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Deborah Hawkins, penned Debra Renée Byrd, began writing after a blank book project in elementary school and never stopped, fashioning stories based on her favorite TV shows and movies before creating more original works. She studied at the University of the Arts and Florida State University before settling down and graduating from Temple University. She now resides in her hometown of Dover, DE, where she spends most of her time at work or at church. She loves fantasies, superheroes, is a trekkie and a brown coat. She loves television and lives for Final Fantasy video games, having collected most of them. She has read a myriad of authors, and her favorite authors change whenever she finds a new book that changes her life... "When you can't run, you crawl. When you can't crawl...well, you know the rest." -Tracey, Firefly, "The Message"

Monday, April 30, 2012

Poem-A-Day #30 Fading

OH! We're done. Thank God.

Closely I followed her
Down the street we used to tread
Through the fields where we once played
To the store where we last fought
She stood in the aisle and cried
But as I reached for her
My hand could no longer comfort
And she straightened, wiped her eyes
And walked away

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Poem-A-Day #29 Previously...

Take a line from a previous poem this month and make a whole new poem.

She had taped her wings down
Curled herself into a ball
Tucked her face into her lap
Closed her eyes
And wished the world away

Now she will open her eyes
Lift her head
And tear the tape away
Today she learns to fly

Poem-A-Day #28 Problem

Not to be confused with trouble?


My problem with poetry
Is that I can't think of
Things to say that will
Interest anyone but
Myself

Poem-A-Day #27 The Trouble Is...

TWO DAYS. I can't wait for this challenge to be over. I'm getting a D in it.

The Trouble Is Me

I let so much slide
Keep so much in
That once I am fed up
I burst and you
Are part of the wreckage

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Poem-A-Day #26 Animals

Cats

These bitches
Think they own
the world

Love me
Rub me
Feed me

Is that salmon?
I don't eat salmon
Pate?

What the hell?
No thanks
This couch is wonderful

Clean my pee
Oh wait,
I have to poo.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Poem-A-Day #25 Sports

Sports Entertainment

The fights
The high-flyers
The heavyweights
Pin falls
Submissions
Tables
Ladders
Chairs
Oh my
Drama and promos
Pyrotechnics
And flame
All to make
A Champion

Poem-A-Day #24 Love/Anti-Love

Two for Tuesday was (big surprise) missed.

To frown when you
see others kissing
and holding hands
Is to remember
when last you did
the same

Monday, April 23, 2012

Poem-A-Day #23 Morning

Six a.m.
Comes too soon
For someone who
Lays down
at twelve.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Poem-A-Day #22 Judging

To judge
is to be

And those
who claim
not to
Lie
For when
you say you
do not judge
Aren't you
judging those
who do?

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Poem-A-Day #21 Under the microscope

Being under the microscope...Okay. I've added the themes for each day in the main titles. I finally felt like it.

Every day they watch me
Eyes friendly
Minds judging
I'm young and I'm bored
I don't know what I want
They wait for me to drop the ball
Little do they know
I've taped it around my wrists
And will not fail

Friday, April 20, 2012

Poem-A-Day #20 Let's...

I'm sorry, I probably should've started putting the theme into the title, but I don't think that way. Now it's too late to turn back...or I just don't want to.

Today's theme: "Let's..."

Let's Slow Down

Just pump those brakes
Soak in the moment
And breathe
No need to rush
Speed won't change
the destination
You'll just miss
everything you passed
to get there

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Poem-A-Day #19 Life Events

So many to choose from for a theme about life events! Let's go with recent.

Sweet, cold nectar
Warming my chest and
melting my mind
You make me want to dance
To any and all
Rhythms and colors
Hips moving
Independently
Eyes turn and widen
I don't do this
Free of inhibitions
It feels good now, but...
I'll regret this in the morning

Poem-A-Day #18 Favorite Regional Cuisine

I fail. I missed yet ANOTHER day. But this should be an interesting poem. My favorite regional cuisine...

My favorite regional cuisine?
Dios mio, tengo dos!
Ni?? Hai!
Rice, arroz, kome
fried or sticky
In a shell or
una tortilla o...
seaweed? Kawaii!
Meats and seasonings
of all flavors and portions
Cooked and sometimes not
Sauces Americanized or
Autentico mejicano o
Watashi wa sushi ga ii desu
Molé, Wasabi
Todo delicioso
Itadakimasu!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Poem-A-Day #17 Pick one

Two-for-Tuesday. I think it's either or?

1. Sci-fi
2. Fantasy

She had taped her wings down
so no one could see
There hadn't been a flyer
In a thousand years
And when the Overseers
Found feathers on the ground
They would find the Potential
And cast Fire to their wings
Only one had gotten away
And he had begged her to go
To the town of flyers
Over the wall
Now she wished she had followed

Monday, April 16, 2012

Poem-A-Day #16 Mixed up

I'm quite sleepy, but I don't want to miss today.  The theme is "Mixed-up"...

They're in your pocket

My alarm clock was set for pm
Why is the water cold?
This milk expired last week
You were supposed to buy more toothpaste

Whose shoe is this?
I didn't move them
Don't worry about the tv
Just eat some cereal
Did you pay the electric bill?

I was supposed to wake up two hours ago
Just use some baking soda
I forgot I bought these shoes

Where are my keys?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Poem-A-Day #15 Use these 5 words...

slash, button, mask, strap, and balloon

The scars from the strap
That Father used over
And over
I wear a mask to hide that pain
But when I button my coat,
Go outside,
And slash your tires
I will return to pop your balloon
And correct your thought
That my daddy issues,
Not you,
Were the one who made me mad

Poem-A-Day #14 Doomsday

So, my excuse for missing yesterday was my first hangover, a 3-hr Zumbathon, and a 2-hr rehearsal. I could be dead right now, but there for the grace of God go I.  That's such a pretty phrase.

Yesterday's theme: DOOMSDAY

Enter into the joy, servant
Well done
Your bomb shelter, never used
Freeze-dried food, what for?
I had it covered
But you knew
Because you read my Word
And though you missed the first train
You remembered me
And held onto my name
So I am returning for you
There is the trumpet
Your suffering here was not in vain
That house on the road of gold
Belongs to you

Friday, April 13, 2012

Poem-A-Day #13 Tanka for Friday the 13th

Today's poem could also be entered into a challenge within the challenge. For the PAD, it had to be an unlucky poem.  For the other challenge, it had to be Tanka.

Tanka for Friday the 13th

The day of which most
Fear to speak and I can say
Honestly it has
Never bothered me one bit
It is my favorite day

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Poem-A-Day #12 Something...

Were these all supposed to have titles, because I didn't notice until now.

Something New

I'm tired of borrowed
Old? Well, that's in the past
I said I left blue behind
  a long time ago
So, where is my something new?
I'm watching and waiting
Aware of the alone
Time for the white
And the flowers of the future
I awake for the new
  to become part of now

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Poem-A-Day #11 Seasons

Ironically, today's prompt is about the seasons.

Spring

Beautiful sky, pale and wispy
Budding leaves and songs of birds
But the chill in the air
The bite of the breeze
Duplicitous

Poem-A-Day #10 A Tree, A Forest, Both?

By the time I got home, the Two-for-Tuesday had slipped my mind.

Theme: A Tree or A Forest or a Metaphor Separating the Two...I hate nature poems. -_-  I'll dedicate this one to Game of Thrones.

The trees with the faces
Gods of old
Who dared cut them down?
They cannot hear when we pray
From the South
But to run so far North
When Winter is coming
A crimson leaf crushed on the road
The gods were with us

Monday, April 9, 2012

Poem-A-Day #9 Shade

Let me try to do this in 5 minutes, so it's still the correct day.  Haiku?

Theme: Shadiness

Humility on the surface
Insincere within
We see you

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Poem-A-Day #8 Rejection

Rejection

Dear Sleep,

Thank you for your interest.
However,
I feel that you did not display
All of the qualities
For which I am looking at this time.
I may look into your resume
For future use
If the matter of needing to
Close my eyes becomes dire.
At this time,
I feel there are other applicants
Whose resources I can
Put to better use.
Again, I thank you,
And I apologize.

Sincerely,
A tired procrastinator

Poem-A-Day #7 Interaction sans Speaking

I missed yesterday somehow, but it was a long day. The theme was "A scene where people interact without actually speaking..."

He peeks around the bookcase

Fingers twitching
Today he will speak to her

She smiles to herself
He always sneaks around
When she is in

He takes his steps
Forward, down the aisle
And stands behind her

His soap is thick
His breath is soft
She pretends he's not there

But pulls her hair to one shoulder
And bows her head for a closer read
He freezes, licks his lips, and steps closer

Friday, April 6, 2012

Poem-A-Day #6 Hiding

Hiding

One starts counting,
and the rest scatter

Through the room
underground

The other slides beneath

Another slips away

The third panics
Nowhere to go

But she is the one
They will never find

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Poem-A-Day #5 A Time before My Time

Today's theme...a time before my time.

All I did was turn him away
He seemed to be a nice gentleman
And yet here I stand
Before the Constable and the town

I did nothing
I spoke no words
He is in no trance
His pride is but bruised

But I must burn?

My ankles are bare
But because I grew an inch
During the summer
That makes me not a Pagan

I am just a child
Mother, stop your wailing
And cut these strings from my wrists
The flames, how they hurt

Papa, do something!

Dear Lord in Heaven
I beg you to strike these devils
The smoke, how it chokes me
They call my screams chants

If I could
They would all know my wrath
And yet I have none
I am but a girl who refused a man

Put your fingers down
And help me

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Poem-A-Day #4 100%...

100% Black

A reader
A writer
A rockstar

Sit at the piano
Pick up the guitar
Como la flor

Books by Donne
Looks by none
Tunes by all

Ostracized
Not alone
There are others

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Poem-A-Day #3 Apologies

If the first poem said anything about who I am, this one...tells you I'm a bit of a bitch...I apologize.

No, that's today's theme. (wink)

Apologize?
What for?
I say how I feel.
If you can't take the heat
Walk your happy tail
Out of my kitchen.
Honesty is the best policy.
Yes, I chopped down
That cherry tree.
It was ugly and attracted bugs.
And?
You should thank me.
Isn't your life better now?
I think you should apologize
For getting so upset.

Poem-A-Day #2 Visitor

Yesterday's theme was: Visitor

I'm just passing through
No need to look at me
I'd actually
Appreciate it
If you didn't even talk to me

I'm trying to hide behind this tree
It's a little taller than I expected
How the hell'm I supposed to
No, I can't climb it
I came up short

Some dude at the top
Right hand side
Is smiling down at me, though
He waved
I feel better

Well, it's okay if he sees me

Poem-A-Day #1 - Communication

I received my Weekly (Daily? Seems that way) Writer's Digest e-mail today and learned that the Poem-A-Day challenge started...two days ago.

WELL, I don't write poetry often--most of the time my poetry sucks--but I decided I would give it a try this year. The theme for Sunday was "Communication". So, here is my Poem Day 1.Also, as this is my very first blog entry, I think it says a lot about the sick and twisted little person that I am. Enjoy.

Hello? Are you there?
Nah, of course you're not.
You don't even know I exist.
And I have no clue where you are.

So when are we meeting?
Will it be that fateful Summer day
Where I finally decide to leave this house?
Be a beach crab, not a hermit?

Did you like that?
I bet you're laughing right now
And aren't sure why.
Tell those people to stop staring at you.

You're beautiful.
Whoever  you are.
I'm cute, so I think you'll notice me.
Was that conceited?

But I bet you like that.