friday five

chance encounter

the secret lay
hidden in a roll
of film, years had
gone by with no
one the wiser.
until the day the
doctor spoke the
truth over the
telephone. something
long forgotten, a brief
encounter in a stairwell,
resulting in a lifelong
change of heart. will
her family finally know
she can no longer hide.

So I haven't posted any poems in a while, but I feel like I need to do something with this site. I have been pretty busy with my photography business so I haven't been able to come up with anything creative on the writing side. I thought I'd post a poem buy a wonderful poet, a friend turned me onto her, the first time I read this poem it made me cry, and every time I read it I get tears in the eyes. I could not write anything more fitting for not only my mother, but I think this fits for most mothers. It is just so beautiful.

Elizabeth . 1832–1911

173. Rock Me to Sleep

Mother, come back from the echoless shore,
Take me again to your heart as of yore;
Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care,
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair;
Over my slumbers your loving watch keep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother,—rock me to sleep!
Backward, flow backward, O tide of the years!
I am so weary of toil and of tears,—
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain,—
Take them, and give me my childhood again!
I have grown weary of dust and decay,—
Weary of flinging my soul-wealth away;
Weary of sowing for others to reap;—
Rock me to sleep, mother,—rock me to sleep!
Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue,
Mother, O mother, my heart calls for you!
Many a summer the grass has grown green,
Blossomed and faded, our faces between:
Yet, with strong yearning and passionate pain,
Long I to-night for your presence again.
Come from the silence so long and so deep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother,—rock me to sleep!
Over my heart, in the days that are flown,
No love like mother-love ever has shone;
No other worship abides and endures,—
Faithful, unselfish, and patient like yours:
None like a mother can charm away pain
From the sick soul and the world-weary brain.
Slumber's soft calms o'er my heavy lids creep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother,—rock me to sleep!
Come, let your brown hair, just lighted with gold,
Fall on your shoulders again as of old;
Let it drop over my forehead to-night,
Shading my faint eyes away from the light;
For with its sunny-edged shadows once more
Haply will throng the sweet visions of yore;
Lovingly, softly, its bright billows sweep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother,—rock me to sleep!
Mother, dear mother, the years have been long
Since I last listened your lullaby song:
Sing, then, and unto my soul it shall seem
Womanhood's years have been only a dream.
Clasped to your heart in a loving embrace,
With your light lashes just sweeping my face,
Never hereafter to wake or to weep;—
Rock me to sleep, mother,—rock me to sleep!

writer's island prompt

it was unexpected,

that you would come

into my life and turn

it upside down. i never

knew how much i needed

you until you were here,

all 19 inches of you. it was

a miracle in many ways.

your arrival was late, and

you almost didn't make it.

i thought i would teach you,

about life, i knew i would love

you, but you taught me the world.

love wasn't even a word until

you came into my life. the sparkle

in your eyes, the defiance in your voice,

i knew you were destined

for greatness, with your iron will.

the way you look at life without

a fear in the world, you can take on anything.

my darling little girl.

3ww prompt: deny, smile, uncomfortable

i can't deny that
that your smile
makes me.....
uncomfortable.
the moment i
see it, my palms
start to sweat.
i get that fluttery
feeling in the pit
of my stomach.
the back of my
neck begins to
tingle, with just
the slight brush of
your hand. i go numb
all the way down to my
toes and for a second
i am lost in you, with
you.