Day #20 - TINSEL

You’ve heard of Christmas in July? Well, incredible as it seems, this word and today’s date were not planned out ahead of time. My inspiration for today’s prompt “tinsel” comes from holidays gone by and good memories not lost in the passage of time.

TINSEL ON THE TREE

It seems like only yesterday,
when I was all of three,
I’d run and tumble down the stairs.
I’d squeal with childish glee.
And long before I saw the gifts
my eyes went wide to see
the gaudy balls, the bubble lights
and tinsel on the tree.

Through magic of home movies,
I can watch my family
enjoy the pleasures of the day.
But sadness smothers me.
For how I miss those moments
and how much I’d love to see
the gaudy balls, the bubble lights
and tinsel on the tree.

Day #19 - SUPREME

The prompt for Day #19 is: supreme. One definition is "greatest, utmost or extreme." And that pretty much summarizes the weather today here in Baltimore. Not quite 11:30 in the morning and our temperature, with the heat index, is already at 101 degrees. While that may not explain my late post today, it certainly explains my inspiration!

HEAT SUPREME

Temperatures soar
higher with humidity.
The supreme heat rules!

Day #18 - ROT

Here we are at Day #18 of the Poem-A-Day Challenge with the prompt: rot. What a wonderful opportunity for me to, once again, stand tall upon my soapbox. Nothing irritates me more than people taking what the media says as gospel. Which brings me to my offering for today’s prompt.

NOT TO ROT

While others have a lot to say,
infallible they’re not.
Opinions must be researched well.
You’re not a mindless bot.
If you don’t exercise your brain,
your brain will surely rot.

Day #17 - QUEUE

There are now only ten days left in our poetic journey through the alphabet, and what a journey it's been. The prompt for Day #17 is: queue. This word can mean a braid of hair hanging down the back, a file or a line of people waiting for something, or (for our beloved computer geeks) an organized sequence of data or messages. How does "queue" infuse your muse? Below is my lyrical attempt.

INTO A QUEUE

A sale would start in minutes.
For shoppers old and new,
like pilgrims on a sacred quest,
anticipation grew.
Before the doors were opened,
a booming voice rolled through:
“Settle down, wait your turn,
and form into a queue.”

A ticket window sign said “closed”
and all who stood there knew
that when the tickets went on sale,
there'd be a ballyhoo.
A giant man approached the crowd
his job was to subdue:
“Settle down, wait your turn,
and form into a queue.”

An unexpected tragedy
brought death to quite a few.
The angry mob outside the Gates
could not believe it true.
But trying to restore control,
St. Peter’s whistle blew:
“Settle down, wait your turn,
and form into a queue.”

Day #16 - PIROUETTE

Day #16 in the Poem-A-Day challenge brings us the prompt: pirouette. Born with a total lack of coordination, I've never been able to master the art of dance. My inspiration comes from a gift I wish I'd been given.

A PIROUETTE ROMANCE

A tiny girl in leotards
awaits her turn to dance.
She watches those who go before
a child within a trance.

From first position, it is clear
she’s worth more than a glance.
This tiny youth has much to share,
a talent far advanced.

But gifts arrive at any age,
and hers was not by chance.
She shows the beauty of ballet,
a pirouette romance.

Day #15 - OCEAN

The prompt for Day #15 calls me back to the place I just left. Four glorious days immersed in total relaxation where water meets land. I am hopelessly addicted to white, sandy beaches, the smell of salty air and the majestic roar of the ocean. Only one question bores through my soul: when can I go again? Enjoy the prompt. Enjoy the summer. And enjoy the moment.

OCEAN MOTION

I sit content at the shoreline.
The waves roll in.
The waves roll out.
Mesmerized by the scene,
nothing more important seems possible
than that gentle rocking back and forth.
As the wind picks up,
white caps appear
and the ocean begins to pummel the beach
with fierce determination.
Slow and steady, the waves come
closer and closer
to my sanctuary in the sand.
Retreat is not an option.
I surrender to the encroaching water
that envelops my toes in its salty wetness.
And still, I sit and ponder
those things that beach bums do:
much of nothing
and nothing much.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

There is a quote that reads, “the only constant is change.” Such is the case here at A Muse Fuse. When I first began organizing the July Poem-A-Day Challenge, I had no plans to be out of town during the month. So, of course, that has changed. I will be unavailable from Friday, July 16th through Monday, July 19th. But to stay (albeit slightly) within the rather loose parameters of this alphabetical challenge, I have posted below all the poetry prompts for these four days. Choose one, choose two, choose all, choose none; whatever your schedule allows will be appreciated. I will see you back here, "live", on Tuesday, July 20th around 10:00 am with the prompt for Day #15. Have a good weekend, and be safe!

Day #14 - NOCTURNAL (for July 19, 2010)

Yesterday’s prompt brought us to the half-way mark in the Poem-A-Day Challenge. Yay for us! Only thirteen days left. We can do this!!

For Day #14’s prompt, we are given the word “nocturnal.” Many of nature’s beings are driven by the night. We have both dogs and cats in our household. The dogs sleep on their people’s schedule. Not so much the felines, which makes them an appropriate subject of my haiku for today’s prompt.

THE NATURE OF CATS

Nocturnal creatures
romp through their darkened playground.
At sunrise, they crash.

Day #13 - MOLTEN (for July 18, 2010)

Day #13 of the Poem-A-Day Challenge gives us the word: molten. Now, I know “molten” is most often associated with volcanoes, but anyone who knows me is aware of my need to forage for food. No surprise, then, at my poetic attempt for this prompt!

ODE TO THE MOLTEN CAKE

It sits there in its pristine form,
a chocolate lover’s dream.
But once the fork has broken through,
a lovely, chocolate stream
of rich and gooey fudge-like sauce
flows freely from inside.
Enjoy this molten lava cake,
where calories abide.

Day #12 - LOBE (for July 17, 2010)

At Day #12, we have the prompt: lobe. Not that many places to go with this, and one of Lynda’s more difficult word selections. But I was fascinated this week by a restaurant server who seemed to have little bits of jewelry coming out of every conceivable, visible place (and I didn’t want to think of the invisible places). Sometimes, I appear to be a grumpy, old lady … and sometimes I really AM a grumpy, old lady.

PIERCED PARTS

What is this fascination
with body mutilation
in places holes are not supposed to be?
The trend goes round the globe,
and not just in the lobe.
They’re piercing things we’re not supposed to see!