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Some People Just Won't Learn

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  Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings #185 " ...find inspiration in the following quote: “Don’t be afraid to start over. This time you’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting from experience. ” You always make the same mistakes time and time again. Hoping your results will change,  they only bring you pain. You never learn your lesson or try a different route. Never do you pick the nice, you always choose the lout. You say you want to change your ways, you’ve learned from your mistakes. Then you see a handsome guy and fail to use your brakes. I can’t keep listening to you bemoan your dismal luck. While I see red flags flying high, you claim to be love-struck. I don't believe you ever tried to start again from scratch. I see a lazy user, you see quite the catch.  Experience is not your friend, although it is for most. You proudly introduce your beau, as though he’s worth the boast.  Please think it through the next time, before you jump in deep. That w...
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I'll Take the Dog - a story poem

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  Friday Fictioneers   "The Challenge: Write a complete story in one hundred words of less." Mine worked itself into a story-poem. photo prompt © Roger Bultot 100 words Please don’t. I said, don’t ! Turn off the TV! You know the dog is afraid of boom-booms, why would you add more when there are enough outside right now! Look at him! It’s not funny. He’s shaking and drooling and won’t go outside to pee before bed. No, I won’t drag him out! I’ll clean up his accidents. You’re cruel. I wouldn’t force you to face your fears, and you understand what’s happening, he doesn’t. You are a jerk. I hate you. I really do. Yes, I love the dog more. Go, or I will. And, I’ll take the dog. ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved Only two things in this are true.  My dog, Mickey, is very afraid of fireworks, which are, unfortunately, legal (with exceptions, but people ignore that and bring the banned ones from out of state) in Oregon from June 23 through July 6.  He also will ...
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Forgive Me for What I Am About to Do - a Cinquain

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Ronovan Writes  Cinquain Poetry Prompt 8: RELEASED is your inspiration. image " Slack bitch ." He's drunk again. Too long I've held my breath,  feigned sleep. This night I gain release,  break free. ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved   #cinquain #ronovanwrites #syllabicpoetry 
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I'm Surrounded by Faces on the Walls - a sonnet

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  Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings #184: Let's Go Formal  "Your (optional) prompt this week is to write a limerick, a ballad, or a sonnet – or to write on the subject of formality without necessarily doing so in formal verse (or even any kind of verse). If you choose to write a sonnet, the particular kind is up to you (Shakespearian, Petrarchian, Clarian, Curtal, American ...) but please do let us know ." I have attempted to write a Shakespearean Sonnet.  This is actually my first sonnet attempt, so be gentle with the comments please!  Harvey , in author's collection  I'm surrounded by faces on the walls. They watch me go about my daily chores in the dining room, parlor, and the halls, reflected in glass above the drawers. The darkness of night obscures them from view, mere reprieve from their contemptuous glance. Safe again 'til daybreak's pale light breaks through to catch the last of midnight's eerie dance. By radiant ...
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Fort Bragg, CA

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  Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings #183 "...I'd like you to  write about a perfect afternoon, either one you've had or would like to have." Fort Bragg, CA hair windtangled salty and damp another day of fog cold wet sand between my toes clam shows at surf’s edge precarious steps over seaweeded rocks pools left behind by the tide sea anemones swaying hermit crabs scrabbling sea stars clinging jacket pockets full olive shells and sea glass to fill a jar on the window sill ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  
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After the Fire

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Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings: 182: Anger As (Healthy) Fuel  LA Burning 3 - edition 2/40 by Linda Lyke, in author's collection   My fury burns hot, leaving nothing but ash blown off by my searing breath. That is you, the ash, whisked away from my life, I’m all the better for it. ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  
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A Life in Abstraction

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Poets and Storytellers United " ...as your prompt this week, I invite you to think of a piece of music which affects you emotionally  whenever you happen to hear it played – whether it warms your heart or brings back different reactions – and tell us what this particular piece has meant to you in your life." While the poem is pure fiction, I often think of old friends preserved in faded photos.  What became of them?  Do they wonder about me too?  The inspiring song lyrics are below.  (The term abstraction came from an unused NaPoWriMo prompt to use an art term in a poem.) ©Win Smith 1962, in author's collection She said she lived her life in abstraction, drew pleasure in exaggeration, in the distorted way she viewed us, squinting her eyes in appraisal. She thought herself another Miro, speaking Catalan to her friends. Once at a party she tossed me out, I'd told her Joan was a man. That was so long ago. A faded photo is all that's left to remind me of her. So wa...
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