gently swaying reeds.
Will she land next to him, the one,
before the evening sun recedes,
or will their paths have never crossed,
the moment gone, forever lost.

Author notes: Image from Facebook

The truth is to lie is to sin
Hard stopping, once you begin
Because, as one knows
A win by a nose still a win

I'm here telling you, sister:
beware the transistor
for what once was a calm, quiet beach
Will, in time, be a zone
that belongs to the phone
and the calmness is long out of reach

Author notes: image from the Manual

A woman I've met long ago
Liked showing her prominent toe
It looked like a poet
One glance and you'd know it
The toenail continued to grow

I said to her: What are friends for?
I know that this toe you adore
But I'll get you some clippers
Or, please, stop wearing slippers
and show that big toe, nevermore

It'll be a fairytale, they told her when they met her.
Her mom, especially, she said: "I'm one who knows!
You are aware, of course, that Father is a debtor,
and so you have to, even if you hold your nose!"

And Father added, him not wishing to upset her:
"My princess, love will come eventually; it grows.
From what I've heard, the man is sharp, a real go-getter,
and loves his fashion, he's at all the fashion shows!"

The princess heard, of course, you can't avoid the chatter
and though ecstatic when the Emperor proposed,
Life's not a fairytale, she wrote them in her letter,
expressed in verses, as the princess hated prose.

When royals marry, some for worse, and some for better,
You've heard of some of these, and certainly of those
For it is surely a completely different matter,
when it's the empress that's the one who has no clothes.

Author notes: image generated by author prompt to ChatGPT

hearts on display, searching for love
some hope and pray, some look above
some being told they'll find it soon
under a cold, inconstant moon

Author notes: Image from Medium