The Gift

Image by Sergio Cerrato – Italia from Pixabay

“Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us.” 
― David Richo

Some days are better than others and I often wonder why

yesterday was agony and today- barely a sigh

And when relief from this darkness arrives

I ‘m grateful I’m here and still alive

To experience these intense lows and highs

For without the lows that happen in life

and along with them the inevitable strife

How would I recognize joy when it comes

cloaked in the shadow of pain’s disguise?

©2023 Linda Lee Lyberg

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 26 years and their latest rescue, Jackson “Jax” Lyberg. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com and view anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page

Author’s Note: I am hosting OLN tonight at dVerse Poet’s Pub– Come join us!

Haibun: Late Spring

In My Garden- Mesa, AZ

“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.” 
― Pablo Neruda

Late spring is the time of year in Arizona when days are getting longer and the evening light is stunning. The sky changes from soft hues of turquoise and pink to brilliant shades of red and yellow. Some evenings, it looks as if the distant horizon is on fire.

With a glass of wine to sip, we sit on our back patio and watch the light show unfold. Moments such as this are when I am in awe of nature’s power and all the miracles surrounding me if I only look.

by nature’s design-
crepe paper poppy petals
flutters in the breeze

©2023 Linda Lee Lyberg

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 26 years and their latest rescue, Jackson “Jax” Lyberg. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com and view anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page

Author’s Note: I am hosting a dVerse today, where the prompt is to write a haibun pertaining to late spring. The pub opens at 3PM EST- Come join us!

#Haiku: Wild Daisies

desert rain drenched

knee-high african daisies-

dropping next year’s seed

©2023 Linda Lee Lyberg

Author’s Note: I am hosting at dVerse for Open Link Night- Come join us!

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 26 years and their latest rescue, Jackson “Jax” Lyberg. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com and view anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page

#Haiku: Spring

“You belong among the wildflowers
You belong in a boat out at sea
Sail away, kill off the hours
You belong somewhere you feel free.”- Tom Petty, Wildflowers

a perfect spring day

pulling fading wildflowers-

wind blowing my hat

©2023 Linda Lee Lyberg

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 26 years and their latest rescue, Jackson “Jax” Lyberg. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com and view anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page

Anemoia

“My heart only ever had one thought, one want. One need. Despite all, in spite of all…All my heart has ever wanted is you.” 
― Stephanie Laurens, The Edge of Desire

At times, anemoia overwhelms
me in my nightly dreams
when I long for another life and place
to rescue me from my demons.

These memories out of time and space
can be so overwhelming-
the intense tang of a marvelous kiss
that leaves you wanting, wanting
the peculiar scent of an old perfume
stained on a yellowed handkerchief
or hearing a forgotten melody that is haunting,
So you don a blue velvet hat adorned with faded blooms
and sway to the music as you dance under a full moon.

©2022 Linda Lee Lyberg

Author’s Note: Written for Shay’s Word Garden List- 13 Rue Therese.

A little Bit of Magic

“Music is the strongest form of magic.” 
― Marilyn Manson

It’s only a cheap trinket
bought at a Paris news stand
yet it holds mysterious magic within,
for when I am sad, I turn the tiny crank
and music of La Vie en Rose takes me back again
as we walk hand in hand.

©2023 Linda Lee Lyberg

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 26 years and their latest rescue, Jackson “Jax” Lyberg. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com and view anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page

Author’s Note: I am hosting Quadrille Monday at dVerse today. The pub opens at 3PM EST. The word prompt is MUSIC- Come join us!

Alora

Photo by Bicanski on Pixnio

I dreamed my body was mine again
with no memories weighing me down
no jagged scars marring my alabaster skin
no mortal wounds unleashed beneath.

And as I descended further into this ghostly maze,
I found myself wielding long shimmering blades
Unlike anything I’ve ever seen, for they had replaced
my knotted and wrinkled hands.

And with these blades of wisdom, I swathed a clear path
one containing purity and grace, humming with life
to where the words of a poem so blissfully laid
there on the ground, magically created
by the hooves of a white stallion prancing and dancing.

As he shook his luminous tail and magnificent mane
Stars and planets swirled from them into an aubergine sky
Golden drops of dew fell as seeds began to sprout.
Now I glided through ripe meadows brimming with flora and fauna
and bathed in an ice-cold stream that healed my tormented soul.

And as I began to wonder why I was in this haunting place
I stirred from my deep sleep as reality crept in and wept
for there in that mysterious land where I longed to be
I was not lost, not found;
for I was never there at all.

©2023 Linda Lee Lyberg

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 26 years and their latest rescue, Jackson “Jax” Lyberg. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com and view anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page

Author’s Note: For Shay’s Word Garden and dVerse Poetics