Category: Hope

Blog, Hope

Threads of Life

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Threads of Life

Threads of life woven closely 
Connecting us to others

In such beautiful patterns
Of rich color and texture

At times they’re stretched to breaking
Or bound together in strength

When a thread comes to an end
We cling tightly to our own

Or perhaps latch on to others
To weave a new design

Coordinated creations
Connecting colorful strands

Hoping it will become strong
And remain unknotted 

The design harmonious
in basic simplicity

Sometimes it is rough and frayed
Or intricate and complex

When pulled from its given form 
It might distort or lose shape

It will be what it will be 
But not for want of trying



Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Sanaa is hosting D'Verse Poets tonight and has asked us to look at
Korean Poetry, in particular the form called Kasa.  It calls for four
couplets of seven syllables per line.  You can read more about if at
the D'verse.com page. This was the first time I attempted this form and
I got carried away with the length and ended up with eleven couplets! Oh well. 


Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Blog, Hope

Fly Free

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Fly Free

Would that I might fly the nest south
to be a snowbird escaping winter’s cold
and bask in sunshine sprinkling her
diamonds on crystal waters 
Where gentle breezes ruffle feathers
and I might preen in the warmth of her fire

Would that I be free from this frigid prison
and flap my wings freely with my flock
Shedding my wintry grey garb
for colors of the sea and sand and sky
Then, when earth is ready to waken
Would that I return to for its rebirth


Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Sarah is hosting D'Verse Poets and has prompted us with the story
of Persephone.  My interpretation is that of someone trapped, away from
sunlight and a desire to be free from her confines.

Poetics: Persephone.
Blog, Hope

Risky Business

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Risky Business

In the world of love
I lived in a time of famine
Closed to receive
Focused only on raising a child
In years of wilderness
When nothing would grow
in barren fields
Unfed, undernourished, unwanted
Until
Stars aligned
and the sun kissed the earth
Not once, but twice
I stared at two suitors
Tall, handsome,
he must have made a mistake
And quirky, funny,
we talked until dawn
Now I, fed and watered,
must choose
What is the risk and reward?
I will not know
Until I do
 
 
Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Tricia Sankey is guest host tonight at D'Verse Poets and has prompted
us with the word Risk.

Image by Photocurry from Pixabay
Blog, Hope

Message

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Message

In dreams 
black lions stare
as you gape in wonder
Irrational thoughts
prevail in your heart
But your mind senses
a foreboding 
of what might come
It is speaking to you 
Listen!
Bury your head
in the sand no longer
Step back, step aside
Empty the mind of untruths
and broken promises
collected over time
Take off the blinders
See the world for what it is
Not the one you have chosen to live in
Come back from the wilderness
“Do or do not, there is no try.”
You no longer have to live
in a prison of your own making
 
 
Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Mish is hosting D'Verse Poets tonight and has prompted us with
lines from famous movies.  From the many she suggested, I chose
the following to include in my poem.
 
“Do or do not, there is no try.” – Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980 

Image by efes from Pixabay 
Blog, Healing, Hope

Where Are You Langston Hughes?

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Where Are You Langston Hughes?

It is in these moments
that I look for you
I struggle desperately
trying to understand
what is going on around me
I am confused and I am hurt
The pain I feel
at the atrocities I witness
leave me gasping for air
I need you to help me
You have seen much worse
in your life
You have suffered the hatred
cast upon you
and lived with the bigotry
When I am with you in Harlem
I am comforted
Looking deep into your knowing eyes
and down to your soul
You have honed the skill 
of forgiveness 
Which I do not have
and unsure if I ever will
You live in this ugly world
You face your critics and the racists
yet you are never fazed
Showing those who would do you harm
that you are always the better person 
Please teach me how
to use my words as you did
Wrapping up the hatred
and indifference in poetic verse 
I want to learn from the strength
you found by sharing with the world
how to rise up above this horror
By knowing your worth
in times of adversity
That we might also feel your pain
and soothe our own
Show me, I beg you
I want to understand
I must be released
I too, am America


Copyright © 2021 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved


Laura Bloomsbury is hosting D’Verse Poets tonight and has prompted us to choose a favorite poet and either write about him or her or write to them directly in the first person.  One of my favorite poets is Langston Hughes.
A Harlem Renaissance poet of the 1920s whose poetry resonates with me on so many levels. The last line of my poem is from his poem "I, too"
Read about him at the Poetry Foundation
Blog, Hope

Mosaic Culture

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Mosaic Culture

My perfect world
is a mosaic
Where each piece connects
the other in beauty
There are shades of earth
Deep brown and pitch black
to clay and sandy soil
Sky connecting clouds of white
crimson, rosy pink and graphite
Sometimes golden and sun-kissed
Trees with outstretched arms
In greens, reds and yellows
Oceans holding everything in place
With blue-green reflections
of its inhabitants
A rainbow of ebony, mahogany,
ginger and cinnamon
with alabaster and ivory
delightfully blended in hues
of cafe au lait and mocha 
Eyes of sapphire and cognac
pewter, graphite and terra-cotta 
Sensual colors of eyes and skin
Bleeding the same color red
and crying identical crystal tears
Wishing to live in harmony 
with each other
as it should be

 
Copyright © 2020 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Sarah is hosting D'Verse Poets tonight and she
has prompted us to share a poem that we have
recently read and use it to inspire us to
write one.
One of my favorite poets is Langston Hughes.
I did not grow up with his poetry but I have come to
love it.  I was inspired by his poem Harlem Sweeties
where his use of descriptive color is so beautiful and
mesmerizing to read.  It captured me immediately.

Image by Holger Schué from Pixabay
Blog, Hope

Now is the Time

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Now is the Time

One more
blue-black bruise
on society
One too many
The beast has been
unleashed
Voices heard
Strength in numbers
taking to the streets
Waking the silent
Unmasking the blind
A united voice
heard by deaf ears
Heads previously
buried in the sand
resurrected
A time of change
Power in the hands
of the peaceful oppressed
The dark days
are numbered
One man’s breath
choked from his body
Yet his words 
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
will live in infamy
and be carried
on wings of soaring birds 
His voice stolen
but we speak
for him, for all
Now is the time
 
 
 
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

In response to Sue Vincent's Weekly Write/Photo
#Blacklivesmatter
Blog, Hope

Smile

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Smile

Waking to his smile
A cherished gift
The frown no longer there
lifting her challenged spirits
Giving hope the malaise
has gone forever
Whatever ailed his heart
and hardened it with ice
Had robbed his face
of its charm
The twisted agony
of pronounced pain
consuming his
body and mind
Filling it with anger
and despair
Leaving a legacy
of suffering
Shutting out the one
who loved him most
and lived his trauma
But now, just for a while
She takes that smile
and forgets all else
A contagious reaction
of joy and hope
that will carry her
on a cloud
 
until it doesn’t

 
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

Mish is hosting D'Verse Poets Open Link Night

Word Prompts
Challenge - Word of the Day
Pronounced - RDP
Legacy - FOWC

Image by ambroo from Pixabay 
Blog, Hope

Into the Night

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Into the Night

Light from the dark star
flickering and fading
in the black sky
Her heart heavy from
the news of the drowned
and the saved
Pushing forward
intent on facing
her nemesis
Following the flame
into the night
 
 
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

Bjorn is hosting D'Verse Poets tonight
and has prompted us to find Poems in our
bookshelves
My poem is based on the four books
in the photo
 
Blog, Hope, Poem of the Month

Flicker Of Hope – Poem of the Month – April 2020

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Flicker Of Hope

The hope that is
in my heart
cannot be stolen
or imprisoned
I may lose faith
from time to time
but it is always there
It is who I am
and what defines me
Others can
steal my heart
and my soul
Rob me
of my dignity
and self esteem
Break my spirit
But that flicker
of hope can always
be kindled
It is the eternal flame
that drives me
It cannot be taken
away from me
for I am more
than breath and bone
 
 
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©

Written for Christine from Brave & Reckless
who prompted us with the phrase "I am more
than breath and bone"
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