They called her sister
but a sibling she was not
Her personality hidden
Not permitted to show
what she had and
a label was forbidden
An angel in costume
Nourishing and nurturing all
Giving love to those in need
They built an effigy in her honor
but it was faceless and cold
And sometimes it would bleed
Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing ©
Hélène Vaillant's What Do You See
Photo Prompt
Word Prompts
Nourish - Word of the Day
Sibling - RTDP
Label - FOWC
She stood fearlessly
On the balcony wall
One more step
And she could end it all
Not that she would
She just wanted to scare
A brief moment of power
Silently saying a prayer
What is the point
of anything anymore
His hateful words
had cut her to the core
Time and again
she would acquiesce
Living with him
was like a game of chess
She always had to be
Two steps ahead
To know what was coming
Or fear to tread
This day was like
Just any other
She was only breathing air
But to him it was a bother
He was irritated as usual
With what she was doing
A fight ensued
It was always brewing
Emergency vehicle sirens
Sounding in the distance
Probably coming for her
To offer their assistance
Digging deep in her soul
Searching for serendipity
This is letting him win
She’d had an epiphany
Stepping down from the ledge
Her strength had returned
The power was hers
The tide had turned
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
Word Prompts:
OctPoWriMo – Poem a Day #16 – Catch me when I fall
Photo by Megan Wood on Unsplash
As I look into your eyes
Listening to whimpering cries
I know I am smitten
Nothing can spoil
or attempt to foil
Because it has been written
From my strength you draw
life’s blood in your claw
as you take shelter
But the lies and conceit
will always repeat
Know that in hell you will swelter
For you I will fight tigers
And deal with the liars
In order to insulate
I promise to keep you safe
Until my hands are chafe
My life’s work to facilitate
Your beauty is brilliant
Your body resilient
You are surely tough
A blast from the skies
In rain it cries
No umbrella is enough
My love will you protect
and never neglect
as long as I do live
I’ll shelter you from harm
your enemies disarm
and forever forgive
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
Word Prompts:
Once upon my being
I wished my life be freeing
From the ties that bind
Happiness held in escrow
Lost in someone’s shadow
Living a life so unkind
On the outside looking in
All you see is a shiny ring
Promises eventually shattered
Emotions begin ricocheting
and tempers escalating
A marriage becomes tattered
What was once excitement
Is sadly no longer vibrant
A relationship ugly and spiteful
Each partner throwing shade
Decisions need to be made
Whose testament is rightful
The battle exhausting
Divorce unrewarding
I carry myself with grace
Hope has diminished
My journey unfinished
I disappear without a trace
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
Word Prompts:
OctPoWriMo – Poem a Day #15 – If I were me
Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash
The barometric pressure of the day
Is wreaking havoc in my mind
Confusion a familiar companion
On my journey of unpredictability
A feeling of hopelessness
Covering me in a dark shroud
Dragging me into its damp pit
of gloom and I go with docility
Clarity nowhere to be found
As I stumble on rocks of desperation
Blindly searching for reasons why
I am living a life of vulnerability
Spiraling downward out of control
Reaching for something to break my fall
Slipping and sliding all the way
Down into the declivity
My ascent from the chasm
Hindered by despondency
Hope cruelly mocking me
Wishing to drown exquisitely
In time the greyness of the sky pacifies
Pulling me slowly from the blackness
The accompanying wind pushing me up
So that I may breathe sanguinity
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
Word Prompts:
OctPoWriMo – Poem a Day #12 – Tortured
Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash
Who controls the pecking order of life?
Because I’m on the outside
looking in
Nose against the window
like the proverbial stepchild
Taking it on the chin
Living on the edge of the herd
Feeling like the runt of the litter
These are the emotions I bear
Easy to slip into a depression
Dragging others down
Wishing I wasn’t there
Just feeling that life
is dealing me the cards
of endless misery
The ones you fold
so the others would win
Like some kind of trickery
Invisible
the color of my life
I fall through the cracks
Constantly trying to scale
that overgrown fence
Just once wishing to relax
Feeling imperfect
But knowing I’m not
All I want is a chance
Look at me I’m here
Just like you
Give me a second glance
Determined to begin again
And experience a rebirth
My stellar light will shine
Brighter than before
You’ll concern me no longer
I’ll be stronger next time
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing©
Word Prompts:
OctPoWriMo – Poem a Day – Oct #11 – Falling through the cracks
I am haunted by your words
That lay heavy on my heart
We are only as strong
as the miles between us
Destined to be apart
There is a sense of dislocation
I am an empty vessel
With all the hangover
and none of the buzz
All these things I wrestle
Reflecting on our last night
Sitting in the park by the lake
The color of your eyes
In the moonlight
I melted like a snowflake
I was dancing on air
Until you laid out your plan
You were leaving me
Never to return
I am now a solitary man
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
Word Prompts:
OctPoWriMo – Poem a Day – #10 Dancing on Air
Photo by Quinten de Graaf on Unsplash
I love your gentleness
Even though I see your fire
You are a wounded soul
Who fights
I feel your ire
Rugged exterior
But silently brooding
Your spirit bruised
Its power immense
But always eluding
Your head
is lit by the moon
Your heart
darkened by the storms
Your body has been hewn
Let me heal you
Protect you from harm
Light the way
Out of the tunnel
And your enemies disarm
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
Word Prompts:
OctPoWriMo – Poem a Day – #9 – Love
Photo by Nicolas Ladino Silva on Unsplash
Revenge was apparent
after she had been violated
He had taken what was hers
Her body abused, desecrated
There was an air of desperation
She wanted justice served
Eventually it came and
he got what he deserved
Finally what had been craved
Was now hers to feast
But that plump, pound of flesh
Was not as filling, not in the least
She could not fathom why
Retribution was not hers
Hibernation became routine
The outside world now a blur
Christine Bolton – Poetry for Healing ©
Word Prompts
OctPoWriMo – Poem a Day – October #8 – Madness
Photo by Stephany Lorena on Unsplash