February 2021 – Colleen Keller Breuning

Golden Parachutes

Golden Parachutes

On Monday mornings I wake up with dread.
My heart is pounding, gut heavy with rocks,
Exploding pressure cooker in my head…
Bracing for chaos as I punch the clock.

Mountains of emails and telephone calls,
Dealing with problems and bad attitudes.
I’m losing all patience, hitting the wall…
I’d like just one moment of solitude.

The week is endless, no relief in sight.
Day after day, corporate misery.
No golden parachutes and no stock rights…
Retirement seems to have eluded me.

My nerves are frazzled and my brain is numb…
Wondering if Friday will ever come.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
February 26, 2021

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 51.13 Topic: I’ll Have Just One
Hard Bonus (2 points): Reference a Sesame Street Character (Frazzle)
Easy Bonus (1 Point): Mention a Cooking Disaster (Exploding Pressure Cooker)

Secret Phrase Guesses:

1.  Dream Land
2.  Clouds in my coffee
3.  Stairway to Heaven
4.  Jacob’s Ladder
5.  Fluffy Pink Clouds
6.  Head In the Clouds
7.  On Cloud Nine
8.  Cotton Candy Cloud
9.  Field of Dreams and Lavender
10. Sweet Dreams are Made of This

Topic:  Tyler   Pic:  Jessica

Promise of the Rose

Promise of the Rose

A promised green garden withers to seed,
Dried petals scattered on the barren ground.
Silent anguish as the crimson rose bleeds,
Grief carried on the wind without a sound.

Tears burn a path when hope has slipped away,
Hot crystals sparking precious memories.
The fragrance of the summer jasmine sway,
The gentle rhythm of the crashing sea.

Now the nightingale sings a soothing tune,
Spread your wings, set your restless spirit free.
It’s time to soar beyond the crescent moon,
For the universe is your destiny.

Somewhere beyond a million silver stars,
Eternal rapture beckons from afar.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
February 15, 2021

A poem for friends who have tragically passed away … another one for the dark sonnet series. 😥 ❤

Blogophilia Week 50.13 Topic: Promised Rose Garden
Hard Bonus (2 points): Use a song title from Frankie Valli and/or the Four Seasons (Slip Away, Silver Star)
Easy Bonus (1 Point): Mention a town or city from North Dakota (Hope; Crystal)

Secret Bonus Phrases:

1.  Hot lips
2.  Pink lipstick
3.  Sealed with a kiss
4.  Stealing kisses
5.  Lover’s kiss
6.  Pretty in pink
7.  My lips are sealed…
8.  Cupid’s bow
9.  Love is in the air
10. Dangerous liaisons

Topic:  Stormy   Picture:  Christopher

Far Too Young

Far Too Young

Dark shadows drift across my mind,
Like saints and sinners marching blind.
As thoughts of painful past invade,
Memories of tomorrow fade.

Watch the credits roll to the end,
Far too young to bury a friend.
The rope unravels, thin and frayed;
Memories of tomorrow fade.

Shards of sunlight pierce through the heart,
Forcing dense strands of grief apart.
Denied by surgeon’s cold steel blade,
Memories of tomorrow fade.

Dark shadows drift across my mind,
Memories of tomorrow fade.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
February 12, 2021

This is another Kyrielle sonnet to add to my Dark Sonnet Series, written in memory of the high school friends that have passed. Just this past week, three have died, along with several online writing friends. It’s far too sad, and far too young!! RIP my friends.

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 49.13 Topic: Memories of Tomorrow
Hard Bonus (2 points): Use a Billie Eilish Song Title (Watch, Bury a Friend)
Easy Bonus (1 Point): Include a School Mascot (Saints)

SECRET BONUS PHRASES:

1.  A hummingbird’s delight
2.  Sipping sweet nectar
3.  Thirsty
4.  Little hummer
5.  All of God’s little creatures
6.  Feed me
7.  Ruby throat hummingbird
8.  Sugar adrenaline rush
9.  What’s the buzz?
10. Watermelon sugar high

Topic:  Lika    Picture:  Lissa

Whiskey Drinker’s Sonnet

Whiskey Drinker’s Sonnet (Dark Sonnet #3)

The winter sun fades out, no crimson glow
And a wall of endless white is falling.
As I shiver against the ice and snow…
The bottle of Macallan is calling.

Into cut glass, I pour liquid courage,
A cascade of gold hope to see me through.
North Star beckons, a trail to encourage…
Just follow it and keep your dreams in view.

I want to conquer life, to soar, to thrive,
To drink the warm amber, drown my sorrows!
Flow through my veins and make me feel alive…
I want it now, today and tomorrow!

Release all my troubles this cold, dark night
And banish the zings in the morning light.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
February 5, 2021

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 48.13 Topic: On a Cold Dark Night
Hard Bonus (2 points): Include a song lyric from the original Willie Wonka movie (“I want it now/I want today/I want tomorrow” and “Just follow it and keep your dreams in view”)
Easy Bonus (1 Point): Use the term ‘the zings’ correctly (it means hungover)

SECRET BONUS PHRASES:

1.  Goth Girl
2.  Funeral for a Friend
3.  Gothic wedding
4.  Under the Veil
5.  Creature of the Night
6.  Bride of Frankenstein
7.  Vampire Queen
8.  Witchy Woman
9.  Evil Woman
10. Here comes the bride, all dressed in…black

Topic:  Michelle    Pic:  Dia