Taster's Choice

Almost every day I take coffee break at the Artful Dodger here in Regina, Saskatchewan. It has a great vibe for writing poetry.  I finally earned my free stamp card beverage. "What can I get for free?" "a  coffee or tea" "Maybe mocha or cappuccino?" "I guess" This is what they made for me. It was perfect. I was inspired enough to try a 'Rondel' which I first thought sounded like a singer from a 50's girl group. Here goes.

Taster's Choice

You can taste a soul

By the taste of their coffee

Sweet bitter strong or spicy

Dark plain skim or whole

Some are works of art in a generous bowl 

or a goodwill Styrofoam you only drink for free

You can taste a soul

By the taste of their coffee

Some share their warm maple pecan cinnamon roll

Alternative lifestyles drink healthy green tea

Opening the eyes of your heart is the key

If you want to make open friendships your goal

You can taste a soul    

I will play

*Today's prompt was not tantalizing me. It just didn't fit today. "How are you?" ,asked the barista. "tantalizing!?!" .I replied...nope "Well, you look tantalizing." No way! It's been raining/snowing for three days straight here."The tantalizing snow cane swirling from the sky." nah. It's almost Thanksgiving here in Canada. So, no tantalizing, inspirational smells yet. So I grabbed an old notebook to wrassle  down some ideas. When I stumbled on this half formed poem about the harmonicas I always carry around with me. A line or two and I'd be done. The laziness was just too tantalizing...

I will Play

Playing in the parkade

Hiding from the rain

Playing in my bedroom

Hiding from the pain

Playing in the market

Trying to make some change

Playing at the bus stop

People looking strange

I play for joy

I play for fun

I play in the night

I play in the sun

I play like a symphony

I play like a midnight train

I play to release the tension

I play to release the strain

When everything else is gone

I

will

play

Stay Sharp

Stay Sharp

Sharp as a tack

Sharp as cheddar

Sharp as a blade

I once had a razor wire stiletto tongue

Delighting in popping egos with a poignant point

Sharp as a tack 

My wit is more like a nutty swiss now

Full of holes where my mind was

Sharp as cheddar

We are iron and steel striking sparks

It is your love that keeps me true

Sharp as a blade

Love is Orchid Rare

Love is Orchid Rare

In the purple rain

Hard and cold as amethyst

A heart full of pride

A magenta mind

Plumbs depths of depravity

Brain dense as eggplant

Rich burgundy soul

Seeks mulberry vanity

And lilac visions

Lusty lavender

Leads to pomegranate stains

Violets can't hide

Bruises like sunsets

Maroon drops of grief distilled 

Crimson stains the wood

As a grape is crushed

Heaven's royal majesty  

Sweet communion wine

Imperial sealed

In the periwinkle twilight

The stone rolls away

The Prince of Peace reins

Scarlet bride can now wear white

Love is orchid rare

I can't see the sparkle

I Can't See the Sparkle

What a miserable day to try to write a poem

When the dismal clouds weep from the sky

I would much rather be hiding at home

I can't see the sparkle

In my car to go to work to make my mark

In the beam the wet road diamonds shine

When I keep myself in the dark

I can't see the sparkle

A lump of rock deep in the earth

Might hide a priceless diamond

When I don't see what I am worth

I can't see the sparkle

A flimsy stick of matchwood sits

Smelling of hell and of sulfur

Until a rough and flinty patch it hits

I can't see the sparkle

With lowered lids she hides her eyes

I don't know what she thinks or feels

Until a tear wells and softly she cries

I can't see the sparkle

One finger softly tenderly lifts her chin

I close my eyes and plant a kiss

Until her gaze reveals what is within

I can't see the sparkle

Into the Void

Into the Void

Out of void life arose

Arose and gave the first breath

Breath of the divine gives life to a lump of earth

Earth created for our care

Care for our earth as a home

Home and family are the only riches

Riches hoarded rot the soul

Soul and spirit and flesh are at war

War is the great beast unchained

Unchained it devours give it a collar and chain

Chain of command and honest watchmen to see

See the oppressed set free

Free to speak free to live free to love

Love is love is love is love is a choice

Choice for light or dark

Dark is no light cold is no heat

Heat like a thousand suns burn

Burn until earth, sky, and elements melt

Melt back into the void

A Matter of Time

A Matter of Time

Time

Time lord

Take time 

Make time

Break time

Play time

Face time

Double time

Half time

Military time

Time after time

Time on my hands

Time on my side

The sands of time

Time waits for no man

Time to pay the piper

Time to do whatever you want

Time flies when you're having fun

Time drags when you're at work

Time to remember the words to the song

"If I could save time in a bottle"

What have you done with your bottle of time?

As a baby, my time bottle nourished me and put me to sleep

As a child, I dipped my wand into time

Time was a big shiny bubble

Hanging in the air and then gone

The time between child and adult

I chugged time with wild abandonment

And lusty cheer

Over time, I developed refinement

I would pour a glass of time

And savour it as a connoisseur

Now, time burns my throat and warms my belly

I sip time slowly, one shot at a time

Time has a spicy, oaky, smoky, earthy flavour

Someday, I'll squeeze my last drop of time onto my tongue

Sigh, and smile, and swallow one last time

After that, timeless void, divine eternity, or reset to zero

I really don't know

I will just be a matter of time