A Thin-Skinned Little Friend – A Riddle

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We come in all kinds of colors

we’re small, and we are big.

Our skin is smooth or less so,

we sit in water or on a twig.

**

We are born not done yet

we still need completing time.

We need to grow or lose some

with which we move or climb.

**

We have all kinds of forms

fat, or slim, or thin, or tall

we live in water or in swamps

we can walk and run, hop and crawl.

**

We eat mainly insects

you’ll find us all over the Earth.

We can be less than half an inch

or measure 2 1/2 feet of mirth.

**

Generally we’re hatched,

with one exception to the rule.

extinct in the wild, but existing still

we’re returned to the wild, ain’t that cool?

**

During our mating season

we’re blowing up and make some noise

well, mostly it’s not the females

but what you hear are boys.

**

The brighter the colors

the more dangerous we are.

we can exist in your backyard

or on other continents – very far.

**

We are bound to water

that’s the natures way

our youngsters hatch

once we mated, we’re at stray

**

In winter some of us

freeze into almost ice

Only to wake up in spring

and eat and mate – how nice!

**

I figure it’s barely a secret

not after this charming blog

You might have guessed a while ago

Yes, we are called ‘frog’.

*****

(Copyright: Aurora Jean Alexander, February 2024)

Picture courtesy of Google.com

Winter White And Snowflakes

In winter’s grasp, a world turned cold,

A tale of snow, a story’s told.

Blankets of white on fields so wide,

A dance of flakes, a waltz with pride.

**

Beneath the moon, a frosty glow,

Silent whispers of falling snow.

Each flake a crystal, a masterpiece,

A winter wonderland, a sweet release.

**

The trees adorned in cold attire,

Sparkly branches, a frosty lyre.

Nature’s artwork in every bough,

A symphony of winter, a silent vow.

**

Footprints in crisp, untrodden snow,

A canvas for tales, a path to sow.

As winter wraps its arms around,

A quiet song without a sound.

**

The rooftops wear a snowy crown,

A peaceful hush on the sleepy town.

The world transformed, a magic show,

A soft embrace in winter’s flow.

**

As daylight fades and shadows grow,

A tranquil world in soft, warm glow.

In winter’s arms, a quiet pose,

A timeless dance where snowflakes froze.

*****

(Copyright, Aurora Jean Alexander, January 2024)

Picture courtesy of Freepik.com

Wings – A Love Poem

If I were a bird, I would steer my wings

Toward the place where I can find you.

Only to see you are fine will calm me

and would be worth every mile I flew.

**

If I were a bee I would be busy

collecting pollen and taking it home

I would turn it into honey, a sweet gift for you

Worth every effort to search it and roam.

**

If I were a dragon, I would silently circle

Above your head, invisible to all

But in case you would need it, I’d be there

Be protection and shield, be defense and wall.

**

If I were a Pegasus, I would take you

On a clouded night for a ride

I’d carry you quietly into the starlight

And showed you Heaven, as your trusted guide.

**

If I were an Angel, I would always be by your side

Maybe as a butterfly, or perhaps as a dove

To guard your heart, protect your soul

And to envelop you in my everlasting love.

*****

(Copyright Aurora Jean Alexander, November 2023)

Picture courtesy of AncientOrigins.com

“The Waves, The Wanting”

Waves are made

By people shouting their love

Across the oceans.

The seas are not made of tears

But the waves, oh

The waves are driven

By a hundred thousand years

Of lovers’ vows unspoken

Of silences unbroken

Now pleadings cried out, and laments

But only when the beloved is not near.

The oceans wrap their arms around

The voices and the cries

And carry them in a susurrus

Flinging out their burdens to the rocks and sands

On the far shore.

Listen, listen!

You will hear my voice

Calling you from the Cadiz wall

The insistent declaration of my love

Carried across the miles of the Atlantic

Listen for the rill of my laughter

Running the length of the shore

You’ll hear me sigh, “I love you,” once

And my voice will fall silent once more.

(Copyright Kate Hughes, Summer 2017)

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Picture courtesy of Freerangestock.com

Autumn Start 2023

Autumn is the time of colors

The leaves are changing before they fall.

The days are shorter, the nights are longer

temperatures sink, and that’s not all.

**

Autumn is a season between the seasons

Between hot and cold, that’s where we find

the fall where everything is slowing

after an active summer, we all don’t mind.

**

We’re preparing to go into hibernation

Well, theoretically, at least we’re slowing down.

We’re stocking up on fire and warmth

We’re wearing sweats instead of gown.

**

It is a time of calming resting

Before we’ll get prepared again

The holidays are right there in front of us

And we’re resting our arms and brain.

**

Thanksgiving Christmas, and other parties

Where we eat and drink and socialize.

We’re toasting us with eggnog and liquor

We’re eating turkey, ham and pies.

**

Families, they come together

Share a house that seems too small

To fit all the people

Nobody can sprawl.

**

And suddenly, without us noticing

Winter is here, brings cold and snow

But also reminds us for another celebration,

Brings us the famous Christmas glow.

**

So enjoy the autumn, the cool three months

They’re a time of resting, a time of peace.

They’re also a time of rain and fog

And a time for our flannel and fleece.

*****

(Copyright: Aurora Jean Alexander, October 2023)

Picture courtesy of Britannica.com

Despite It Still Is Summer

The days are getting shorter

The first fog is climbing up

When you’re standing on the porch

With your morning coffee cup.

**

Despite it still is summer

Some leaves are turning brown

they change color and crumble up

prepared for falling down.

**

The days are sometimes cooler

You feel it with the chill

Time to take the scarves out

Despite it’s summer still.

**

Wildlife guzzles around us

Preparing for their sleep

When hibernation calls them

They need the fat they reap.

**

Hunting soon is starting

The ones grazing you now see.

Are scared silly by the hunters

And panicking they flee.

**

I’m waiting for the fall change

When leaves are turning red

When they softly hover downward

And landing on my head.

**

Prepare for cozy blankets

In that time of the year

Tea and cuddling on the sofa

The cooler season is quite near

****

(Copyright Aurora Jean Alexander, August 2023)

Picture curtesy of RanchTreeRecovery.com

Let Your Soul Fly Free To Heaven (Re-Published)

The day is gray, it’s wrapped in sadness

some of the clouds are crying rain.

Today  I tried to run from madness

to flee from darkness and the pain.

**

My chest tied up as I get ready

I feel my life comes to an end

my breath comes flat and still it’s steady

I’m too broken to amend

**

Under the trees with nature’s touch

I walk up through rock and stone

I feel the hurt gets far too much

instead of lessened it has grown.

**

Why do some people always hurt me

make me feel like I’m far too low

to be loved, God, hear my plea

it’s time for me that I would know.

**

My eyes  in tears I follow traces

of deer, of wolves; hunters and prey.

The wolf who tore me, has many faces

I think remorse is not his way.

**

Many hours later, I reached my goal

I stood and heard the eagle’s cry.

I only wish my injured soul

had strength enough to go and fly.

**

Go my soul, fly free, go home.

Where there’s peace and you are safe

spread your wings and let you roam’

don’t think back and leave my grave.

**

Love and peace and lights are waiting

Heaven’s where you do belong.

nobody hurts, no pain and no one’s  hating

there you can sing, and dance , grow strong.

**

Your stay on Earth proves too much trouble

you don’t belong, here you can’t sing.

There’s too much pain for you in double.

Go, fly home – on Angel’s wing!

*****

(Copyright: Aurora Jean Alexander, November 2016)

Picture Courtesy of: Desktopnexus.com

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Convinced that this was an excellent poem (even though it is quite dark,) I submitted it to the Poetry Festival Page, where its reading was performed by actress Becky Shrimpton, who did a fabulous job!

Or you can watch the performance on YouTube:

Let Your Soul Fly Free To Heaven – Poem By A. J. Alexander – reading by Becky Shrimpton

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I published this poem the first time here on ‘Writer’s Treasure Chest’ in 2016. Since then, many things have changed… but some have stayed the same. I’m reposting this poem, not only because it’s probably one of the best I’ve ever written (I seem to write far better poems when I’m devastated, than when I’m happy), but also, because that’s how I currently feel… Some things just keep repeating themselves.

There’s a lot of darkness around me. But I have not the energy, nor the room, nor the quiet I need to write anything comparable at this point… So, let me sulk a bit in my misery… It seems to be my favorite thing to do right now.

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Picture courtesy of Google.com

A Sporty Happy Friend – A Riddle

Most of us just look the same

Not much variation here at all.

We are pretty much the same color

And we are the opposite of small.

**

We live in the warmest spot on our Earth

And we need water to survive

But during the night we will go grazing

We herbivores need plants to thrive

**

During the day we refuse to move much

And just lay around, lazy and fat

But don’t underestimate us, we’ll outrun you

And will kill you then – and that is that.

**

Despite us looking lazy and sleepy

We are more dangerous than you might think

Stay out of our sight or you’ll be sorry

You’d be dead before you blink.

**

No matter how innocent and tired we look

We are no animals to pet

We want to be completely left alone

Remember that, or you’ll regret.

**

We can swim and we can dive

Our ears are big, and so’s the mouth

We are quite unique among the animals

And we are endangered by the drouth.

**

There is no other species in our family

When we mate we fight to kill

One of our males is quite the ‘Casanova’

With up to thirty females at his will.

**

We’re big and round, and we got no fur

Our skin is hairless and mostly gray.

We live in rivers, ponds and swamps

Give us water, and there we’ll stay.

**

We are the best example that

Exercise and eating greens

Does not work to lose some weight

We think it’s anchored in the genes.

**

I think you have guessed who we are by now

A very special animal sort

Call us a big gray ‘Hippopotamus’

Or simply ‘Hippo’ to make it short.

*****

(Copyright: Aurora Jean Alexander, February 2023)

Picture courtesy of the San Diego Zoo website

Prepare For Winter 2022

Take out the scarf, put on the hat

We’re going into fall

The seasons change and that is that

It’s time for gloves and shawl.

**

The leaves have changed, they all fall down

To the frosty ground

From yellow, red and dusty brown

And they don’t make any sound.

**

The grass is damp, the air is cool

fog crawls up in sight.

We’re wearing knitted warming wool

Over are short sleeves and light.

**

The darkness creeps quite early now

into every day

we expect frost and cool and vow

we’ll move in warmer lands to stay.

**

Winter walks into our lands

With big expansive strides

the cold bites softly our hands

when snow covers, protects and hides.

**

These are the last of autumn’s days

Enjoy the warming sun

Soon, nature freezes, and it stays

Until new buds in spring bring joy and fun.

*****

(Copyright Aurora Jean Alexander, November 2022)

Picture courtesy of Google.com

A Small Dangerous Friend – A Riddle

We are small and we are feared

We don’t know exactly why…

But knowing the world without all of us

Would soon be prone to die.

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We are a female society

Our males are there for play

They’re only used at certain times

And then they pass away.

**

We are working, flying, every day

Collecting what we need.

We’re protecting our home as guards

Every one of us does her deed.

**

We fly close and far, for what we collect

We clean and raise our kids

We fly out, collect, and transport our fuel

on our hind legs with sense and wits.

**

We communicate to let us know

Where danger is and not

And we use our wings to cool our home

When it’s humid out and hot.

**

Our work helps the earth and spread pollen

Of trees, and flowers too.

You better take good care of us

And honor us, and woo.

**

We wear a hairy top and a striped back

Transparent wings, can you see?

And as you might have guessed by now

Each one of us is a honey bee!

*****

(Copyright, Aurora Jean Alexander, September 2022)

Picture courtesy of Google.com