Developing

start as a blank slate
you have the time to appear
become your best self

A Life Stolen

dementia is a robber
it takes away, in bits and pieces
the life not only imagined
but the existence sculpted by the body’s owner
memories slowly fall away
sadly, loved ones become shadows in their fragile minds
and no more explanations about existing are forthcoming
with frustration they move forward to their end

What Did I Forget?

the brightness dims
in time clarity escapes us
truly living in the moment
because everything before is forgotten

Wearing Down

our steps start to slow
body once able, not now
aging makes us weak

Pat Alderman

Piece of Peace

With only a piece of peace
I have a  hole
that may never feel whole again.

Beware of War

Bombs falling
people crying
Bullets blazing
people dying
Why do our leaders
keep on lying?

Information Overload

Turn off your cellphone
Put on your trainers
Take a walk in nature
It should be a no-brainer.

If Not Now, When?

You think you have forever
until you don’t.
Then it’s too late.

The Other

If I’m not your Mother
or your Brother
you probably say I’m just the Other.
Overlooked, a voice just smothered.

Who’s the Animal Now?

Snarling, yanking
teeth showing
at either end of the leash.
Who is the animal now?

~~~

Pat is a retired federal librarian and creator of e-quipsblog. She is an aspiring poet who helped establish the Mountainlight Society of Poets Retreat in Crozet, VA. This is Pat’s first feature with The Short of It.

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Vol 1 The Sound of Brilliance and Vol 2 Reflections & Revelations on Amazon

Selma Martin

Routine

Easy for you to assign blame 
to the weaker in the clan
your stance sums respect 
standardized by elders
no softies get auditions 

You Will Never Know 

I saw you rowing stealthily 
from the pale shore 
suspended in purple mist
sent up a prayer— 
that’s what big sisters do—
your upswing or your undoing 

Cleansed (of excess) 

A small empty boat I was
floating in the lake of knowledge
small I return to my home port 
but empty I am no more 

You Smiled at Me 

One more round—
oh, how the years add up
I learn to live without 
our visits
In the pocket of the coat 
I kept for you
I pull out your favorite lipstick.
Slowly I walk to the mirror and 
swipe the stick on my upper lip,
below the Cupid’s bow
I smack my lips together,
tenderly, and watch you smile 
back at me in my reflection. 

Grief

At the end of the month 
is my birthday 
mail will arrive, friends will text 
by the dozen
but when the landline rings 
I will not answer 
I already know 
who it cannot be 
that’s calling

~~~

Selma Martin is a retired English teacher with 20 years of teaching children ESL. She has been published on Medium, Short Fiction Break, The Poetorium At Starlight, MasticadoresUSA, and Spillwords. In July 2023, she published her debut poetry collection, In The Shadow of Rainbows – EIF Publisher. Selma lives in Japan. This is Selma’s first feature with The Short of It.

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Vol 1 The Sound of Brilliance and Vol 2 Reflections & Revelations on Amazon

Carolyn Crossley a/k/a VixenofVerse

I LOVE YOU

I was a foaming, thrashing, fast-moving river.
You were the wild, windswept ocean into which I flowed.
We came together in passionate embraces.
Kisses that scorched our mouths with their intensity.
We made love as if it were the first time and the last time.
As if we could not exchange enough passion from body to body.
I cried out at the moment of orgasm, your name on my lips.
You held me afterward when passion was quite spent.
We had no need of words, of promises, of I love you.
We were soul mates, twin flames who would always return.
Yet, in the end, I sent you away even though I knew you cared.
I needed, I love you, the words and the actions that never came.

SPEAK SOFTLY – ACROSTIC POEM

Speak whispered words of love.
Praise me to all your friends,
Endeavour to understand me.
Ask me for favours I will give.
Kiss me morning and night.
Smile when you come home.
Offer help when I am in pain.
Flirt and compliment me.
Take time to spend with me.
Love me more each day.
You are my last love – stay.

THE YEARNING (Shadorma)

The yearning
Is deep in my heart
I crave you
I desire
You – in all possible ways
You are everything.

You are the sun
In the bright morning
You are light
You are love
You protect me from the dark
That lurks, out of reach.

CHERITA – Mind Flight

stardust children

we were Earth born
gravity holds us here

we fly with our minds
imagination is superb
we return to the stars

CHERITA TERBALIK - Mad

don't leave me in the
darkness of my mind
I shall go mad

I want you to help
me to escape, and yet

I know only I can do that

ON THE SPECTRUM

I try to understand Autism.
But I believe only the Autistic do.
Black and white world with no grey,
Just does not compute with me.
I wish you well in your life,
Even though it does not include me.
But my heart yearns to be in touch,
To know where you live and that you are well.
As an adult, I have to respect your choices,
But my mother's heart aches over that choice.
I only ever tried to be supportive,
I never argued with you, so when
You are ready, please get back in touch.
You are my son and I love you.
My door is always open to you.

LIFE AND DEATH (Skeltonic)

Dance, sing, laugh, and love a lot.
For life is short but death is not.
You have to give life all you've got,
Even when you think you have lost the plot.
Don't overthink, tie yourself in a knot.
Be clear and logical like a robot.

Always seek the brightest light.
Look for it in the darkest night.
Life is learning, it's quite a fight,
But, you know to do what is right,
In the darkness look for stars so bright,
Look! Look with all your might.

Time goes slowly then like lightning!
As you get older it is quite
frightening.
It's like a rope round your neck tightening.
Every experience, every step
heightening.
Your lessons left to learn- enlightening,
As you pass on to the light
brightening.

~~~

Carolyn Crossley, a/k/a ©VixenOfVerse, is a poet/haikuista/writer. Published Work – The Short of It – Vol 1 & Vol 2Purr-fect Poetry – Cats Protection AnthologyPoetic Vision – Guide Dogs for the Blind Anthology, OWC Publishing – Shadows – An Anthology of Short Stories, Today’s Specials – A Selection of Literary Delights. Blog:  Backfromdarknesstolight.com. Carolyn was first featured in 2020 and again in 2022. This is her second feature this year. You can find all her work – reblogged or featured- by clicking HERE.

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If you’d like to be featured on The Short of It in the future,
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Vol 1 The Sound of Brilliance and Vol 2 Reflections & Revelations on Amazon

The Beginning Of The End

our younger versions
filled with noetic pursuits
vibrant
and chronically stimulated

we grow as we involve our senses
the unknown tests us
to establish the known
we discover within

until the day we are…

a faint shadow of our quondam state
having slowed
mind, body, and soul
awaiting the inevitable

Daedalien Living

tyro human enters life unknowingly
burgeoning forth at a slow pace
percipient as best as it’s able
reaching the pinnacle of life
only to feel a saudade ache
approaching the hoary stage

what is it all for?

Senescence

my limbs feel weaker
lines creasing deeper
annual cycles coming faster
i beg this deterioration slows

now possessing a stronger mind
owning a wisdom a long time coming
i’ve fully grown into myself

feeling fully human
and grounded

i know who i am