BRICK BY BRICK

It had taken
quite some time
to build that wall,
the one that
brick by brick,
shielded fragile emotions
from everything
and everyone.

And it became
so very comfortable
there in the dark.

Until . . . .
unbeckoned
and uninvited
and very slowly,
rays of light,
muted and subtle
at first and
unfamiliar
and unanticipated,
began to find
and infiltrate
the darkest corners
as brick by brick
the wall came down,
dissolving in
the warmth of the sun,
melting away
and exposing
the heart that
had been hidden
away for so very long.

And somewhere
between the sea
and the sky,
between the here
and there,
between the then
and now,
a voice silent
for so long
began to speak.
And the words
hidden behind that wall
and so very determined
to stay there
in that dark place
that had become so
uncomfortably comfortable,
began to find a voice
and spoke.
And those words
assumed a melody
and together they danced
across the pages of life
and into the sunlight.

(c) bak 12-14-10

Written for CPC "Poetic Playhouse/Four Walls Poetry."

The following link will take you to the My________ view (back in a bit with the Boomer view):

http://www.myspace.com/mom_holtz/blog/541226289

Tags: BarbaraK CPC PoeticPlayhouse Poetry

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I love these quirky Blogophilia themes. 

They certainly take my imagination outside of itself. 

I'm glad to be able to share

this week's quirkiness here with you.

***************

Blogophilia 42.3 Topic: "The Taste of Lime"

Bonus points:

(Hard, 2pts): Mention Purple Hair
(Easy, 1pt): Include a Black Haired Dancer

Final date to post: December 20th, 2010, GMT midnight

****************

LIME TIME

It might have been
the best of times
or the worst of times,
but it really was high time
for the show to begin,
lime time for
the show to begin.

Finally,
and not a moment too soon,
the lights dimmed,
and the din quieted,
and they jumped
up and onto the stage,
from nowhere, it seemed.
Not just one
black-haired dancer,
but two of them;
imagine that,
two black-haired dancers
spinning
and twirling
and jumping
at a dizzying speed.
My eyes couldn't even
keep up with them,
they were that fast.

So fast, in fact,
that by the time
intermission came,
we were ready
for whatever
they were serving,
anything to excite
our taste buds and
maybe quench our thirst,
key lime pie

and lime iced tea





and lime chocolate





and even just plain limes




on ice.

They certainly did the trick.
For that taste of lime
stayed with me
for the rest of the night
and by the time
the show was over,
the two black-haired dancers
had donned
locks of purple hair.

The evening was
definitely out of control.

But we survived.

And as we left,
we marveled once again
at how we had
not only withstood
the test of time,
but the taste
of lime as well.

An experience
not to be forgotten.

(c) bak 12-13-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for Blogophilia 42.3/"The Taste of Lime."

Guesses:

Theme

Liam

Picture

Joanie

Secret Phrases

Lime time, Liam time, prime time, boxed in,
little boxes, inside the box, break time,
away from the computer, away from my desk,
out to lunch, a day off, the test of time

The following link will take you there:

http://www.myspace.com/blogophilia/blog/541225203


*************

I hope this brings at least a little smile to your face and your heart.

Tags: BarbaraK Blogophilia Poetry Humor Citrus

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This week's BFF #77 (Blogging for Fun) "Inspiration"

"Dear Santa"





Dear Santa,

I am but a very tiny mouse
and though my voice
is so very small
my heart is
oh so very big.
But what can I say
in this letter to you
about what you can
bring me in that
big sack of yours
on this Christmas Day?

And as I think
about it again,
I do have so very
much to say
as we approach
this holiday
that means
peace and love
here and everywhere.

Santa,
you know my heart,
and there's nothing
I can think of
that I really need
right now,
nothing that I don't
already have,
except maybe
just one thing I can think of
and it's one I would share
if you brought it to me
along with the toys
to all the good little
girls and boys
and good little mice
like me.

Please, Santa,
bring to me and
my family and my friends
the peace of this season
to live in our hearts.
And if you brought
that present to me,
forever grateful
I would be and
I promise to share it
and pass it around
to everyone I meet
on this Christmas Day.

Thanks, Santa!


(c) bak 12-13-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for BFF #77 (Blogging For Fun).

The following link will take you to
the BFF "Inspiration" blog:

http://www.friendburst.com/group/bff/

This is what I love about the internet --
to be able to participate in things like this
wherever they happen to be posted.
I am blessed by my on-line friends
regardless of where on-line
they happen to be.

Thanks so much, Darlene, for all that
you continue to do for us in BFF
and I look forward to reading all of them.

~Barb~

Thanks so much for your precious comments
when you visit my page.


I'll certainly be catching up with yours.

Tags: BarbaraK BFF BloggingForFun Christmas Peace Santa

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Because I Must

With pen in hand
I start my day
as I try to think of
something to say,
words dancing about,
I try to round them up,
while staring
into my coffee cup.
Sometimes
they cooperate
and fall into place,
but often they don't
and I'm left staring
off into space.
I write what I see;
I write what I feel;
I write what I'd like to see
and how I'd like to feel.
And those unfocused thoughts
so often swirling about,
tapping on the windows
of my heart and soul,
I try to rein them in
as I contemplate
the day ahead,
the possibilities,
the choices,
the paths to take
here and there,
known and unknown.
And I write because I must,
so many things hidden away
and left unsaid for such a long time.
I write as a reminder to myself
that there is so much
yet to be seen,
to be experienced.
I write because
it makes me smile,
it makes me laugh,
it makes me cry,
it brings a song
to my heart.
And I write because
it is what is in
my heart and soul,
rough around the edges
but transparent enough
to know what's inside.

(c) bak 8-29-10

barbara kausteklis

Shared with Legacy Writers II
Koffee Klutch With Roses/"What is Poetry?"

The following link will take you there:

https://myboomerplace.com/groups/view/id_480/

Inviting you to visit and join and participate in each one of the Legacy Writer II groups. 

There are seven of them and I host the Friday one which posts on Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. Eastern Time -- "Friday Byways With Barbara K"

https://myboomerplace.com/groups/view/id_492/

Thanks so much to those who have already joined and participated in each of the groups. 

I look forward to participating every day.

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry LegacyWriters KoffeeKlutch Writing

10 comments View Entry

From My Heart to Yours

In this season of giving
what can I give,
something to give you
that says that I care?
Money or jewels
or other fancy things
wrapped up in boxes
and tied with pretty bows?
Another toy that you
don't really need,
just another thing
to put on the shelf
or stuff away in a drawer?
What can I give
that will last
throughout the year,
and not just for one day?

I've thought long and hard
about what it could be,
something from me
to put under the tree.
And now I know exactly
what I will give to you
something I won't even
have to put under the tree.

I give you a smile
and a cheery hello;
a hug to let you know
that everything's okay;
an encouraging word
to carry you along;
I give you a melody
straight from my heart,
a peaceful one
that you can hum along;
And I give you my love,
maybe the best gift of all,
and the only one I'd ever
hope for from anyone.
I wrap them all up
in the most special box
I can find and hand it to you,
from my heart to yours,
what I most want to share.

(c) bak 12-13-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for CPC "Magic Mondays/

The Magic of Giving."

This link will take you to the MySpace view of "Magic Mondays":

(Back in a bit with the Boomer view)

http://www.myspace.com/mom_holtz/blog/541209957

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry CPC MagicMondays Holidays Gifts

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The Candles:  A Simple Prayer

Holiday candles
burning bright,
I'm feeling
their warmth
within my heart
on this peaceful night.
And on this night
so filled with peace,
my prayer is lifted up,
a simple one and
one I can share
as I pray for healing
of a world so torn apart
by strife, riddled
with pain and fear.

And I pray that
peace continues
to grow within
my own heart,
infusing my spirit
with love and joy;
that what I say
and do each day
mirrors what resides
so deep within,
reflecting to a world
outside myself
what peace I'm
able to find inside
this heart of mine.

And I'm thankful
for this light,
these candles bright,
that guide my way
so I can see more clearly
what's outside of me.

(c) bak 12-12-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for Legacy Writers II "Sunny Sundays."

https://myboomerplace.com/groups/view/id_495/

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry LegacyWriters SunnySundays Peace

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"Crime Scene" by Juan Tobaru

THE LAST THING

Ink flowing crimson
pens dripping,
blood red and shed,
the spoils of war
heaped one
upon the other,
the music halted,
the oceans ravaged,
as even the angels
among us,
overwhelmed by
the inhumanity of it all,
the enormity of it all,
the criminality of it all,
shed bitter tears.

And we continue
on our relentless
course of self-
destruction and
brokenness,
oblivious to history,
lessons we could
have learned,
lessons we should
have learned
by now.

Instead . . . .
lives destroyed,
time wasted,
the earth ravaged,
and even angels
can only weep
as tears are
the only thing left.

(c) bak 12-11-10

Barbara Kausteklis

Written for CPC "A Simple Sunday" Featuring the Art of Juan Tobaru. 

The following link will take you there for information about the artist and poetry inspired by this particular piece, "Crime Scene."

http://www.myspace.com/mom_holtz/blog/541194216

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry CPC SimpleSunday

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With a Grateful Heart

With a grateful heart
I step into my day,
thankful for just one more
to place my feet on the floor
and take those steps
toward the light that I see.

I'm thankful for the simple things,
the birds that greet the dawn and me
with their melodies so bright and free.
I'm thankful for the simple words
that say so much in a basic way,
the way I like to begin my day.
I'm thankful for the love that's shared
without strings attached,
just free to be me.
And I'm thankful for the friends
who cross my path
and share a bit of themselves
as we pass through the day.
So many things I'm thankful for
that there's hardly room
to name them all;
suffice it to say,
it's the simple things
that I'm most grateful for.

(c) bak 12-11-10

barbara kausteklis

Written for Flexwriters Creative Network -- Saturday With the String Poet/Gratitude

The following link will take you there:

http://www.flexwriterscreativenetwork.net/forum/topic/120

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Flexwriters Gratitude Photography

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NESTLED IN RAINDROPS

The snows of winter
have finally begun to melt,
frigid cold giving way
to the new beginnings
and rebirth of spring,
crocuses poking through
the last vestiges of winter,
daffodils about to smile
in the sun as warmth
is restored to my soul.

And as the showers
of a spring day dissipate
in the afternoon sun
I catch sunbeams
nestled in raindrops
and hold them close
as they bring a smile
to my heart and
renewal to my spirit.

(c) bak 12-11-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for CPC "Saturday Sojourn/
Remember When It Rained."

The following link will take you to the My________ view:

http://www.myspace.com/mom_holtz/blog/541179494

Back in a bit with the Boomer view.

Thanks so much for your visits
and precious comments.

Tags: BarbaraK CPC SaturdaySojourn Poetry Photography Nature

8 comments View Entry