Nap Time
Wrap me up
in sweet softness
of cotton batting
and delicate strands
that skim
over skin
and swaddle
the body
to cradle me close
and hold me
while
eyes close
and a bit of rest
is caught
between one blink
and the next
poetry
Gideon’s Challenge
Seeking Support
Delicate
and fractured
I reach out
to you
in the dark
seeking the touch
of your skin
against mine
and in that moment
instead
of shattering
into tiny pieces
I find the strength
to continue on
another day
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge
The Scapegoat
Boundaries broken
and the guilt
eats away
at the edges
that have been torn
and refuse
to scab over
so they
instead
corrode away
a little at a time
like rust
as blame is assigned
and accepted
without contest
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge
Handle With Care
Sharp words
and withering glances
as irritation
grazes against the skin
like the abrasion
of a hair shirt
and the knowledge
is there
that the reaction
is too harsh
and yet
somehow
it happens again
anyway
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge
Almost Done
A break taken
for just a moment
to look over
all that hard work
has wrought
and enjoy
the breeze
that guides fluff
in the sky
to amble by
slowly
as it dries
the sweat
on my skin
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge
The Cage of Time
Make it stretch
just a bit longer
and let our whims
mold it
into what we need
instead
of the chains
that it feels
always restrain us
from what
we truly want
and need
give me more
and more
and just a little more
Twisting the Leaf 