Mimic Octopus

I’m a punked-up
filament
of vintage pill-box hats.
I’m twisted
from a multitude
of copper curios.
I’m a pewter
dragon safeguarding
a trifling gem.
I’m awakened
by sugared ink
& horizontal limits.
I admit
one, a deliberate pledge
some call willy-nilly.
I shapeshift
to protect myself
from restless sweats & threats.
I thrive
in water—
river, ocean, tears.
Every seven years,
I shed & shift
myself.
I’m a paper family—
snipped, clipped, and loved,
handled, dropped, and yellowed.
Forgotten.

This Octopus Doesn't Live in the Sea

Here is the prompt for Day Three (copied from Writer's Digest):

For today’s prompt, write an animal poem. The poem could be about an animal. Or it could just mention an animal in passing. Or include an animal in your title and fail to mention the animal once in your poem. Your poem, your rules.

*****

A Four-Letter Word (A Poem for Day Three of PAD)

Today (day three) is a Two-for-Tuesday prompt, which means you can pick one prompt or the other, do both separately, or mix both together. Do whatever makes you feel good. Here are the prompts:

1. Write a stop poem.
2. Write a don’t stop poem.

Are the Signs Confusing?

A Four-Letter Word

It was a tiny ex-
     pression meant
to control flow
and indicate right-
of-way.
He said go.
She said no.

*****


[Please note that all prompts have been copied from the Writer's Digest Poetic Asides website.]

Opposites of Love - a Poem for Day Three of PAD

Well, darn. It's six minutes until tomorrow, so I'm posting a poem that isn't quite finished. 

Here is the prompt for today (day three):

I’ve found over the years that most people who can make it through three days have the stamina to keep poeming for 30. So let’s get through this together!

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) of Love,” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles could include: “Water Bottle of Love,” “Smart Phone of Love,” “Toothbrush of Love,” “Tweet of Love,” or any number of blanks of love. I actually kind of love this prompt and am surprised I’ve never done it before.

He Wanted to Sit While She Wanted to Stand

Opposites of Love

There was something exhilarating about
the bold contrast of his three six-foot over-
coats so perfectly arranged, to my thirty-six under-
garments in great disarray.

I craved the ideal mate to love
me until death became fate, but her devotion
smothered me like a lumpy pillow
held against my snoring face. 

***

April Poem-A-Day Challenge - Day 3

For Day Three of Robert Lee Brewer's April Poem-A-Day (Writer's Digest) challenge, I wrote a "tentative" poem. 

Is it Safe to Jump In?

Suspicious River

She stepped barefoot to rocky

shore, pointed toe towards icy

creek, dipped down in to flowing

winter, brushed away soggy leaves

left over from his last kiss, words

gushed out from heart to hurtful

until winter came round again, hardening 

all that flowed through her, back 

to stifled, uninviting, mouth

frozen shut

*****