Lies too Deep

Another February Album Writing Month (FAWM) prompt. Time limit is one hour. This one took me around 10-15 minutes. I must have had some serious stuff laying deep. :) No way to work on the music now. I'll edit later. 

Lies too Deep

Lies too deep

Do you really want to go there?

Fully grown, now buried

Let them continue to lay there.

Buried deep where they need to be.

Buried deep so you can sleep.

Tell one lie then need to tell another

To cover the first.

And so it goes,

Lies growing lies.

Starts like the falling snow,

First one you tell is white,

Just a small little thing

Then you add another

Next thing you know the snow is deep.

Lies too deep

Do you really want to go there?

Fully grown, now buried

Let them continue to lay there.

Buried deep where they need to be.

Buried deep so you can sleep.

You try digging out

Grab that shovel

Instead you build a fortress

Built with more lies.

When the snow melts 

Into the thirsty earth

It's too late to take back what's been said

No matter how you try to

Block the gutter.

Lies too deep

Do you really want to go there?

Fully grown, now buried

Let them continue to lay there.

Buried deep where they need to be.

Buried deep so you can sleep.

Lies too deep

You try again to take them back

There's too many layers

Laying too deep.

 

© 2023 Sue Schnitzer

ROCKS - photo prompt

At a poetry workshop. A good way to start the weekend.

The lesson:

Paint, meditate, visualize,

Ask the painting "what is your story?"

And the words will come through.

Try not to think inetllectually.

An aside: Anger serves no one.

Anger serves no one.

Except?

Maybe you need that moment

To let it out.

Then calm down,

Mediate

And rewrite your story.

—-----------

THE POEM

Rocks

Rocks,

Many are submerged,

Some rest in the sand on the bank,

Soaking in the sun,

Free from the water,

for now.

Smoothed by wind

and age,

They remind me of my grandmother's face

It was smooth, then rough,

then softened over time.

When she died her face

looked as beautiful

as it did

when she was twenty.

I wonder,

Did these rocks begin smooth

then roughen

and grow smooth again?

In and out of water

with the seasons.

Rain, snow, wind, sun,

Bare feet, hiking boots, sneakers, flip flops.

Treading across their surface.

Walking across time.

I shift my gaze and notice

snow capped mountains reflected in the lake.

They streak across the surface,

like they're trying to touch the rocks

But they disappear into the depths

in the middle of the lake.

Blue sky, a few white clouds.

Blue water, green surface, yellow buds,

Brown rocks soaking

White and gray rocks sunbathing.

How old are they?

How big did they get?

How small will they become?

Will they be here forever?

How long do they think forever will be?

 © 2023 Sue Schnitzer

Happy Anniversary

 Usually when I write it is about more than just me. This one is 100% about me. Interesting that I chose to write it in second person though. Hm.

Today is February 17.

  The date triggers my brain.

Ah, yes, you were married on February 17th,

this is your anniversary.

It was a happy day,

Sunny,

Picture book weather.

You woke up in the bridal suite.

  so much space for just one person.

Went for a morning run,

  saw your fiance as he returned from his short run.
  laughed and waved.

Your mother and a friend helped you

  put on the white dress

  navigate your way to the

  reception room.

During photos grandma collapsed.

Your boss called for an ambulance.

Medics came, 

They didn't seem overly worried as they put her on the stretcher

  to bring her to the hospital.

She was coherent,

Gramps stayed, the ceremony went on

  as planned.

Such a fun party,

Dancing with your husband, your dad, your mom,

Holding onto the wheelchair and dancing with gramps.

You were happy, 

Your mom was ecstatic

Your dad beamed

Your husband smiled.

Happy memories.

February 17th,

  the date is etched into your brain,

It's been ten years since you last

  went gift shopping,

  thoughtfully wrote in a card,

  sealed it with a kiss.

These days, 

  you notice the date

  on your laptop or phone,

Maybe briefly reminisce,

Maybe smile, 

Maybe sigh,

And go back to what you were doing.

These days,

February 17 is just another day.

This year it is a Friday. 

Did you get married on a Friday?
Probably not.

Must have been a Sunday.

You'd think you would remember,

  but maybe you really have

    moved on.

© 2023 Sue Schnitzer

End of Life

This one is rather dark. 

End of life.

Actively dying.

Nausea and black vomit. 

Learning about things

I need to know

  and wish i didn't.

There's no way to predict time.

No way to predict number of steps and depth of symptoms.

The only knowns are

  Death will come

  when it is ready.

  And you don't get to know death

  until it arrives.

Morbid thoughts

  or confronting reality?

That is up to the patient and caregivers

  and their current state of mind.

© 2023 Sue Schnitzer