The Night Hike
Living in a city
it’s easy to forget
just how dark
the night can be
but step beyond
street lights and
glowing windows
into the darkness
between the trees
and you
will be reminded
just how alone
the dark of night
truly is
Prompt: “Halloween is just a week away! This week, draw (at least) three cards from your deck and use them to describe for us a (real or fictional) trick-or-treating outing or adventure.“
Death atop High Priestess – I had a dream that the bad man was coming, three nights in a row. On the third night, I woke up screaming in bed with mama there beside me trying to wake her up.
Mama convinced me to tell her about my dream and when I did, she got up right away and began packing our clothes into bags.
Strength – I told her I didn’t wanna go, but she convinced me it would be okay. She told me stories about the places we might go next, and the new friends I would make, and in the end I decided maybe it would be okay.
I helped pack up our stuff that night, and we hopped in the car with our bags in the back and drove off into the night with that old song by the 4 Seasons “Bye Bye Baby” playing on the radio as we drove out of town.
Death (continued) – We settled in a new town and school started. She was right! I did meet new friends, and the school is really great with lots of activities my old school didn’t have.
Temperance – I was really excited for Halloween to come, because I hadn’t been allowed to trick or treat for years. So this year I was going to go out with some friends, and Mama said it was okay as long as I didn’t stray too far.
The Devil – When the night came, I dressed up as my favorite cartoon character and when my friends came we went out to knock on some doors. It wasn’t scary at all, and I was having a great time! My friends wanted to go over to the next block, and I figured it wouldn’t be any harm, so I agreed. And that then turned into the next block after that… and the next one after that.
The Devil (continued) atop Hanged Man – As it got later, friends started to break off and head home, and I eventually found myself walking alone, heading back the way I came. I felt okay until this guy came up behind me and grabbed my arm! The moment he touched me, I knew he was the bad man from my dreams, even before I turned around to look at him.
Breaking his hold, I started to run away when he called out three words that made me pause. “I’m your father!” he said.
The news stole the breath from my lungs and I turned to stare at him for what felt like forever. Then I raced home to Mama to tell her what happened. Time to move again.
The Silence
You want me
to share
what I’m feeling
inside
but I don’t have
words for the ache
that can rise
from just
the intensity
the colors
in a sunset
and tears fall
as I watch on
still silent
The Kiss of Time
I’ve said it before
and I’ll say it
again and again
age spots
are beautiful
no matter the skin
they reside upon
no matter the season
it is the kiss of time
upon the skin
letting us know
we have loved
and are beloved
the mark of a life
well lived
Missing You
I sit and watch
the clouds roll by
and miss you
every day
the ache
an every growing
hole of longing
with nothing to say
as tears try
to escape
and are held back
as I refuse
to let them drop
and remind myself
once again
you’re not that far away.
The Stinky Mystery
Who is it that decided
that cats putting their
butt in your face
is a sign of
love and trust?
For every night
her butt is snuggled
into the hollow
of shoulder and cheek
as she nuzzles in
to the blanket with me
and when she farts
in the direction
of my nose?
I need to know who to blame.
Twisting the Leaf 