Tag: poetry

Odyssey Part 3

This is the fifth edition in my series, published in Inhale the Night, Sleeping with Earth, an eBook released by Darcia Helle and Moments at Midnight.

Find part two right here. Part one here.

Odyssey

Image Source: Flickr (CC)

~

DEATH TO THE PATRIARCHY

was scratched into her three ring

notebook –

it was her small way

of chipping at the ceiling

while Mr. Lewis

rambled on –

another man,

self-absorbed,

omnipotent in his domain.

he could have geometry

for all she cared.

Odyssey learned better

Without distractions

Of which, there were too many –

Her grandmother didn’t understand

A teenage girl or

Think to speak

Instead of yell –

It was painful to go home.

It was painful to stay.

Jacie tore up bits

Of her eraser and threw

Them at Odyssey

Forcing her to turn around.

“Stop!” she yelled.

The class laughed

In unison.

“Odyssey, is there a

Problem?”

Her teacher asked.

She mouthed “nothing”

And he quickly moved

From sines to tangents.

Odyssey took a deep

Breath as her mother taught her.

It would be okay, and if not,

She had a rubber band to tie

Around a pen and nail …

for Jacie’s throat.

~

© Ben Ditmars 2021

~

Explore The End of Nights, Journey, and more.

Or read Part 4.

by Categories: end of nights, Odyssey, poetryTags: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Odyssey Part 2

This is the fifth edition in my series, published in Inhale the Night, Sleeping with Earth, an eBook released by Darcia Helle and Moments at Midnight.

Find part one right here.

Odyssey

~

The bell rang

As she rushed to

Fifth period –

Barely making it

Before Jacie,

Blond as she was popular,

Pushed Odyssey inside.

Mr. Lewis briefly

Looked but otherwise

Said nothing.

He always said nothing.

Like the memory

Her father left of a

Drowned body and

Ring left on the pier…

He remained as cold and lifeless.

She could feel the golden circle

In her jeans –

A gift her mother left

Before the virus got the best of her

Last June.

She couldn’t visit with

The hospital locked down

But she

Heard her voice crack over

Zoom calls.

Telling her:

“Stay beautiful

Like the light you are

And shine between us.”

~

© Ben Ditmars 2021

~

Explore The End of Nights, Journey, and more.

Or read Part 3.

by Categories: end of nights, Odyssey, poetry, UncategorizedTags: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Odyssey Part 1

This is the fifth edition in my series, published in Inhale the Night, Sleeping with Earth, an eBook released by Darcia Helle and Moments at Midnight.

Instead of writing every day for National Poetry Month, I thought I might give you this each week. Enjoy.

Odyssey

~

‘Her dad jumped off a bridge’

said the girl behind her back.

‘Her mother followed him

Crashing

with the Firebird’

Only half of it was true.

Her father jumped,

Leanne refused to follow.

She was immortal.

She was more than him.

She was the Firebird

reborn into a child

from the ashes –

skin and bones

a hungry heart

named Odyssey.

~

© Ben Ditmars 2021

~

Explore The End of Nights, Journey, and more.

Or read Part 2.

by Categories: end of nights, Odyssey, poetryTags: , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Coronavirus Haiku (With a Little Bit of Help From My Friends)

Sitting in my bed
YouTube and a Netflix are it
I have gained 10 pounds
- Nick Hindman


Dusting off haiku
Reticence, banished cadence,
Imagination
- Justin Bog


do i laugh or cry
do i try to read the news
do i cry or laugh
- Kimberly Beyers


Alone with my pets
I suppose I should be sad
Somehow I am not
- Cathy Clarke Sheets


I'm really bored, yo! 
My husband and I are cool; 
Our cat is less so...
- Jdr916


Stuck at work again
Frustrating Uncertainty
Ready to go home
- Danielle Thamasa
by Categories: collaboration, poetry, UncategorizedTags: , , , , , , , 3 Comments