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dreams, Poetry, reflection, women writers, women's stories

Day 12 ProlificPulse Mo Po: a dream you’ve had in vivid detail through poetry.

Dreaming the House of Change © arlene s bice

Repeatedly, it began with my house
of early setting in
back wall completely blown away,
exposed
rooms crooked, uneven,
empty
reconstruction not working,
lopsided
a ramp leading to entrance
crumbling
weatherbeaten, life beaten
a vision of my marriage

this repetitive dream alerted me
change was coming
it did, each time.

general, Poetry

Day 11 ProlificPulse Mo Po: Capture the essence of a specific season or time of year in your poem.

Can it Be © arlene s bice

Along the roadsides dressed with hangings of wisteria
bunched together turning drab trees of sticks and bones
into scenes of beauty, heavy in the air is the musky scent,
it wafts in the window as I whizz by the fields, now green
never too busy am I, to ignore often passed over charm
can you possibly not feel or know the season revealed

Photo by Annie Spratt=unsplash

art, dancing, Poetry

Day 10 ProlificPulse Mo Po: a poem inspired by a work of art.

Albo’s Strauss Waltz© arlene s bice

‘twas a painting, a print really
in my Mediterranean dining room
hung over my stereo console
back in the early days
married, becoming an adult

a perfect union, one glance
created music in my head
dropped down to my heart
while the stereo was off
impossible to be sad, silent

added life to a dinner party
gaiety before mellowness
circled the table formally set
guests mentally share a waltz
strangers became friends.

Memoir, Poetry, women

Day 9 ProlificPulse Mo Po: Explore the theme of identity and self-discovery in a poem.

Who Am I © arlene s bice

Born as one person
transformed into another
by experiences, by love
by people who wandered
into my life, stayed, and
those who didn’t

I am the girl who refused
to remain in the mold
crashed through barriers
painful as it was, marked
hidden scars stay hidden
only results show

a name that identifies me
changed by marriage
changed again
returned to the original
feels good, comfortable
like coming home

the true self, the girl
is not to be hidden
she is still there.

general, love, Poetry

Day 8 ProlificPulse Mo Po: poem that centers around an encounter between two people shouldn’t really have ever met because

Stranger than . . . ©arlene s bice

I looked up to see him
across the crowded room
his eyes were set, baiting me

my aunt’s favorite tune
Some Enchanted Evening slid
into my mind, ran round and round

I slowly shook my head
to clear it, no help there at all
how could it be, I wondered aloud

as he crossed the room abuzz
low murmurs floating in the air
coming closer, eyes never leaving

mine until he was inches from me
glistening, burning into mine, all afire
What are you doing here, I whispered.

You are supposed to be 3,000 miles
away, I said. Not so, he huskily replied.
You are supposed to be 3,000 miles away.

And the years fell away. We were back at the beginning.

Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash

art, artists, food, Moving Away, Poetry, reflection

Day 7 ProlificPulse Mo Po: a poem that celebrates the beauty of everyday objects

Photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade on Unsplash

Downsizing© arlene s bice

It’s time, trim the sails, a last move, for sure
gone, the Toulouse Lautrec dinner set for eight

no need, daily life is different from ever before
changes are made, my new life settled by fate

adore the fancy new dishes, two of each design
cooking, eating less, use only luncheon plates

adjust, make life easier, all worked out fine
it’s fun to wash this crockery, they’re so pretty

and placed on the table with a glass of wine
next to the flatware, a journal, a book so witty.

love, Memoir, Poetry

Day 6 ProlificPulse Mo Po: feeling of falling in love through metaphor and imagery

Photo by Vanessa Serpas on Unsplash

It’s been a Long Time Since © arlene s bice

The lightness of walking, feet above the ground
as musical notes flitter around in your head
like butterflies
oh, yes I remember

impossible to keep a stoid, straight expression
smiles bubble over, announcing love to the universe
without saying a word
oh, yes, I remember

like a brush to an artist creating at a blank canvas
colors, movement, joy will burst off the surface
no effort at all
oh, yes, I remember

when that ethereal feeling of being in love is new
before tarnish, before tragedies, before the world
or the families try to tear you apart
is a time to build a steadiness, a fortress that lasts
a time to bond and let no one else enter your world
oh, yes, I remember.

American History, living with ghosts, Memoir, New Jersey history, reflection

Day 5 ProlificPulse Mo Po: the concept of time and its passage

There was a Time ©arlene s bice

Memories take me back to yesterday
tho yesterday was 70, 80 years ago
then, there was Hay-on-Wye, familiar
the beautiful woman, satin gown, jeweled
choking me awake at 3 a m, gasping for air
brings memories 700 long-time-ago, years
who was she, why did she show such hatred

more recently, 1600s in Massachusetts
my little cottage, Native American friend
strict laws, suspicions, unlawful disaster
memories still buried deep inside my spirit

a brief life as a young woman comes to mind
love of country, full of chaos, bullies in 1775

yes, it all seems like yesterday.

art, artists, dreams, France, general, Poetry, reflection

Day 4 ProlificPulse Mo Po: a poem of a place you’ve never been but long to visit


Photo mxx @unsplash

Off to France © arlene s bice

To the land of the Impressionists
to walk where they stood with easels
to create a new style of exquisite art
to enjoy plein air countryside beauty
to stroll in the gardens of Monet
to share a table, wine, talk of colors
to still feel the presence of Renoir
to sit with Cassatt and Morisot’s spirits
to see them linger as I would linger
to see Degas approach, bottle in hand
to be there, outside a Parisian café
where I once appeared in a former life.

dreams, Poetry, reflection, travel

Day 3 Prolific Pulse Po Mo Challenge: a poem that captures the essence of a favorite song.

photo thanks Alexander Mils@unsplash

Dreams Made, Hearts Bade© arlene s bice

My promises to you were filled
many rivers I’ve crossed
some more than a mile, some less
follow you I have; made my own way, too
loved the world seen, now mere memories
double rainbows appeared, brilliantly
you’ve taken me around the bend
my friend, Moon River to me.