Bill & Jim working on yet another crossword puzzle together
Tomorrow will be 4 months since my husband’s identical twin brother died suddenly. His wife returned home from a walk and found him on the bedroom floor; she said he was still warm. The news felt like an arrow ripped through our hearts. Jim was dead. How was my sister-in-law ever again going to walk into her bedroom without picturing her husband’s body? How was my husband Bill going to face the rest of his life as the lone twin? At one time there were three brothers; now there is only Bill. This is the most difficult trial for him. My husband lost a piece of himself that day. We are numb, disbelieving, questioning, dazed, numb, numb, so unbelievably numb.
You know how people say that time flies? Not when it comes to Jim; time has stopped for us. Logically we know he’s dead but our hearts cannot accept it. It’s unbelievable, inconceivable for us. It doesn’t feel possible. We function normally every day, do the same old crap, talk and eat and laugh. We watch movies, go shopping, pay bills, gab on the phone, babysit. We live the same lives we lived before Jim died except he’s not here to share them and we cannot wrap our heads around that. It just doesn’t feel like he’s dead. He should be here. It’s not right that he’s not here. It’s like someone has played the cruelest joke on us.
Now, when my sister-in-law looks at Bill, it’s Jim’s face she sees. And sometimes when I look at my husband, I see Jim and I find myself pondering why Jim was the twin who was taken.
I am Bill’s wife but Jim was his other half.
save them in your heart golden summer memories for when winter comes
City Island, Bronx NY circa 1950 No idea who’s who!
Lillian, tonight’s Pub Master, is hosting Quadrille Monday at the dVerse Poets Pub. We’re asked to create a 44-word poem using the word “figment”. Here’s my poem.
Gold petals amid the lace of purple lavender whimsy dabble the lush spring grass while the sun’s resplendent rays herald the start of summer days as birds and bees and bugs gently laze Gold petals amid the lace of purple as birds and bees and bugs gently laze herald the start of summer days while the sun’s resplendent rays dabble the lush spring grass lavender whimsy lace of purple amid the petals gold
A Reverse Dectina Refrain is written as follows: 1st line is 1 syllable, 2nd line is 2 syllables, 3rd line is 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines as one stand-alone thought. Repeat in reverse starting with line 9. Rhyming is optional.
That time I found myself in the principal’s office because I screamed at the teacher who tried to put his hand up my shirt, then being assaulted again at home by my mother who accused me of “asking for it”.
Daughters-in-law are our grandchildren’s mothers. As such, they carry our fortunes downstream. Under their guidance, our hopes become others’, Giving their force to a much larger dream. How lucky we are to have you for the carer That nurtures the hearts of our hearts, that they may Each be a lover, a giver and sharer, Remaking the world in their image each day. So do we all, like streams from the mountains, In time become joined in the souls we have made, Now mingled forever, eternal companions, Linked by our love in a bond that won’t fade. As you in your noontime your work of love do, We watch from the hillside, grateful for you.
Melissa at dVerse poets has asked us to write a poem for the prompt “If You Don’t Like Cats, I’m Sorry”, based on one of Louis Wain’s drawings. I have written a Dectina Refrain for “Cat’s Nightmare”. Oh, but there’s a catch: we can’t use the word “cat” in our poems!
A Dectina Refrain is written as follows: 1st line is 1 syllable, 2nd line is 2 syllables, 3rd line is 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines as one stand-alone sentence.
“Cat’s Nightmare” by Louis Wain
WHO do you think you are, trying to hide from the likes of us? We have our eyes on you watching every move you make; foolish kitties, there’s no escape. A tasty whisker pie we will bake! Who do you think you are, trying to hide?
I’m sorry for the things I said and did. There’s no greater pain than brothers grown apart. How I have prayed for this day when we put our anger to rest and cried “I love you, my dear brother”. I’m sorry for the things I said and did.
Dectina Refrain: This poem is written as follows: 1st line – 1 syllable, 2nd line – 2 syllables 3rd line – 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines and is a stand-alone 10-syllable line.
Written for Ronovanwrites Ovi Poetry Challenge 40: Tragedy Ovi Rules: 4-line stanza, 8 syllables or less per line, first 3 lines rhyme,4th line must not rhyme. Additional stanzas keep the same rhyming pattern but do not rhyme each other.
Homeless living on the street Children with no food to eat People crying in defeat We are stuck in a hopeless mess.
Politicians always lying Innocents in war are dying Talk of peace but no one’s trying It all seems so fucking futile.
Playgrounds teeming with poison drugs Computer hackers spreading bugs Protestors being shot with slugs Has every person gone insane?
No clean water left to drink Can you smell that awful stink Our universe is on the brink The tragedies of a mad world.
A Dectina Refrain and a short poem for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt. Word requirement is 65, prompt word is “tap”.
Tap tapping on my door. Who can it be? It’s too dark to see but the noise just won’t stop. I get up from the sofa and tippy toe to the front door; peek through the window but no one’s there. Tap tapping on my door. Who can it be?
Noise from outside. It’s too dark to see. No place to hide. Stop watching me!
Sammi at Weekend Writing Prompt has challenged us to write creatively in exactly 60 words, incorporating the word ‘vapid’. Using a few other prompt words, here is my 60-word response in the form of a Dectina Refrain and a Haiku Duet.
Old man with vapid thoughts and empty eyes lives in denial; puppeteers pulling strings feeding hypnotic untruths into flaccid, desolate brain on the outskirts of insanity. Old man with vapid thoughts and empty eyes
Gray, grayer smoke above the clouds in the sky no light shining brightly
Brown dying trees dried leaves lay at the roots no buds tacitly emerging
Dectina Refrain: This refrain is written as follows: 1st line – 1 syllable, 2nd line – 2 syllables 3rd line – 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines as one stand-alone line.
Dectina Refrain: This refrain is written as follows: 1st line – 1 syllable, 2nd line – 2 syllables 3rd line – 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines as one stand-alone line.
Don’t Worry About me I’ll be just fine Better without you Don’t write me an email Don’t send me anymore texts I don’t want you hanging around Take your toothbrush out of my bathroom Don’t worry about me I’ll be just fine
Yesterday’s prompt from Sadje for Just Jot it January 2024. Here’s my tardy but heartfelt reply. ☕️ 🥯
With Humble Gratitude For my husband Who, every morning, Without hesitation, Brings me my coffee in bed. Sometimes he’ll bring a warm bagel. I couldn’t ask for anything more! With humble gratitude for my husband.
This is the Manhattan Transfer with “I Love Coffee, I Love Tea”. And I love Bill!
Dectina Refrain: This refrain is written as follows: 1st line – 1 syllable, 2nd line – 2 syllables 3rd line – 3 syllables, and so on for 9 lines; the 10th line is comprised of the first four lines as one stand-alone line.
