Peering Through the Cobwebs

[A/N: response to denise's poem about black and white and stuff ]

When given a choice between darkness and light, you weigh an unseen scale.

Light on one side, dark on the other, you don't know which will prevail.

There's only two choices, there's no in between, you must pick, but how do you choose?

You see the light but you feel the dark, and you think, what have you got to lose?

Maybe, perhaps, if you take a step back, your vision will start to shift.

A dot here, a blot there, what is that blur? and suddenly you are adrift

On a sea of gray, silver in shine, with not a moor in sight.

You're lost, confused, and fearful in this world that's not black, yet not white.

You don't understand, but that's alright. No one truly sees

That black is not black, and white is not white; you make it whatever you please.

The dark is only dark if you let it veil your eyes, just like the light can blind your view,

And when you stumble, when you fall, we'll always be there, ready to catch you.

-Sophia

El Campo (The Field)

En el campo, mi familia anduvo
Miramos los pájaros en el cielo
En el campo, mi familia bromeó
Miramos la risa que salió volando

In the field, my family walked
We watched the birds in the sky
In the field, my family laughed
We watched the laugh that flew away

-Layne

La Vida (The Life)

La vida ha empezado
Débil y pequeña
La vida ha continuado
Fuerte pero indecisa
La vida ha terminado
Triste con aflicción
A todas las personas que haya conocido su alma bien

The life has begun
Weak and small
The life has continued
Strong but indecisive
The life has ended
Sad with affliction
To all of the people that knew your soul well

-Layne

Una Rosa (A Rose)

Una rosa que crezca en el invierno
Trae buena suerte a todo
Una rosa que crezca en la primavera
Trae sonrisas a todo
Una rosa que crezca en el verano
Trae calor a todo
Una rosa que crezca en el otoño
Trae feliz a todo
Pero, una rosa que te ayuda por el día
Es más hermosa que todas


A rose that grows in winter

Brings luck to all
A rose that grows in spring
Brings smiles to all
A rose that grows in summer
Brings warmth to all
A rose that grows in fall
Brings happiness to all
But, a rose that helps you through the day
Is more beautiful than all

-Layne

What Can Happen in a Second?

What can happen in a second?
A blink, a wink can happen
What can happen in a second?
Love can happen in a second.
What can happen in a second?
A breath, a death can happen
What can happen in a second?
"I do," can happen in a second.

-Kris

Prompt

The dullest things always hurt the most.

The dull, heavy throb of a heart that knows it will never be whole.
Dull blades are the messiest.
The pain echoes over and over again, building scar after scar, discordant cries forever etched in all who have ears to hear.
A quick knife, slicing easily through skin and sinew like butter, would surely be the better fate.

-Kris

I Appreciate You

smile and laugh
remind me
of your happiness

sing with emotion
remind me
why you live

talk and listen
remind me
of your friendship

cry with strength
remind me
how you care

scream and shout
remind me
what i wronged

talk with eyes
remind me
how to see

Demons

[A/N Dedicated to my favorite demon cats- Zoey & Tristan and their cool cat owners, Alexis & Jamie]

It's times like these
I wish I had a cat
One to cuddle
And play with
To smile at
And be bemused by
An independent one
Who likes to slumber
In sunny windows
Or in my lap
Who purrs warmly
And pads softly
Through open doors
And likes to hide
In green gardens
Tumbling with flowers
Who knows that
I am sometimes lonely
Who does her best
To comfort me
Who stays by me
When nights are long
And falls asleep
Right in my arms
Who is warm and soft
And has a few quirks
Plays with shoestring
Walks on furniture
And nips my hands
Who licks my nose
Begs for treats
Curls on my papers
And welcomes me home.

-Kae

Music is Love

Music is love
In search of a word,
Sometimes unheard
Beauty yet stirred.

Music is a swing
In a well-worn playground,
Sky-ward bound,
A treasure to be found.

Music is a smile
When life falls apart,
Soothing the hurt
And warming the heart.

Music is a brook
Always gurgling,
Forever bringing
An eternal spring.

Music is a story
Of women dancing,
Eyelashes fluttering,
And heated glancing.

Music is deadly
Like Winter's frostbite,
A wicked delight
As darkness ignites.

Music is love
In search of a word
A power unfurled
Guarenteed
To change the world.

-Kris

A Poem for You

Live
Live long and free
And never die before me
Sing
Sing in the rain
And melt away our pain
Live
Live in surprise
Please don't just survive
Sing
Sing everyday
Everything will be okay
Laugh
Laugh will your last breath
Laugh even through death

-Kris

Battle Scars

I love having
scrapes and bruises and cuts
scattered across my shins.
Each coming with their own battle
of which I am a SURVIVOR
but the hardest part
is acquiring them

-Seb

Sleep

Sleep
falling asleep
is so much easier
when I have your hands
your heart
your breath
to keep me safe.
Without them
I’m left with
my own fractured pulse
and the strangled screams
of my thoughts.

-Seb

Feeling Optimistic

April showers bring May flowers
All those tears and pain
Were needed for beauty
To bloom again. 

 -Kae

Having it Out With Cowardice

You made me miss
Out on a world,
A world I can see through
A mirror.
A version of me I cannot be
Because I need you to hold my hand.
To protect you
I judge and later find out I was mistaken.
But not because of myself,
Because they had the opposite

Picture Prompt

Picture Prompt

My Walls

The Strangest Thing

I found the strangest thing in my pocket...

I found the strangest thing in my pocket today,
A snow white star from a galaxy far away.
It came with a little note attached,
That read, ‘my love will never be matched,
To whomever finds this package from me to you,
Know that any love you feel will always be true,
And that someone, somewhere loves you very much,
So if you feel lonely just hold this as such,
And sigh a sigh so full of love,
Because that is how this star travelled to you from above.’
I blinked in surprise
As tears filled my eyes.
And I vowed then and there
To show everyone dear to me how much I care.
And just then it hit me
A scheme made so perfectly.
I would whisk them along
And dance with them to the beat of our song!
How funny it is how one strange thing
Could make such a difference with all the happiness it would bring.

-Zoe

White Noise

White noise.
A different perspective than your own
Being spoken.
You hear
But cannot quite comprehend
What they are saying.
A hell different than your own.
Problems
Worse than you could have possibly imagined.
On their own.
A person
Not unlike you,
With similar but not the same dilemmas.
A different experience.
Life.
You smile and nod,
Your mind reeling.
And then it’s over
And they are the same as before.
Yet something is different.
White
Noise
Gone.

-Zoe

Prompt

 I found the strangest thing in my pocket

I found the strangest thing in my pocket today. Now, we all have our definition of strange: an odd shape, an odd color, an odd person place or thing or some combination thereof. In this situation it was none of those. The item in and of itself was benign. Ordinary enough for a pocket. It wasn't the item itself that was strange, but rather the circumstances of the whole thing. See, I don't have a pocket on this pair of pants.

-Rebekah

Why History Sucks

History is the strangest thing

It repeats without an inkling

of just how tiresome it can be

when we read about the stupidity

Countries always want more resources

like food and water or, say, war horses

Take France and Germany for example

Over the Rhine land they fought and trampled

Each other in attempts to get more power

(But really, France? Your symbol's a flower?)

Untitled

I want your body wrapped

Around mine

In a nest of blankets

And pillows

With popcorn

Bad movies

and good books

 -

I want to lie there all day

in soft pants

and baggy shirts

listening to the rain

as it falls

in rhythm

with your heartbeat

-

I want us to have the little things

Like crosswords on Sunday mornings

And matching mugs to hold our tea

And that one show we both kinda hate

But can’t stop watching

 -

But first and foremost

I want  you to want them too

-Seb

Quiet

Sometimes,
In the quiet hours of the morning
when the world is still asleep in their beds,
and the birds have not yet begun their songs,
and the dew is still forming on fresh green grass,
and the stars are still visible against the sky,
and curtains are drawn to block out the light that has not yet come,
and bed sheets are tangled between tired legs,
and the first cup of coffee has not yet been poured,
I go outside and pretend
That I am alone in this world.
I learn a lot about myself that way.

-Seb

Untitled

I’m on the edge,
On the brink,
My long drawn out soliloquy, complete.
He owed me one,
Now his game is done.
I’m afraid,
dear John,
This next part’s no fun.
This is my final act,
My curtain call,
Now all that’s left to do is
F
A
L
L

-Seb

Playing God

People have often said to me
“Oh you’ll never make anything
by writing.”
To which
I reply:
“But I am a CREATOR.
I develop civilizations  that are mine
To build up
Or burn down.
My characters are like puppets
and I
Their puppeteer.
I have an entire world in my mind
spinning on its very own orbit.
So don’t you DARE tell me
I will never make anything
by writing,
Because I will spill words
Like a war spills blood,
And I’ll create universes
Like I’m the
Big
Bang.”

-Seb

Prompt

Prompt: I found the strangest thing in my pocket...

I found the strangest thing in my pocket today,
A thing that wasn't there when I got dressed this morning,
A thing that seemed so out of place, though it may have
Just been a thing to be given without warning.
A small piece of paper folded up smaller,
Scribbles written in crayon on the top,
I set my luggage aside to unfold it with care
Making sure I wouldn't rip it or drop it.
A picture hidden inside, messy and bright
Maggie and I standing in light,
Next to a tree with a hole in the trunk,
And a sun in the corner of the page,
I held her hand, I was in my suit and tie
She was in a yellow dress, her long brown hair drawn bluntly.
"I love you daddy, come home soon,"
I smiled softly and read,
"I'll read a story every night, and I promise I'll go to bed."
I folded the paper gingerly, and walked into the airport with my bags,
I might have been headed to India now, but my heart stayed right at home with Mags.

Having it out with Darkness

[A/N: This is not a happy thing. Don't read it if you want a happy thing. It's a very unhappy thing. This poem is about my inner battles, the two sides are represented by darkness and light. Moreover, it's based off of my decisions. I feel like they've stained me in some way, and that's why I chose to address them. Also, a lot of these lines probably aren't even required because I keep adding on to it, so feel free to provide input on what is and isn't necessary and stuff.]

When given a choice between darkness and light, darkness will always win.
Darkness will tempt you with unknown secrets, discovery draws you in.
Light is familiar, light is solid, light is safe and sound.
Light is nothing other than content, both feet on the ground.
Darkness is euphoric, darkness is wild, light is calm and quiet and mild.
Light is my savior, I'm the darkness' slave, light is my lifeline, but darkness is all I crave.
I look down deep inside myself, and light is what I lack
I searched for adventure and knowledge, and now my heart is black.
Darkness has me in its grip, and it won't go away
I'm terrified of it, yet I want it to stay.

Untitled

I am my own person
You can't hold me down
I control my actions
I refuse to drown.
I will fight for freedom
I'll spread my wings and fly
There's no way you can stop me
Don't even dare to try.

-Denise

Prompt

"I found the strangest thing in my pocket."

i found the strangest thing
hiding in my pocket
that ate my spare change
and my mother's brass locket
i found a small monster
quietly lurking in there
instead of my keys
when i stuck my hand in its lair
it didn't try to bite me
but it stole the ring from my hand
making this clear:
it had claimed the land
my pocket, i mourn you
you're the first thing it stole
this monster in my pocket
this monster: a hole

-Emily

Orbit

sometimes
i think that i'm
like the sun
if i couldn't be me

then i would be                                                      i think that i'm

a large ball of gas                                                   like the moon
stranded in space                                                   if i couldn't be me
too large                                                                then i would be
and too powerful                                                   a large ball of rock
to be extinguished                                                  forever reaching
to be ignored                                                         for a point
and everything that                                                 in the distance
comes to close                                                      that i will never reach
dares to approach                                                  no matter how hard i try
hopes too hard                                                      and every time that i
would catch fire                                                     forget my pain

and burn                                                                  forgive my flaws

and there i would be                                                and try again
all alone                                                                    i quickly learn
                                                                                 that i am forever

a captive of stasis
because i love

-Emily

Letters of a Psychopath Part Three

That's what they say, isn't it?

“One man's trash is another man's treasure.” Or some bullshit like that.

But that's all it is.

Bullshit.

Trash is trash.

One man's trash is another man's trash.

I was trash to the faceless people.

So I am trash to everyone else, right?

Letters of a Psychopath Part Two

I kept you with me. The whole time, you were by my side. In my hand, wherever I needed you to be. You were a steady companion, keeping away the fear those nasty people brought me with their sharp silver sticks and cold circles they touched me with all over and you knew I didn't like it so you'd hold my hand and let me squeeze you as hard as I wanted. You were always there for me when I needed you.

Color Prompt

Prompt: Personify a color, name a place and an event: now mix together to create a story.

How often was it that one got to watch this? he mused. On a rooftop, nonetheless.

The mass of color shifted minutely inside its black shell, and Silver edged a little closer in anticipation. As it twitched again, he felt a rush of smug satisfaction that he, not Crimson or Lavender or, heaven forbid, Gold, got to see this first hand. Served them right for acting all snooty all the time.

The wind rocked the chrysalis, the swaying adding to the jerks of the butterfly wrestling its way out. Silver held his breath as the bottom end split, the crack widening with each push of the insect's spindly legs. Finally, the swallowtail climbed free and clung to the railing on which its chrysalis was attached, spreading its vibrant wings out to dry.

Silver let out a laugh, reveling in the birth of a new life. He really had to hand it to nature, being able to create something like that. Rearranging cellular configurations was one thing, but such magnificent results were truly something to be cherished.

"Hey, guys, the butterfly we put here hatched!" Silver groaned, his buzz killed by the annoyingly peppy voice coming from behind him. This had to be a cosmic joke. Of all people. Of all the colors. Of all chances in the universe. Gold. He was never going to live this down. Chances were, Gold was going to just blurt out that he'd been watching a butterfly hatch and ruin his reputation forever and he'd be known as the dork who watched a bug. Maybe Gold wouldn't notice him and he'd be able to-

"Oh, Silver, you're here too? I didn't see you there!"

Silver hung his head in defeat.

Silver: 0. The Universe: 1.

-Sophia

Gabriel's Night

"It's been five years since Gabriel ran away. Faith still waits by the window, hoping that he will return. Angela pretends she never had a brother to miss, a brother to lose. And I comb the streets, searching for the broken son I would never find."

It's raining just like it was the night Gabriel ran away. Even the streetlights provide little illumination through the harrowing downpour. The mud, slick with clay, won't dry for weeks. The ground is so wet that footsteps disappear moments after being formed. A person could disappear into a storm like this one - disappear and never be found.
We get storms like this every summer, where the deluge is so heavy we have to shout to have conversations. Not even thunder can pierce through the deafening rain. Occasionally, lightning flickers on the horizon, too far away to be seen clearly and much too quiet to be heard. I used to take comfort in the season's storms because, as troublesome as the rain was, it also provided a sense of relief from the mundane tasks of everyday life. The rains isolated us from our neighbors. The town's friendly buzz was replaced by the steady beat of a million raindrops on the roof, and it was just us: me, Faith, Angela, and Gabriel.

Prompt

Prompt: What do you see when you close your eyes?

Sometimes, when I close my eyes, I see stars. Stars that sparkle and spin in the blackness, refracting light and forming colors. Colors unknown to the gray monotony of reality, creating shapes and taking me to the paradise of worlds no soul could possibly fathom. The beauty there too rich, too rare to describe.

Sometimes, I see my mistakes. The clips in my mind replay over and over, taking note of every slip in strength, every stumble in my words, every relapse, everything. The pain in those visions could push me to despair, my eyes burning hot with unshed tears, my throat closing up and choking on the unspoken words. My heart growing heavy with the feelings I’ve condemned myself to feel, too afraid to hope, to dare to dream. The weight there is always too heavy to bear for long. I try to carry on, to drag on with my burden, but I always fail, and I fall far. And I might not get up.

Sometimes, those feelings of joy bleed through. I see my dreams, all my aspirations and a better version of myself. I go through a life that’s not quite mine, my head held higher, my smile brighter, my spirit lighter. It’s a feeling of ecstasy unrivaled by anything else, impossible to be recreated in the physical world. At least, not anymore. I’ve made too many mistakes, done too many wrongs. So I open my eyes, collect my emotions once again, close the door on those dreams and lock them in with a sigh, only to return to the life I managed to escape from, if only momentarily.

Sometimes, I see nothing but darkness. It sifts and weaves through itself like thick smoke, permeating my thoughts and twisting into my mind. Devils and monsters and all the evils of the world take form and they make me cower in fear.

And sometimes, just sometimes, like Pandora’s box, all that’s left for me to see is hope.

-Denise

Prompt

Prompt: Write a poem starting with a line from a given selection, and ending with a line from another given selection. -Denise