Leone Lamp: Favorites

May 2021 Leone Lamp

William J Donovan

In ROTC I dared to grow my hair.
   On the cusp of hippy life with
   burned bras and free love and
   smoking hash I dumped my baggage.
   I joined a circus going to Boston.
   I was baptized in saltwater. Plum Island.
   I made love to love tilting at windmills.
   In my attic I learned the hard truths.
   The People's Almanac was my bible and
   those who held my heart my confessors.

May 2021 Leone Lamp

Silence is Golden

May 2021 Leone Lamp

William J Donovan

Silence is Golden

I always love the quiet
    snow filled woods mute
    the dead have no words
    set me free with silence
    easy way to say goodbye
    without drama's screams.

May 2021 Leone Lamp

tanka 4.1 and tanka 4.2

May 2021 Leone Lamp

D Thornhill

tanka 4.1 and tanka 4.2

tanka 4.1

two floors down, a man
died suddenly this morning,
recently moved in
never met him out walking
never did learn his full name

tanka 4.2

true in his future
had many windows replaced
the labels still cling,
this morning, two floors down, a
man died, nothing could be done

©️ dt + b

#tanka

May 2021 Leone Lamp

Never Again

May 2021 Leone Lamp

RobbieG

Never Again

If you ever stopped
DRINKING

Long enough you could start
THINKING

Even if it was just for a few
MINUTES

Imagine the difference in our
RELATIONSHIP

But no, that’s to much to
ASK

You’re just a self-centered
*******

And can’t think about anyone
ELSE

Well I refuse to accept this
BEHAVIOR

I’m done being your punching
BAG

Mentally, emotionally and
SOCIALLY

Maybe for once you will
SEE

How your drinking is way out of
CONTROL

But either way, it doesn’t matter
ANYMORE

Because I’m breaking up with
YOU

Never will I ever allow someone
TO

Control me the way that you
HAVE

Never will I take the backseat
AGAIN

To a drug from someone I
LOVE

Never
AGAIN

May 2021 Leone Lamp

Exhale (Strong Imagery)

May 2021 Leone Lamp

Makenzie Scott

Exhale (Strong Imagery)

My frame fits your frame perfectly
you hold me into meekness
into mutual surrender
and whispers claim the soul whole
without hesitation

My body heeds to your wants
following you into unconditional yeses exchanged in a kiss, as the night enfolds our unspoken ascent unbroken, exhausting each limb
releasing the weight of our soul in synchronized breaths

Exhale
grant me the promise of my next breath as I take in the strength of your gaze and return ever so light to the grace of your arms' embrace

May 2021 Leone Lamp

Until then

May 2021 Leone Lamp

Makenzie Scott

Until then

I will wait
until the last star
abandons the universe
(the one you named and pinned as sequins from Cassiopeia's ankle)

I will wait
until the sky
becomes one with our earth
and the seas, no longer moved by the moon's woo extinguish her glow

The sun
will shed in solar rage
and die next in the crushed heart
of his moon's last breath

Before then
I will not forget you

May 2021 Leone Lamp

The Judge Imperfect

May 2021 Leone Lamp

Makenzie Scott

The Judge Imperfect

I judge best in front of a mirror
eyes wide open
the best light shining from within

I see everything
as long as I don't blink

There is but one perfect being
and it is not me - it will never be

Judge me brother with eyes of mercy, my rocks break the mirror before bouncing back in the color of atonement. Light shines in pieces of hope, in shades of bold while the knees scrape the concrete red. You are not my God.