Monkey this in boyish skin

Fearless explorer he

Worries naught about the ground below

Or inevitable gravity

Ten feet off the ground, more!

Mother’s heart bracing

Fighting self, and letting go

of “certain” calamity

Tasmanian Devil, his pseudonym

Casually questions, “Momma-

Can tasmanian devils climb?” She doesn’t know.

But this one can, certainly.

High, he climbs, adventure-bound

Who knows what he sees?

Imagination, free to grow

Never caged, not he.

***

This week’s Popinjay photo prompt (and apparently poetry prompt) was “Caged.” Stop by Michelle’s for HER Caged photo (YOU’LL LOVE IT) and more.

(P.S. .. Sorry about the funny alignments.. I had to do it to keep it from running the paragraphs together.. it adds interest perhaps?)

Masks

~

The mask of love forgives and gives again

It overcomes the sinfulness of pride

Unselfishly it thinks not of itself

But love sees others through the Father’s eyes

~

The mask of grace is gentle and demure

The measure of a godly heart and soul

It’s ev’ry thought, intention, deed is pure

It seeks salvation as it’s highest goal

~

The mask of joy is more than laughs and smiles

It overflows with joy because of Christ

Despite the pain, the tears, the trials

True joy exists, abounds, the future’s bright

~

The mask you wear before the world today

Is yours to choose– choose wisely your display

~

The challenge this month for Pensieve’s Poetic License was to write an English Sonnet, with a theme of “masked.” WOW – that was a doozy! But I made it. It’s technically after midnight, but I haven’t gone to sleep yet so it still counts as Friday, right?

Hop on over to Robin’s for more PPL contributors!

Photo Credit: Travel Photo Blogging

God knows our names even before we’re born – I suppose that applies to kittens, too.

Poor little kitten, cattus vacuus a nomen… just ANY name won’t do.

Robin’s 4O-Words-Or-Less Photo Challenge centers around her daughter’s adorable little kitten-of-constantly-changing-names and their search for just-the-right-one! Visit Pensieve’s 40 PC for other entries, or if you’d like to throw a name into the hat as well!

Higher

I laughed into the wind, daringly, boastfully,

I laughed and tossed all caution aside.

I grabbed hold of the golden reigns

Of the silver cloud I was riding,

And allowed my dream, my whim, to carry me higher.

Is it cheating to use a poem I’ve written previously? Oh well, too late. I wrote “Higher” in April ’96, shortly before graduating from high school. I was 17 and, unlike most of my friends who could hardly wait to graduate, was fully aware that I was living one of the best years of my life and wanted to enjoy it rather than rush through it. Since this picture reminds me of that spring and the summer after I graduated (during which I made a few trips to a river spot with a rope swing,) I thought it fitting.

Friday’s 40-Or-Less Photo Challenge is hosted by Robin at Pensieve.

(P.S. I was never actually brave enough to swing ON the rope swing! I just SWAM there.)

God Bless!

These slithery slinks, cursed

Without legs, hugging the contours of her arm

Those fearsome fangs, hidden

Do they in secret intend her harm?

Cold-blooded creatures, symbols

Of man’s famous Eden fall

Now feared, loathed, stigmatized

Able to captivate, mesmerize, enthrall.

Friday’s 40-Or-Less Photo Challenge is hosted by Robin at Pensieve.

Eight-legged creature of creepy air

Beady eyes, fuzzy furry hair

You might say fiend, you might say friend –

Outside is fine, Inside.. his End.

(This goes out to every spider everywhere. Come in my house: beware, beware!)

Friday’s 40 Words or Less Photo Challenge is hosted by Robin @ Pensieve. Join us!