redness


i hate these cigarettes
they remind me of you
but i still smoke
while your memory’s true
i don’t like to drink
it’ll bring back your face
i’ll take a shot
just in case

and this goddam shirt
which still doesn’t fit
that i have to put on
(you liked it)
and the time you came
i sent you away
i’ll try to get past that
but not today

the oversized jacket
that i liked to wear
is a symbol of something
i don’t often share
your brilliant smile
like the best crescent moon
isn’t going anywhere
soon

that singular night
and its passion play
still a beautiful memory
for which i’ll pay
i do and don’t miss you
regress, with regret
one more drink
one last cigarette…

STAND UP
So you stand up on that podium
Looking out toward the crowd
The people of your country
With worry on their brows
So long have they been lied to
They dread to show some hope
There's nothing left to take from them
Most have ceased to cope
Many of them homeless
Starving, drained and ill
Working to exhaustion
And still can't pay the bills
From income tax to council tax
The only word is rise
They tell their kids 'no meal tonight'
With desperation in their eyes
Services are cut
Benefits are slashed
Open season for our jobs
And disability is bashed
So as our future leader
Can you fix a ruptured vein
Can you make our nation strong
Brings its heart beat back again
Or are you merely full of shit
Adding to the rot
Making empty promises
As your country stands forgot
#lettertoaleader #challenge #opusia #poem #NikLarcombe

THE ART OF MASK AND DISTRACTION
A crazy world turned upside down
A crafted mask to hide a frown
Painted smiles but inside you drowned
A mastered act not a crack to be found
Perfected but not perfect that’s why it’s bought
Its a lie but seems genuine so the truth is not sought
An appearance of peace within a storm
So believably real no questions form
Keep it together but never to much
To much perfection could give them a hunch
Acting becomes like breathing a means to survive
A protective defense mechanism that’s keeps you alive
When alone you allow yourself to break
You let tears fall you let yourself feel the ache
But you only let in for a short little bit
Can’t risk the chance of possibly losing it
Then you immerse yourself in satisfying distraction
Alluring so tempting a very desired attraction
A stronger emotion not only mental but physical as well
So very enticing it puts you under its spell
Erasing all other thoughts and unwanted emotion
Poof only bliss a temporary magic potion #poem

bittersweet goodbyes our fairy tale begins in the ocean of creativity a sea monster swims, looking and figuring seeing other floats, he grabs some wood the sea monster plans away as best he could adding more sea #life, six make it float opening the gates, cats jump aboard the boat scurrying around, quickly deciding to reside the cats eager to open their heart and their minds they planted flowers and trees made out of internet ink attracting more felines, though the wood did not sink the new cats and kittens were accepted and felt loved this instant belonging was needed for the new bunch some kittens immature, but growing and learning writing and reading and liking and loving setting sail, with no destination in mind picking up speed and friends, in for the ride the sea got dangerous, lightning seen, thunder sounded though the original litter of cats stayed optimistic and grounded phases of plagiarism, tweets, spam and fan fiction though poetry mainly fuelled the addiction ignition after time, against the efforts of the sea monster, the boat began sinking cats began to panic, worried about the sea, thinking about what they could do to help keep the wood from rotting the sea monster carefully handed the wood over to someone figuring the cats gratitude unable to be put into words as he worked and worked and jumped over hurdles he kept the wood afloat while constructing a new boat time passed and here we are awaiting to board the new float the new wood has a name, leaving the old here excited and bittersweet, sentimental of opussia the cats leaving their homes, the kittens, their childhood growing up here, the kittens learnt and are thankful. here she lies, original opussia, full of opussycats. here's to inspiration, the power of words, improving, listening to voices, cats, kittens, liking, submitting, reposting, to challenges, effort, energy, patience, communication, poetry, formed friendships, supporting, emotion, ideas, #haikus, spirit, changing lives, stories, passion, literature, language, trial, guidance, gratitude, expression. to creation, passion and devotion. to the community built on love and words. to saying bittersweet goodbyes. to saying hello with hope. #opuss #opusia

Grandpa's Shed

There's an old shed
In Grandpa's garden
I hear it grumble
Groaning on tired joints
At home among dandelions
The wood sags with soft creases.

There's an old shed
In Grandpa's garden
In Summer, I lie in warm grass
Wondering what's in there…
Maybe spiders big as footballs
Magic lamps or monsters.

There's an old shed
In Grandpa's garden.
Grandpa listens, smiling
Hand on my shoulder
As I guess what's inside.
'Ah,' he says. 'This is a time-machine.'

A time-machine? A TIME MACHINE?
I wonder if he's teasing.
Can we visit the dinosaurs?
He chuckles. 'Not quite!
But when I look at this shed
I see the garden long ago
Full of footballs and fishing rods
From when your dad was young.
I remember the tools inside
I used to mend the crib
You slept in as a baby.
And I remember grandma
Smiling as she planted those flowers
Which still bloom here, like memories
Even though she is gone.

There's an old shed
In Grandpa's garden
It is leaky and creaky.
It slumps peacefully
Dozing in clouds of bugs,
Shelves heavy with junk
And the weight of years.
But it is a castle of imagination
A secret box of remembering
And a stash of smiles
For stormy days.

#poemzilla #family #poetry #opusia