The turmoil of this world will not diminish
the beauty of the earth we call Gaia
nor will it dampen the spiritual heart
though the fear of the unknown harbors
doubts, remorse and pain the sun will rise
to reveal clarity of what is tangible
Image Taken From Public Domain Photos & Digitized As Art
Dreams live within our sleeping hours
touching our waking time
some slightly caressing
barely touching
while others create undulating pain
creating harbingers of fear
of longing and want
all innately attached to spirits
woven tightly inside our souls
like tiny invisible creatures
tugging and pulling
this way
and that
whispering changes in our ears
then shouting in our faces
when we refuse to hear
leveling the playing ground
like a bulldozer
passing through
for change always prevails
beginning as a dream
touching our skin
like a wisp of breeze
© February 2019 Renee Espriu
Photo Taken From Public Domain Pictures & Created As Art
Within the landscape of time are
the shadows of war residing
casting doubts of fear
over hope filled integrity
for if I could but ease the pain
& erase the memory of horror
that slices through hearts
once laden with joy
I would
but there will always be those
who seek righteousness loaded
with weapons of destruction
their efforts devoid
of compassion
and soldiers who participate
on the battlefields of wars
whether at home or across seas
will carry scars always
and if it were possible within
me as a wordsmith to pen a poem
of salve and healing
I would
so that children may once again play
on peaceful soil under watchful eyes
of mothers and fathers
who can rest assured
of a tomorrow
filled with the spirit of love
& that fireworks will be celebration
& not the deafening voices
of bombs falling
for my soul cannot rest within me
until the vision of the universe
is the essence of peace shining
like an infinity of stars
the threads of woven fabric
like none that has ever been made
containing naught of the shadows of war
but a humanity of peacemakers
the gardeners sowing
seeds for the
future
© August 2017 Renee Espriu
This is in response to Jamie Dedes’s Wednesday Prompt. Please read more poets responses at https://jamiededes.com/2017/08/09/do-not-make-war-a-poem-and-your-wednesday-writing-prompt. The photo below was taken from the Morgue File and digitally altered by myself.
The cityscape is laden with concrete and asphalt
groaning under yesterday’s fast food containers
trying to shrug off the pain of broken bottles
unable to push aside the remnants of plastic
the vacant lots with vacated buildings accrue it
this wasteful epitaph to scientists who discover
ways in laboratories to make our lives easier
but there he is with an unknown name to me
that I see walking along the side of the road
broom and dustpan in hand cleaning again and again
pulling scraps of litter from beneath the shrubs
he is determined that this small stretch he walks
will not be left neglected on his watch even
though his back is bent and age follows him
the shrubs will bloom and the trees leaves unfold
in thanks to this man they are honored to know
and the birdsong will sound as insects visit
knowing he cares and they are loved
© 2016 Renee Espriu
This was first posted on Jamie Dede’s site The Bezine at https://thebezine.com/project-type/the-bezine-vol-3-issue-2-november-2016/page. Please visit there to read more very thoughtful posts.
Photo Taken From Morgue File & Digitized by Myself
my muse hides
in pearl drops of ink
waiting to make a splash
turning into
an indelible mark
solidifying thought
but she casts no shadow
running down
the window pane
now becoming
rivulets of tears
pools of pain
to which I bring her
within my grasp
once more
pooling each tear
each pearl drop
in solidified thought
© February 2014
Renee Espriu
Image Taken From Morgue File
visualize whatever                             
it takes to
BREAK DOWN the pain
to soothe you
see the ocean’s salty
 brine and feel the
WIND bring it
back to you
catch the rainbow’s
glistening
SHINE in colors
capturing you
fantasize of angel
wings and feel
WRAPPED in a
softening of you
visualize whatever
it takes to
BREAK DOWN the pain
to soothe you
visualize another
place outside
fantasize too
UNRAVELING the pain
will soothe you
© June 2012
Renee Espriu
My granddaughter has been having a myriad of health problems for some time now. At the age of 16 Samantha has known what it is like to not always be well, especially as her mother has Lupus, but now she too is not well much of the time. She was born with Psoriasis, which is not at all common, but now has been diagnosed with juvenile Fibromyalgia. Her next appointment will be to discern the funtion of her thyroid, which seems not to be working. She is a positive young woman and a joy in my life and will need to adjust how she does life a a very young age. I love you Sammie!
three years today not
tomorrow giving rise to
yesterdays filled with
sorrow and trepidation
angst beating against
us like rain drops to
pelt out songs of dismay
pain like no other
causing us to walk in
our own shadows trying
to keep the pain at
bay until another
day and still the rain
came down to wrap us
secure in the fashion
meant for bringing forth
life and love with
emotional passion
we wept in silence an
effort to be brave
standing fierce against
the onslaught of a
disease rending
you mute most days
covered in blankets
against the inner chill
freezing your blood
a prisoner your will
three years today not
tomorrow giving rise to
yesterdays filled with
sorrow and trepidation
we are unbelieving now
the sun doth shine an
unbridled warmth we
walk among the living
cautious to walk forth
secure in our hesitation
did it really ever
happen that cancer
took our lives now we
took them back again
© May 05, 2012
Renee Espriu
This is dedicated to a woman who, when diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer, took her faith and belief that all would be well and fought to overcome and now three years later is cancer free. Her faith and fierce determination carried her through.
a shower FALLS down           
over her
much like being
captured beneath the
thundering FALLS
high on a mountain top
but hot enough to
sooth away the pain
a permanence that
permeates her body
after a day of
living life every
day of her life
she closes her eyes
 letting water drops
run down her face
her hair in
rivulets
expanding awareness
but never giving
answers of a time
without pain and
she smiles
“but is sad to think
of people whose
lives are cut
short”
by disease, by the
bullet sent forth
from a soldier’s gun
of the gun on the
streets of an
inner city
lives created and
barely breathed by
tiny infants or
those without
lives
enclosed in a world
of mental illness
a life inside
their own mind
a prisoner
she sighs and breathes
deeply because
pain can be lived
with, can be part
of a life
tomorrow will come
again rain or shine
as she relishes
the quiet
letting the shower
wash away the pain
her spirit rising
beneath the
WATER’S FALL
© April 2012
Image by Artist Donald Zolan
Sleep come take her to
hold in your arms like
a passionate love who
will wipe away the tears
of pain and despair to
wrap around her a warm
embrace to quell her
trembling there to frame
her face with her long
dark hair as a portrait
of innocence reposing so
now sleep come take her
© September 2011 Renee Espriu
Dedicated to all mothers or those who have loved ones they have watched in pain when they are not well and want and hope only that it cease so that a peaceful sleep can overcome.
reneejustturtleflight.com 