1
Still free-floating
from that star sprinkled night
This morning in a café
I saw the face of God
on a colourful postcard
He was winking
2
Counting the coins
before you throw them
into this gilded
wishing well
A mathematical exercise
in futility
3
Last night I wept
for days so long gone
The withered pages
of their history
have turned and curled with age
And I brief recalled
a smile on a lonely street
A rag-tag boy
who might have been a friend
but turned away
And memories become
nothing but cues
for necessary tears
4
I said
the devil made me do it
But that was perhaps
a little dark lie
Still it’s true enough
He influenced me
a little in his way
and that is perhaps
much the same thing
5
When darkness came
to this humble house
he wore a long dark coat
And he would smoke in the corner
contemplating his next
act of casual savagery
He had a handsome face
as evil often will
and the softest voice
like an angel fed on ash
And at last I felt his lash
And from there I knew
From there I knew
6
Steeples cut the sky
on a grey September morning
like a silhouette of a memory
of tragedies far away
This peaceful place
is slumbering
A giant resting
before he wakes and shakes
the trembling day
And high above the raven soars
to make an exclamation point
against the steeple’s knife
7
My best friend then
Had unruly hair
Like a physical reminder
Of her turbulent life
My best friend then
Had a deep despair
A creature apart
And was no man’s wife
My best friend then
Didn’t even care
Just a life lived on
A butcher’s knife
8
It’s the weekend so
I want to hug
the hours to me
like a favoured teddy bear
and stretch the time
of freedom and safety
across the two days
to make them feel
like forever
Let me kid myself
At least until
the night falls
on the Saturday sky
Let me believe two days
can last forever
at least until then
9
His words were brittle
on a dying breath
Winter was coming
over the nearest hill
treading on soft shoes
Crackling ice and chill
woken in his song
captured in icicles
on the grey of his beard
A reminder
The raven comes soon
on the waft of the wind
to take him away
10
Make me generous in my heart
If nothing else
I would walk upon this earth
With head held high
And how could this be
And how could I
If it wasn’t with a generous heart?
Make me kind in all my words
And make them true
I would do some little good
Before I die
And how could this be
And how could I
If it wasn’t through kindness in my words?
Make me caring in my soul
To all I love
I would warm another’s heart
Just let me try
And how could this be
And how could I
If I wasn’t caring deeply in my soul?
(c) Helen Valentina 2014, All Rights Reserved
This was a challenge to write ten new poems in 20 minutes that mindlovemisery made here: http://mindlovemisery.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/11-poems-in-20-minutes-and-house-update/
She in turn picked up the challenge from another talented blogger that she links to in her blog post.
It’s a fun exercise so I encourage others to give it a go! 🙂 🙂
helenvalentina 
Wow. You are like superwoman poet chick!
Thank you, that’s so kind!! 🙂 🙂
What a challenge! You aced it. 🙂
Thanks so much!! 🙂
Impressed. Is this the order in which you wrote them?
Yes, and they just occurred one by one with the first few words wafting into my brain for each time..an interesting challenge.. 🙂
These are outstanding Helen and they feel so personal and intimate! You are amazing to have written so much and then of such high quality in 20 minutes!
“And memories become
nothing but cues
for necessary tears” I loved this and also like an angel fed on ashes wow! This is going to be Sundays challenge on MLMM so make sure to link up!
Cool, will do!! Thanks! 🙂
Bowing down to your greatness, Sis!! Wow!! Since my brain has officially checked out poetically, I am even more in awe of your talent. What a great post to come back to. I have missed you!! Love & Hugs sent your way!!! 🙂 xxxxx
Thanks so much dear Sis!! 🙂 🙂 xxxx
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog….. An Author Promotions Enterprise! and commented:
Here’s a nice challenge for all you poetically proficient people (or even complete novices) out there – why not give it a go and link to Helen’s blog AND Mind love misery blog as well, then issue YOUR challenge at the bottom of YOUR post 😀
Thanks Chris!! 🙂 🙂
Wow, this sure beats my record of 10 poems in 3 1/2 years. Seriously, a beautiful set of songs. I may try the challenge. Thanks
Thank you so much!! 🙂 🙂 It’s a fun challenge so I’d encourage you to take it on, and please let me know if you do so I can read the result! 🙂
You NEVER cease to amaze me my friend! You are just so, so good!
Thanks so much, that is very kind!! 🙂