These Particulars

The chasm between
Depression and living
Can be a world
Where
Every heartbeat
Measures a step
Forward or behind.
There
Is no catching up
Only characters speaking
Lines unrehearsed;
Smiles
Borrowed from clowns
Who laugh upon call
Of immense misfortune.
Unseen
The stars wield
Bright, unfiltered light
Yet denied sight, hope
Sky
Naked, lost, love departed,
But reaching again
Capturing through will
Enough
To rearrange depression
Reclaim hope, dreams,
Love, in particular, completion.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Prompt: Pick an emotional state you are dealing with and create something focused on your feelings and actions.

Youth Reach

The children, simple,
Underfoot teaching lessons
Of brave innocence;
Love their flashing sword, bright shield,
Determination – armor.
The children bestow
Gifts wherever they go,
Fond smiles bubble up
Filling hearts like coffee cups,
Bringing laughter to sad eyes.
The children desire
Understanding of all things,
Learning from old souls
Every blessing and conflict,
Each harsh word and compliment.
The children reveal
Past secrets, future dreams, things
Unknown and unseen,
They dabble – eternally
Calling out for kindness, care.
The children face time
With a will toward conquering
Those troubles they must –
Choosing courage enough to
Produce the needs, become who
The children can be
When raised with sensitivity,
Shining in history
Free to grow because there
Are miles to go, LOVE to show.

Again Then

Time does not come
Tied-up
In pretty ribbons
Red and Blue,
More evidently
Purple –
Green of a stubborn
Bruise,
An ebony night, or
Sun bright raging
Thirsty day
When
That is, the harrowing
Cold is
Out of season.

Prizes
Are rare and never
Given for participation,
No,
Those gains only come
With blood, sweat, pain –
Paid
Perhaps by generations
Who strive to keep
Love, faith, effort alive;
Tears,
Prayers over many years
Are not just present,
The future
Is also their target;

Entreating God
His mercy, grace to
Unleash
That survivors remain
Christ’s love to proclaim –
Overcoming
Overwhelming dangers, trials,
Through the continual
Outworking of individual salvation.

Meaning

The definition
Of ourselves is uncontained
Though we trip over
Who we believe ourselves to
Be on ordinary days.

If we could see who
We are beyond the mirrors
The definition
Of our beloved desires
Might become fit for ourselves.

We may know our worth
Only told in lightning flashes
Suspended briefly
The definition above
Our limits of faith, knowledge.

Cool, cool, the water
We bathe over minds aflame
Trying to search out
A purpose, reason, needed
To give life definition.

Over a lifetime
We may find God, the Living
Definition, all
Understanding given us
Proving life miraculous.

In this poem I made each stanza in the form of a tanka. If you notice I like to do this often.

As a prompt, use a form or pattern to create a work. Adapt whatever you choose to your use.

Un

It makes no sense to
Apologize
For the things never done.

No one
Knows the missing pieces,
The nothings –

Are rightly or wrongly
Hidden,
Forests of time give cover.

Unseen
Actions, beings, creations,
Undiscovered.

However, whatever, whoever
May,
Shall never be – unless set free –

Unreality!

As a prompt, create something about the withholdings of existence.