https://thisfragiletent.com/2017/09/18/world-turned-upside-down-event/

As Big Tom soaks up morning sun
Mathilda flirts with everyone
Miss Kitty likes her milk from May
While Sandra's Minnie 'gets her way'
Youg Archie: bound to cause a stir
And Hector: rarely did he purr
But Flashy - he's much like our Son
Big boy entrances everyone
So on this morn - as felines trod
Salute the cats of Westbank Quad!

I am in a community
Where writing is a passion
Where we voice opinions
Through song and poetry

They may seem like scribbles
Scraps of paper
Utter nonsense
Madness
But we see as beauty
Fun and play with words

Others give support and advice
Share experiences that make us
Laugh and cry and smile
Some share stories about the past
Talk about the present
Wonder about the future

Maybe we may meet
Maybe we will always be hidden
By profile pictures we do not own
Maybe we met
But brushed each other off
Maybe we passed by
Maybe we once were known
But were forgotten
We will probably never know

Buzzing away
Day to day
The worker bee
Scouts, collects and creates
Life-giving nectar is what she makes
To the benefit of all

Suddenly, who do we spot?
It’s none other than queen mother!
Proudly she sits on her golden throne
With one or two a favoured drone
Although a femme-fatale she might be
It’s thanks to this coupling the bee can BE

Could we not learn from this?
Hers to hers and his to his?
Separate duties, yet part of the whole
Everyone plays an important role
Then no one would have to be left
To float about on their own, all bereft

Oh why instead, do we sting one another with our words and deeds?
And continue to focus on our solitary needs?

the most common question
that you may ask someone
is
how are you?
or
how's it going?
and i think that it's kind of
pointless
because
nobody ever
says anything other than
good
great
or fine
why do we ask questions
about other people
if we can't even answer it ourselves

i mean
i don't want to be a burden or anything
that's why i may choose
to say
i'm fine
even when i'm not

i find that we
as a community
ask
"are you okay?"
whenever somebody is crying
way more than we should
because i mean

i don't want to create a scene
so i'll
stop crying
and tell you i'm fine
i told you
i don't want to be a burden

i personally
find that the term
ish
works quite well
it's still not the full truth
but i'm not a burden then either

so i think we need to
either
stop asking
or
start answering
because life isn't always
good
great
or fine

A poet writes upon the heart
and sings among the shining stars,
each scribble painting portraits vast
as each mind hums and wanders past
their secret dreams and battle scars,
and turns thoughts into glorious art.

I cannot sleep
Or at least I choose not to
Until the sun breaks the horizon
I wake up to a typical ringtone
But sometimes my heart hurts
Like it used to when I smoked
And after 12 hours of rest
I can still barely open my eyes
I cannot convince myself that
There's a real reason to wake up
I am so alone aside from my love
That any social interaction crashes over my body with
guilt and embarrassment that have no purpose
I swallow a few conversations but they hurt
I miss the friends I used to have but I know
We changed so much it could never be the same

And through recent interaction
I realize how much I miss my community
Surrounding myself with those who understand
My fears
My pain
My experiences
Without me having to explain it
Validating my emotions and
Reminding me that I am allowed to feel the way I do
Simply because I do

Just a note to let all of you. My Hello Poetry friends, know how much I appreciate you reading and/or following my poems or posts for the past  5 years ( for some of you), Wow, the time has sure gone by quickly. Futhermore, you have all made such a positive impact on my life that I can not picture my life without you all in it. When I count up my blessings in life ,I count you all twice. You have been so nice to know! Thank You, so much for being part of this online community! You make a difference in my life and the lives of others too. Keep writing!
With Sincere Gratitude,
From Your fellow poet friend,
Ann M Johnson