You don't try hard enough, she'd say.
All the while, his thoughts grow increasingly grisaille.
She can't smell the fear he inhabits,

a macabre work of art from which he comes and goes,
the run of wind at a deserted murder scene.
She forgets, like he forgets, control

will arrive soon enough,
and that brachiated spectacle of blame
and praise will dissipate

like... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (saore) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3305 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:42:19 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3301/t/Triolet-on-a-line-by-David-Baker.html
America, it's hard to get your attention politely.
--- from "Patriotics"

America, it's hard to get your attention
politely. Why do think we're waving guns
in the streets? We're masters of invention,
America. It's hard to get your attention
politely. None succeed by dull convention.
Necessity breeds danger. We're the ones
to watch, America. Got your attention?
... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (toniclark) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3301 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:31:37 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3300/t/Triolet-Challenge-photo-prompt.html Semi-bending, they project the magic of faces

that time cannot touch, no small fate can erode.

White gowns and firm limbs show what time n'ere erases.

Heart rending, bright light shined on magical faces

transfixed in a moment,... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (gretasue2008) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3300 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:24:35 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3299/t/Triolet-on-a-line-by-Mary-Jo-Bang.html
The plastic snake offers. Someone says, Yes,
--- from "Definitely"

The plastic snake offers. Someone says, Yes,
and takes a bite of candy-coated apple.
Some sweet Eve, stunned by the carnival's excess.
The plastic snake offers. Someone says, Yes,
gives in. Sin's so delicious. And confess:
Do we not love the snake? Even as we grapple
with desire? The snake offers. We say yes,
and... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (toniclark) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3299 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:56:19 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3295/t/Could-Somebody-.html to turn off his verbal CAPS LOCK right now?
No expensive-tie work intersects with mine.

Nor am I more impressed with the big shot's
sexual prowess than the three lady friends
who dumped him. Oh, and how I loathe

sports and gossip both. So let Tiger Woods be.
I have to concentrate at batch end, listen to
Magic on my trusty radio that used to sit

in Ma's kitchen back in the... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (piphany) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3295 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:12:50 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3292/t/Skinny-Sister.html is not a meal. Every now and again she cuts loose
to eat a bagel--slathered with fruity, fat free yogurt.

Why is she single?!* If she turns sideways, men can't
be expected to find her. And she is always too busy
to look for them. Sigh. Well, it's her skimpy life,

not my problem. However, if she strips the skin
from chicken tonight I. Will. Scream! 'til midnight,
when... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (piphany) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3292 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:23:24 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3290/t/Lucas.html Lucas

We met one last time
before his corpse was washed.

I couldn't get past the stench
of medicine, the thin skin and bones talking
from the wheelchair stopped me cold.
The virus eating every part of his body.

Lucas? Lucas… I didn't recognize
the proud man I once knew.
He said: Come, give me a hug.
I held on to a chair worried
I'd faint, but I couldn't betray
the hope invested... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (saore) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3290 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:59:29 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3286/t/Fat-Cousins.html but when they come for holidays--
and eat every one of my pears
while waiting for the sausage bake
bubbling in hash-browned splendor
in the oven--I get a little weary.

And I'm a bachelor-girl, you know.
My tufted, tobacco brown leather sofa
was not meant to support more than
us three stairmastering sisterfriends'
traveling Saturday DVD party
or one lover's bathrobed nightcap.

An... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (piphany) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3286 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:28:49 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3258/t/Portal.html Portal

I. September, 1998

She praises the disappearance
of Spring, folding buds
into lotus on the church lawn
until the chapel goes dark.
I can see,... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (handfulofdust) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3258 Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:13:49 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3253/t/Comments-Only.html
I think it's time to remind our members that the Waters is a Comments Only poetry workshop. Please - no critiques unless the poet has specifically asked for it in his or her post. Our guidelines specify:

Post poems as often as you want. It's a good idea to indicate somewhere in your post if you are wanting Comments Only or if you are interested in something more. feeds@yuku.com (JudeGoodwin) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3253 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:56:01 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3237/t/Dead-Willow-it-has-been-edited.html Dead Willow - Edit

There was a straw mattress
full of bedbugs under the dead willow,
where the tears of every @*+$+
in town are as open as red hibiscus.
It was the only place left to wait.

We went our separate ways,
but when I reached the train tracks
I picked up a few rocks to throw
at the racemes of trouble hanging
in the meadow orchard ahead.

My feet, undefined wanderings
of a bite, were in pain
as I suspect... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (saore) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3237 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:01:43 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3211/t/as-we-scatter-your-ashes.html the last two roses
you sent me rest
in depression glass.

one is straight
and tightly wrapped

as it darkens, dries,
tries to brace
its mate whose head,
bowed in sleep, releases
pages of its past.

tonight in light
left from sunset,
I'll cast their petals
in the wind.



(version two)

the last two roses
you sent me rest
in depression glass.

one is straight,... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (rosered17) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3211 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:41:02 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3168/t/into-a-miracle-first-draft-.html It is probably too soon after Richard's death last week for me to write or post this, but I am a fool and this is obviously helping me. Thanks again for all of your good wishes and prayers. Mar



into a miracle


outside your hospital room,
a blackbird on cobblestones

steps ahead of its shadow,
which is egg shaped,
and follows him

step for step
as he picks up pieces... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (rosered17) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3168 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:36:58 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3098/t/Rana-pipiens.html the dark pockets, to float in the warmest part
of the pond, calling to the females clustered
by the shore. Your ivory underbelly will be
hidden, only those dark patches glistening,
as you wait to attach yourself with hooked
thumbs, eager to mate. I want to know
how you count the days in the cold mud,
if those swirling clouds of eggs haunt you,
or if you remember the moist skin of the female
breathing... ]]> feeds@yuku.com (Judy ) http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3098 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:57:14 GMT http://thewaters35527.yuku.com/topic/3174/t/Prompts-for-December-7-13.html
Do not post in this thread. Start a new topic for each of your poems. (And of course, you can post any poem you want in this forum. It doesn't have to address a prompt.)