BRANCHING OUT

On 6 April 2016 By Walter J. WojtanikIn April Poetry Month, Challenge, Ekphrastic (Form), Life, Love, Poetic Asides, Through the Eyes of a Poet's Heart, Walt's Heartflashes - PoetryLeave a comment

Her heart sought to find new vistas,
a chance at romance that has until now
eluded. She was astute at judging her suitors.
But she had become stagnant, firmly rooted
in the life she had accepted, love being
her exception. Her wish was to let her tendrils
reach outward to all corners of her world
hoping to grow strong with desire.
A woman of means, just a girl at heart
looking for a place to start branching out.

Inspired by “Roots” by Frida Kahlo

Poetic Asides April Poem-A-Day Challenge 2016 – Day 6: Ekphrastic Poem

I ♥ GOLUMBKI (Gołąbki)

On 6 April 2016 By Walter J. WojtanikIn April Poetry Month, Challenge, Food, NaPoWriMo 2016, Poetry, Polish, Through the Eyes of a Poet's Heart, Walt's Heartflashes - Poetry4 Comments

Stuffed cabbage rolls;
pigs in the blanket
over mashed potatoes?
You can bank it.

Of all the ethnic food
that I was raised on,
golumbki was always
what I grazed on.

Ground beef and rice
comprised the filling
smothered in sauce,
oh, so thrilling.

Make me a plate
and slip me utensils,
erect me a billboard
lettered with stencils:

I ♥ GOLUMBKI!

NaPoWriMo 2016 – Day 6: “Food”

BATTLING DEMONS

On 6 April 2016 By Walter J. WojtanikIn Altered States, April Poetry Month, Challenge, Ekphrastic (Form), Father, Haibun (Form), Life, Poetic Asides, Through the Eyes of a Poet's Heart, Walt's Heartflashes - PoetryLeave a comment

Michelangelo's First Painting — Michelangelo’s First Painting

We wage this war all our lives, from the day we’re born until we die. And try as we might, the fight for right tends to have the upper hand. We can stand toe-to-toe and know we gave it our all and yet still fall prey to our temptations or afflictions or addictions.

The greatest warrior I had ever known had shown me how to attack the “demons” in life. Unfortunately wielding the brown bottle, my role model had fallen deep into the alcohol abyss scratching and clawing to extricate his soul for his well being and that of his family. His flank unprotected, Dad was subjected to a counter attack. Cirrhosis of the liver sacked him while his back was turned. Then we came the fatal blow as we learned that cancer joined the barrage bringing a larger than life hero to his knees. No pleas of mercy could save him.