The Bite of Pain
White hot poker
flames red
savage and bright
angry… enraged
the fire sears
beneath the skin
with sharp
savage prongs
that rake
through the pain
to make it
that much worse
until there is
no air
to breathe
zen state photography
Gideon’s Challenge
Finding Happiness
Dark clouds
try to cling on
even when
the sun shines
bright
and like life
days slip by
and dark shadows
try to touch
upon
the brightness
as we continue on
and do our best
to be happy
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge
Morning Commute
Trees blur by
as ground flows
beneath branches
and among trunks
creeping over
the ground
and the sun
begins to rise
to brighten
the sky
little by little
until morning mist
meets the day
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge
The Raft
A quiet moment
like a life raft
in a turbulent sea
and as others
speak and laugh
it is
silence
that is your friend
and can carry
you through
safe and sound
to the far shore
of home
you ache
to return to
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge
Anxiety
Knee bounces
hard and fast
as sit and try
try try try
to breathe
but the air
won’t come
and my heart
pounds faster
as it climbs
into my throat
but can’t get past
the scar tissue
to find sanctuary
in my mouth
Photo © ZenStatePhotography
Gideon’s Challenge
October Mornings
I remember days
when fog tasted
crisp and clean
on the air
as it kissed
dewy and cloying
to the skin
on early mornings
instead of
scented with
the death
of a thousand
trees
and tales of
far off destruction
Twisting the Leaf 