The fog is rolling in, the battle rages on
The fog is rolling in.
I sense before I see,
the clouded mist
that comes again –
coming again for me.
Wispy tendrils
whorl round my feet,
readying for war.
Creeping, crawling,
reaching, searching,
finding me once more.
I’ve naught but gossamer veil
to hide myself beneath,
I’ve no stronger shield,
no bullets, no bow –
I’ve no weapon to unsheath.
But lo, perhaps I do –
I’ve words at my command.
With parchment as my coffer
and quill within my hand,
an army lays in wait,
for me to take my stand.
Whispered words
become my battle cry,
they cover me like armor,
they give me wings to fly.
As the battle rages,
the fog is failing, falling –
raining down in pages,
scattered in defeat.
I lift my veil,
and watch
as the
vanquished fog
retreats.
Crystal R. Cook
This entry was posted on May 21, 2015, in Life, Poetry and tagged Anxiety, battle, depression, healing, victory, words, writing.
A Lonely Young Poet
artwork – Gerard ter Borch
A lonely young poet
with sweet, red wine
silently welcomes the night
as she would an old friend.
Crimson drops spill
as her glass fills to the brim.
Slowly she sips the nectar
that will transform her world.
Eclectic visions flow forth,
the laureates tongue slurs
under intoxication’s haze.
Her voiceless verbose rambles on
as she empties the bottle.
The crystal goblet glistens
as the days new light
finds its way into her
darkened room.
The page on which she rests
is stained with the color
of tears and old wine.
When she awakes
the words will greet her,
bringing with them
a few, still
moments of peace.
It will last until
the daylight
once again
fades.
Crystal R. Cook ~ 2000
This entry was posted on May 11, 2015, in Poetry, Writing and tagged Gerard ter Borch, intoxication, laureate, poet, poetry, writer,writing.
Pay the toll or ride once more . . .
Here we go again.
The world’s begun to spin,
round and round
and round it goes,
and here we go again.
~
The carousel
appeared before me,
filling me with fright.
I think . . . I thought
I know . . . I knew,
something
wasn’t
right.
~
A phantasmic carnie asked,
“Do want a ride?”
I never met his gaze
though I’m certain I declined,
but he lifted me,
and without warning
I was spinning, spinning,
spinning,
under his control,
and when the ride
came to an end,
he held out
his gnarled hand,
demanding to have his toll.
~
Inside my head
I continued to spin
I’ve no reason to pay,
I didn’t ask to play,
there’s no payment
I owe to him.
~
Still he stood,
and asked again,
“Do you want a ride?”
His hollow eyes
stared through me,
and his lips curled
into a twisted
sort of grin.
He said,
“Pay the toll,
or ride once more,
then we’ll talk again.”
~
I don’t quite know
how many times
I went round and round
and round
before I woke,
but when I did
he stood before me,
and once again
he spoke.
~
“Pay me what I’m due,
and you may take your leave.”
I found my voice,
and screamed in silence,
“I haven’t anything,
not even a penny
for which to pay.
I don’t know
what it is
you seem to
want from me.
Won’t you please,
just please,
I’m begging you
to turn and go away.”
~
He threw back his head
with a wicked laugh
and said, “Why should I
be the one to go?
Don’t you know?
It was you – It was you
who came to me.
Silly child, open your eyes,
see what you can see.”
~
And then I remembered
I’d been given a choice
when anxiety came to call
I could have stood
against it,
I could have fought
with all my might,
but I faltered
and I fell
and I cowered
from the fight.
~
I opened my eyes
to look upon
what I’d been too
afraid to see.
I steadied my heart,
I stood to my feet,
but when I looked,
there was nothing,.
Nothing
waited there
for me.
Crystal R. Cook
This entry was posted on May 5, 2015, in Life, Poetry and tagged Anxiety, battling anxiety, poetry, strength.
Paradoxical Madness – and the battle strengthens me
Weakness
begets
strength.
Paradoxical madness
I could do without.
Interminable battle,
victory unattainable.
Eternal conflict rages
betwixt prostration
and fortitude.
Languor triumphs,
vitiating valor,
though – conquest
is fleeting
as perseverance
reclaims reign.
And the struggle
makes me strong.
Paradoxical madness
I could do without.
Crystal R. Cook
This entry was posted on May 5, 2015, in Life, Poetry and tagged battle, Eternal conflict, poetry, strength, weakness.
Seeking, searching – inspiration
I play hide and seek
with inspiration
pursuing fickle muse
through darkened labyrinth
in dauntless expectation
She scatters thoughts
like falling leaves
and frenzied shooting stars
besprinkling each path I’m on
with quickly fading vestiges
of partial revelations
I perceive only from afar
They disappear
as I draw near
neath my feet
lay naught but dirt
where once there was
a star
Searching, seeking
lost, lamenting
My feckless quest
is near its end
the day is fading
the night is calling
Perhaps tomorrow
she will be my friend
Crystal R. Cook
This entry was posted on April 27, 2015, in Life, Poetry, Writing and tagged inspiration, muse, poetry, thoughts, writing.
Something to think about, I think.
I think I’m tired of thinking
I may just give it up
I haven’t yet decided though
I’ve not thought it through enough
I’ve made a list of pros and cons
and pondered it for days
wandering round and round
in a ruminating haze
If I really stop and think about it
and I assure you that I have
the thought of thinking things no more
really doesn’t sound too bad
It seems to me that many folks
are getting on just fine
simply gliding through their lives
with empty little minds
But then again, they’re dolts
something I don’t care to be
Without the thoughts I think
would I even still be me?
If I think therefore I am
like Descartes said
I’d cease to be, I’d be no more
without the thoughts that fill my head
“Cogito ergo sum”
Damn
Crystal R. Cook
The Battle Rages On – Constant Warrior
Floundering in the dark
searching for the light
Scattered thoughts disgorge
from a miasmic mind
too burdened to contain them
emotions escape through tears
Unrestrained anxiety
irrational fear
unwarranted consternation
Pounding chest, heaving
threatening to fragment
anticipating failure
and pain
Soul seeking solace
confronts the unseen
stands in trepidation
against enshrouded foe
A weary warrior
voice raised in supplication
beseeching favor through faith
Repudiating the disquietude
emancipating fragile psyche
reclaiming, regaining, reasserting
gathering the detritus
of unconsumed peace
forging it to armor
sheltering beneath
until the storm subsides
again
Crystal R. Cook
This entry was posted on April 24, 2015, in Life, Poetry and tagged Anxiety, faith, fear, irrational fear, rising above.
#1000Speak – Nurturing My Precious Garden
A nurturer by nature
I planted seeds
and watched them grow
I tended them with care
kneeling in the sodden earth
I toiled and tilled and sowed
I sat and watched in wonder
as my garden
slowly came to life
I vowed to shelter
and to nourish it
to be certain it would thrive
And when the tiny buds
began to blossom
I cultivated them with care
I kept the weeds away
I quenched their thirst
and sprinkled them with prayer
My beautiful garden
continued to grow
it became a part of me
And the pieces of my heart
I’d planted
grew from those tiny seeds
Eventually the winds
dispersed their essence
to grow elsewhere on the earth
My precious flowers
found new life
giving joy with their rebirth
Those tiny seeds I planted
have grown so strong
the flowers bloom for all to see
And after all these years
in loving my care
that garden now tends me
Crystal R. Cook
This entry was posted on April 20, 2015, in #1000Speak, Poetry and tagged #1000Speak, 1000 voices speak for compassion,nurturing, Parenting.
Love poetry challenge ~ 10 lines, 4 words per line with LOVE in each one
Darla over at New World Mom nominated me for a little poetry challenge, which originated on Brickhouse Chick‘s Blog. You can read Darla’s beautiful response to this fun challenge here.
Initially, I thought it sounded like a fairly simple undertaking, but as I sat to write, it proved a bit harder than I’d anticipated! More than a few attempts were quickly tossed aside, especially after I took the time to read some of the other poems that had been written following the same guidelines.
I kept the three I hated the least 🙂
The rules are simple
•Write about love using only 10 lines.
•Use the word love in every line.
•Each line can only be four words long.
•Nominate others who are up for the challenge.
•Let them know about the challenge.
•Title the post: Love in Ten Lines
•Include a quote about love (this can be your own).
•You may write in any language.
Mi amor, mi amor,
baneful love, unsheathed weapon,
mortiferous love, piercing armor.
Love fails, love falls,
battlefield casualty, mi amor.
Your love, or mine,
one love must endure.
Mi amore lives on.
I’m sorry, my love,
mi amore lives on.
“Love is a battlefield” Pat Benetar
Sweetest love – unblemished, innocent,
untainted and virtuous love.
Love bestowed without expectation.
Love requited, without reservation,
without trepidation – pure love.
Intertwining hearts, palpable love.
New love, unparalleled enchantment.
First love, irreplaceable communion.
Such is the love
that teaches us love
“Love is a many splendored thing” William Waterway
You are my love
my true, forever love.
Our love sustains me,
our love contains me.
Your love is precious,
your love is sure.
Your love strengthens me,
your love surrounds me.
My love is yours,
my love is yours . . .
“My heart is, and will always be, yours” Jane Austin – Sense and Sensibility
The Enemy Within
