From home to Home by Toni Cross

Right now, my husband and I are in the process of watching his beloved Grandmother slowly slip from this world into the next. The night before last, as I sat up in her hospital room, listening to her labored breathing, the following words came to me.

 

As the space between breaths lengthens

So the space to eternity shrinks

Here death does not steal or stalk

But waits as a plain and welcome bridge

Love dwells both here and there

A shining figure silently beckons

The journey is but from home to Home

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Inside Herself, by Toni L.A. Cross

 

Dancing queen of dirges

Silent sage of song

Fighting instinctive urges

Saying right is wrong

 

She drifts in darkest corners

From one cobweb to another

She lives among the mourners

Beginning to finally smother

 

Canned personality purges

Bleached and on a shelf

In moodiness she splurges

Reclusive in herself

Seemingly… By Toni L.A. Cross

 

If death is but the means

To a glorious end

Then is the scythe my foe

Or a dark cloaked friend?

This knife poised above

Seems ready to kill

Yet my heart is waiting

Despite the silent chill

And if the very night

Is hiding beauteous gain

Then is it really dreadful

Or something to obtain?

For exquisite things

Are born of deepest woe

And ultimate perfection

Might soon be set aglow

Death… By Toni L.A. Cross

Death

Distant prospect

Yet always near

Sniffing about

My loved ones dear

Death

Horrid shadow

Clinging with doubt

Reaching corners

And poking about

Death

I defy you

With power not mine

Life within me

Peeks out to shine

Death

You lose

In the ultimate end

I hold the trump card

My Eternal Friend

Yael Poetry Collection: Monday Poetry Potluck

This collection of poetry is based on the story of Yael (also known as Jael). You can find the full account here and here.

I wrote these for Jingle’s Poetry Potluck. Please be sure to check out all the wonderful entries by other participants.

Yael: Queen of the Wild Goats

A goat has a crown of polished horn

Wild weapons with which they are born

Yael was one of them

A lone gazelle, a raw stone gem

He barged into her inner tent

The frail veil of decency was rent

Destiny  clutched in her callused hand

Submit to fate or take a stand

She wove her web with sensuous skill

Concealed disdain by her sheer will

A goblet of cream and a soft bed

A hammer poised high and a shattered head

She saved a nation in the course of events

She won a place in her enemy’s laments

Her name immortal in history’s halls

No mere graffiti on timeless walls

 

 

Fragile Triumph: Haiku

fragile triumph

desert wind-blown wild goat

yael stands silent

 

 

 

Accidental Heroine: Cinquain

warrior

accidental heroine
swing impact thud

panic victory disgust relief

warrior