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Michael R Burch Mar 2020
Such Tenderness
by Michael R. Burch

for the mothers of Gaza

There was, in your touch, such tenderness—as
only the dove on her mildest day has,
when she shelters downed fledglings beneath a warm wing
and coos to them softly, unable to sing.

What songs long forgotten occur to you now—
a babe at each breast? What terrible vow
ripped from your throat like the thunder that day
can never hold severing lightnings at bay?

Time taught you tenderness—time, oh, and love.
But love in the end is seldom enough ...
and time?—insufficient to life’s brief task.
I can only admire, unable to ask—

what is the source, whence comes the desire
of a woman to love as no God may require?

Keywords/Tags: Gaza, mothers, touch, tenderness, dove, shelter, wing, coos, sings, babies, fledglings, love, god
Rochelle Foles Mar 2020
THE SKY IS FALLING!

THE SKY IS
                       F
                         A
                            L
                              L
 ­                               I
                                ­  N
                                    G!

our sitch
                   at the moment
                   is quite the same

unless we are crying
                     WOLF! WOLF!




              thank u
               miss info
                dis-em-e-na-tor
                  donny j


    without whom
     we wouldn’t
                                     be standing
                                      under umbrellas
          with baren spines
           as the thunderous
                      angry skies
           fully open upon us



Presidential now, are we?
           Yoda would posit
To the game, late you are #45




THE SKY IS FALLING
as wall street is



              we
               shelter in place

               social animals that we are

     self isolate
     worry     catastrophize    ignore
    
     attempts to hold on


                  we
                   reach out to comfort
                                   to be comforted






get out your cards
throw the i ching
           the runes
program & grid your crystals


wash your hands
cover your mouth
maintain isolation
                social distance
daren’t cough
             sneeze
             touch

try not to breathe



                  thru all this
                   cling to sanity



         cuz baby


             looks like we just

                     stepped on the carousel
i rate write social commentary, but i joined in@amycuddy’s #allwritetogether isolation writing hour one day this week and after a year+ writers block scribbled this rough first draft.
absolutely welcome any instructive criticisms and ideas.  i’m totally out of my realm here.
thanks so much for reading!
Where Shelter Feb 2020
~

shelter,

*two arms,
a human lean-to,
a pup tent,
all with a
welcome mat,
for you,
awaits

with graceful patience
simpatico smiling,
always avail,
awaiting,
no life clock countdown
prematurely pushing,
come when
there is
no other place

all,
on offer,
shelter places
that become
your home,
if you so
honor them thus,
your choice,
your decision
when to come n' go

shelter you,
no questions asked,
cloak you, us, even me, all, with human warmth,
easy silences, no unforced errors of pressures

for when my arms
bear your load,
mine, halved
Ahmedabdrabo Mar 2020
Gather ye girls and boys
Hear the story of the island of misfit toys
When you got left for greater joys
When your voice is just a noise
When the loneliness wind blows
Leaving you tumbling on your toes
Turning your ones into zeroes
A quiet voice echoes
When things didn't go  as you have  planned
When you disband
Sail through the sea and cross the sand
Till you reach our island
We welcome the toys of all shapes and colors
Even if running on different powers
Have a chair and some lemonade
Here we care here we share
Our joys and despair
Embracing our faults and never ask for repair
Euphrosyne Mar 2020
Haven't you noticed
That you're my haven
All of my thoughts
You were there saving

You're so beautiful
I should make you my shelter
Don't listen to them
So many people but you're so much better

Leave them all negativity
They're so much insecurity,
Honestly,
When I'm with you I feel security
I love your purity
Be my sanctuary
And I'll show you
My love don't worry

My sanctuary,

Hear me out
Or should I shout
I am devout
And I won't bail out.
Diane you know it's for you. You're my sanctuary. Do not leave me okay? Please?.
Ira Desmond Feb 2020
I spotted a gull flying over the bay
not more than a foot ‘tween her wings and the waves,
with feathers unfurled, flap and flail as she try,
she hadn’t the strength left to climb toward the sky.

I spotted a gull flying over the trees,
unable to fight the northwesterly breeze,
he tottered while gliding, unsure of his route,
completely resigned now to be blown about.

I spotted a gull in the jaws of a shark,
his hollow bones breaking, with blood running dark.
His face was of shock now, amid razor teeth;
how could he have known what was lurking beneath?

I spotted a gull on a rock, old and frail,
her beak nestled close to protect from the gale,
alone on a cliff ringed by thundering sea.
I wondered what plans fate was making for me.
Gemma Davies Feb 2020
Eyes that show you "I will love you forever"
Eyes that tell you “I am smart and clever”
Eyes that say “My love has no end”
Eyes that ask you “Will you be my friend?”
Eyes that show you "I want a lap to rest in"
Eyes that beg you "Please tickle my chin"
Eyes that want to be chosen and cared for
Eyes that stare at the shelter door  
Eyes that remain hopeful as you decide
Eyes that tell you “I will stay by your side
Eyes that say “I’d like space to roam”
Eyes that ask you “Can you give me a home?”
Eyes that beg you “Please pick me”
Eyes that show you how happy you can be!
A poem for the Oahu SPCA
Elemenohp Feb 2020
What lie in your home,
In corners, undisturbed.
Are there thoughts, feelings, of things unknown,
Or one's that may preturb?
Have you ever felt a draft blow through;
That shiver of regret.
Or is your heart hidden from outside view,
Unseen, by even you.

Saftey in shelter, in secrets kept,
I see you, tall and proud.
I also peer through veil and shroud,
Seeing loss for which you've never wept.

How can you expect, to be love adept,
Shunning all feelings which have crept.
Gabriel burnS Jan 2020
а може би през зимата дърветата цъфтят, но наобратно
ей така, невидимо
под почвата
дълбоко стиснала клепачите
улегнала във сънища за топлото

и там съвсем наяве
измежду стените на дома им
скрити за очите на света и чуждото
под завивки и завеси
цветовете им се сбъдват

* * *

And maybe trees in winter blossom backwards
Just like that, invisibly
Beneath the soil
That deeply clenches eyelids
Set in dreams of warmth

And there awoken truly
Between their walls of home
Hidden from the world’s foreign eyes
Within the sheets and curtains
Their colors come embodied
translation
I saved a person today
She walked down the corridor
I was jumping in my cage
Maybe I could get her to adore

I tried to hide my mess
That was left in the back and such
But I had no choice
I don't get out of here much

I saved a person today
As she looked at my face
I didn't know what to do
So I sit down in place

The humans love the puppies in here
They don't hang around long
My humans died in a car crash
And I was left all alone

I can do tricks and go outside
I can sit on your lap when you cry
I can bark at the door
I will always be by your side

I know I'm just an old dog
But I'll love you forever and always
I'll even watch TV with you
I'll can fetch and play all day

I saved a person today
And she carried me to the car
I can walk on a leach
I can make a new start

I saved a person, you see
And that human saved me


© 2020  Michael Messinger(All rights reserved)
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