Category Archives: Poetry

Upgraded – a Rictameter Poem, and a Detestable Haiku

The poetry prompt I saw today was the word “detestable”. I was stumped. I didn’t want to write about detestable, so I called “Opposite Day,” and changed the prompt to “first class.” Here is the result:

Upgraded

I went,
Uncertain how
Flying would be. “May we
Upgrade your ticket to first class?”
Economy seating was oversold.
Behind the curtain are better seats.
I sat. You said hello.
I’m so happy
I went.

-H. Bullough 05-09-2017 (Edited for a previous line-break error)

And then I got a phone call, “Mom, something’s wrong with my rice cooker? How do I clean it?” Haiku is not generally used in this type of situation, but sometimes nature takes a twist when it comes into your house.

Detestable

Dead mouse aroma
Is the rice cooker dead? No,
Clean the reservoir.

 

Lullaby Poem

H. Bullough 2016

There are many nights as a mother when you need sleep so badly but your baby just won’t let you put her down. At times like this, every thought becomes a desperate plea. “Please, Baby, go to sleep.”

Sleep, Baby

If you sleep, Baby
Go to sleep, Baby
Then Mama can go to sleep, too.

You’re awake, Baby,
What’s it take, Baby?
You need to have some dream-time, too.

We will play, Baby
While we pray, Baby
That you will rest in slumber, too.

Quiet sighs, Baby
Close your eyes, Baby
So Mama can close her eyes, too.

So now sleep, Baby
Go to sleep, Baby
So Mama can go to sleep, too.

– H. Bullough 5-2-2017
From a poetry prompt to write a poem like a lullaby.

Inconceivable – Poetry

2010 Thailand – H. Bullough

Inconceivable

I woke before you
But I waited,
You needed more sleep.

The alarm rolled you out of bed,
Into the shower.
You kissed me good morning –
Your hair still wet –
Slipped out of the room with a click.

The shower beckoned me –
I heard the call
But I waited,
Knowing you would return for
One more kiss to say goodbye
Before leaving….

Apparently sometimes a kiss
Does not mean what I think it means.

H. Bullough 4-28-2017

Inspired by a quote from The Princess Bride, which I have on a t-shirt.

Sunset Synthesis

Sunset Synthesis

That evening the lake
Hosted a convention of stars.
They floated in an array of sequined glory.
You threaded your fingers through mine –
Pulled me from my chair –
“Let’s go see the show.”

We sat on the pier – our legs dangled.
I shivered and you tucked me under your arm.
We watched the sun ripen
In a lemony slide toward the horizon –
I could smell it over the water.

You reached –
Plucked the skyfruit –
Squeezed it into a cerulean cup –
A juicy swirl of red, orange, yellow.
You drank and it made you glow.
“Leave me some.”

I reached –
The cup vanished.
Lingering drops of nectar
Glistened on your lips.
I kissed them off –
Sweet and hot fusion
Escalated through a florescent sky.
We rode the current – a twining helix of two.

When I opened my eyes
I saw that we were starlight.

H. Bullough 4-27-2017
Inspired by a poetry prompt at www.poetryprompts.tumblr.com.
Challenge: Write a poem with the phrase “and we were starlight.”