Theme Me, Baby - Vol. 5

[poetinahat]

Here's another theme, for anyone who'd like to join in.

Write a poem, any style -- the topic is difficult decisions.

Enjoy!

[Rivana]

Nice theme. :-) Here's my contribution and you may want tissues for this one.
/Tessa
***

(Removed by Rivana)

[NeuroFizz]

The rock crushes with its weight
and forces a choice of direction

The paper wraps, with words,
intentives and directives

The scissors cut and stab
a machete carved path

Which wins, which to use
outside of the game-of-hands?

[davids]

As I sit here on the old veranda
I wonder if I am verandarized
the decision being indiscreet
as I shoot passers under the balcony
with shots of white northern light

Who to shoot and who to boot
what decisions I have to make
it is about the grace of my pure fate
a difficult thing to decide
as flip or flop
or pop the top
or throw the can away

Oh to hell with it
the job is done
decided before one thought
written somewhere in toothed decay
before God gave us a thought

[DeborahM]

I watched in horror
as you put the gun
to your head.

I watched in horror
as the white light
came from the gun.

I watched in horror
as the smoke rose
from your head wound.

I watched in horror
your response to
your decision.

I watched in horror
as you looked at me,
smiled, then died.

I wondered the reason
and why it made it
so easy to die
than to live.

[pconsidine]

I don't like broccoli on my pizza.
It spoils my mozarella scape and
crunches under tooth like roaches underfoot.

I don't like home shows.
I don't own a home and never will,
so I can't paint my never house in clamshell trim.

I don't like metal music.
Axel Rose was never in my wet dreams,
nor plastered across my newfound bosom.

But if you want me to
tongue kiss Axel Rose in an ecru house
with broccoli in my teeth,

I will.

[poetinahat]

Once again, I'm amazed at how differently you people can treat -- and so well -- the same topic.

Marvelous.

Who's next?

[Angelinity]

Why are these
Moments so familiar
Like watching a movie after the book

Kissing
A stranger who smells the way
You did - enough so if I shut my eyes
I could pretend
And he believes me

How true this moment is
How real the old
To keep the one - to toss the both
Or wrap it all in spider silk
Until it's time
To sink in purple snow
My footsteps swept away - not real
And nor was I

There
Swaddled in a silk cocoon
Losing my atoms one by one
There will be time to leaf
Through moments saved
To mourn those lost
Try to remember
Why

[PrettySpecialGal]

I once had a choice to make
should I eat pie or cake?
The cake looked quite yummy
But would add to my tummy
So it was the meat pie I'd take

I know, kinda silly-- I'll work on it.

[Rivana]

I had a choice once,
a vision
to make a bold
decision.
I closed the door,
sat on the floor
and prayed.
It came my way then -
hallucination, affirmation
from the divine.
I saw two hills
in darkness.
I saw a bird
fly high.
Red and black
and nothing more,
I was shaken,
yes quite taken,
but I couldn't trust
the signs.
So I went with logic and
not the stuff
of lullabies.
I was disappointed,
that goes without
saying much,
but perhaps
my presence touched
some weary soul
upon my way.
Then I can say,
I did what's right
even if I
didn't go
on the vision's say so.

[kborsden]

something beautiful
is something frail
just to add to it
is to take away
could I but take to it
that would be strange
for what to do
in disarray?
with this thing
so beautiful
this thing with weight.

[PrettySpecialGal]

"Should I stay or should I go?" is how the song goes.
It stays.

...and goes.

So what advice does it give?

I could stay true to the song, and stay.

(as it is forever in my mind)


but also go--
going on and on and on and on

and on...

[Rivana]

How do you choose
to make a difference,
when you see things
much too clear?
You know the danger
and the darkness
and depression
lurking there.
How do you stand up
each and every time,
despite knowing that
you'll be knocked down?
How do you try
to save someone
when they only want
to break?
Deliver me from hate,
but above all
deliver me
from my own devices.
I saw dead eyes stare at me
through another silver screen.
I heard voices calling me
inside my mind and scream:
Save us! Save your soul
and you will be whole.
Is it time to choose
the path of righteousness
again?
I don't know friend,
I just don't know,
but sometime soon
I'll have to go
and make a change
once more.

[jst5150]

Gwen

Blossomed anxiety
cut down by
pharmaceutical remedy;
esteem depending on
whether she telephones
infernal maternal
melodrama, or
slouches slowly
into cushion
absorbing 42 more
minutes of
Oprah's babble

[dclary]

As drops of sweat pour down my flushed red face
I stare incomprehensibly ahead
And plead with silent eyes devoid of grace
to those who wish they'd gone elsewhere instead
The executioner still waits for me
Her weapon held so tight within her hand
I feel her icy stare that cold banshee
I know this is not how she had it planned.
But time has left me all alone tonight
I must brave forth this choice that I must make
I drop the menu on the tableside
And say "I guess I'll have the shrimp and steak."

[Rivana]

It's not that it's defeating me,
this constant struggle of supremacy.
I know my place, I know who I am,
I know you and all your hang-ups.
But, one more night of raised voices,
makes me question all my choices.
Solemnly I think -just go,
and it would be a most, valid decision.
But it would leave me
in no condition, to live life as I choose.
I'll win yes, but I'll lose.
Thus I'll stay, one more day
silently wishing for another way
to pay my dues.

[Nicholas S.H.J.M Woodhouse]

Daddy.

[jst5150]

Donald's Dinner

SteakChickenFish?
redZinWhite?
SteakChickenFish?
redZinWhite?
appetizerappetizer?
waterwithalemoninit
appetizerappetizer?
waterwithalemoninit
SteakorChicken?
SteakorChicken?
RedorWhite?
RedorWhite?
chunkofbreadsodacracker
SteakorChicken?
RedorWhite?
wheresthatwaiteroutofsight
herehecomesgottodecide
SteakorChicken!
RedorWhite!
"Can you come back, I ...
didn't see the pasta menu"

[Shiraz]

Unwanted



It used to be terrifying,
Promoted to pure shame
Bearing the fruit of passion
After being discarded by a lover.

It used to be hopeless
with nowhere to turn but the refuge
of compassionless do-gooders of St. Francis
and their glares of disgust and pointing fingers.

It used to be the bed we made:
the mattress was uncomfortable
the sheets, stained
and the blanket dirty.

It used to be a time to forget and
Pretend and ignore and agree
Even though I didn’t and
Wished I could scream out loud.

It used to be a better time, they say
And now it’s spoiled with more options
That are the Devil’s making that shouldn’t be

So the child came, unwanted.

[ddgryphon]

A single path forks
offering undreamt options:
confusion rises

[Mom'sWrite]

You decided that we should wed

I decided to not say no

You decided that rum was truth

I decided not to go

You decided that love was cheap

I decided stories lie

You decided that tyrants may rape

I decided peasants should die.

[Rivana]

There's an essay waiting,
or wait no -
there's three, maybe four.
I really shouldn't be
'playing' any more.
But how can any artist
go and face the day
while knowing there's
a much better way
of spending time
with pictures and rhyme?
Somehow beauty should be
of less worth to me
than money or fame -
yes, I see.
But still I can not
turn away.
Let's hope I'll redeem the day,
by making the beauty
stay.

[Gray]

a false chance at another moment in your eyes
so i watch in silence while you leave and part of me dies

[Read or Die]

Theme of Difficult Decisions (count me as late to the party):

Difficult decisions are born of many things,
be it circumstance or fate,
the choice is made and chaos reigns in the passing days.
A time where one's innermost thoughts and rationality ignored
and the high and mighty blindly judge upon,
uncaring but steadfast and unwavering in beliefs and opinions,
save sympathies for those truly in need.
An ugly hypocrisy, an unwanted truth,
A fractured reflection and dwelling enmity.
Disgust.
But, save sympathies for those truly in need.

[threedogpeople]

Decisions, decisions,

do I

seethe silently,
take the high road,
take a deep breath,
swallow a silent scream,
preserve the peace and quiet,
respond with kindness,
consider another's perspective,
count to a hundred,
rely on self-control,
act mature,
take a Xanex,
go for a long walk,

OR JUST BLOW?

[Appalachian Writer]

A rash of pills
splash across the table,
small
white
pure
offering rest.
Her pulse beats
rapid fire
hammering out her pain.
The moon's half light
filters through the stained pane window
like a silver finger
pointing the way
to the infinite dark.
Fingers trembling,
she reaches,
eyes wide,
taking in what light remains.
Then the pause,
hand hung above white droplets.
The darkness whispers,
"Maybe,"
and she waits for another dawn.

[onestepp]

Wildest dreams
what do they mean?
Head splitting at seams,
over last words; Unseen.

[HeronW]

There’s things you don’t want to see when the lights go out
there’s things you don’t want to hear when the wind dies down.
Faces and voices tearing, to pull you from yourself
racks of pain and distortion that twist your soul around.

Close the window, draw the shade, block out the sky
screams that no noise penetrates halts that silent sound.
Choose your poison, meat or drink, to dull the lucid mind
crawl beneath your inmost fear and let yourself be bound.

Whispers mock while bright lights burn, probe into your heart
portals lock without a key, buried underground.
Nothing reaches through to piercing armored flesh and bone
vagrant stares fall on deaf ears in your own torment drown.