The Poetry Den

Everyone is welcome to send a poem to be read in the Poetry Den.  Be sure to include the author of the poem beneath the title.  Please remember that all poetry is the property of the author and should not be duplicated without permission.

Brian’s Song

©2005

Brianna Lee McKenzie

Yesterday, you cruised into my world

With all your blissful banners unfurled,

Your spirit soaring high on a squall

Somehow, knowing, someday, you’d fall.

Every day was a bright new day for you.

A present, that for some reason, you knew

Was one more day that you could embrace

At this persistently impetuous pace.

Yes, you lived your life like a song.

How did you know that tomorrow was gone?

Enjoying each day like it was your last:

Never the future. Never the past.

And, then suddenly, it finally occurred;

For, your final song, you suddenly heard.

Your vessel on Earth was no longer wanted,

But, your enduring essence remained undaunted.

Even now, your course is high on a cloud,

With your melodic laughter echoing loud.

Like a beacon, you shine somewhere above me;

A ceaseless sign that you’ll always love me.

Now, time is an unending blessing for you.

But, for me, it’s a reminder of days too few.

And, although my memories may turn to gray

I promise I’ll never let you ebb away…

With all my Love, Mom

Summer Skies

By Brianna Lee McKenzie

© 2008

When gray clouds form and north winds rush,

I yearn to flee to where sunsets blush;

To escape to a place where sea gulls call,

To feel the spray as the breakers fall.

The sea, the salt, and the air, so clean;

With pure, soft voices, they summon me

To a peaceful bliss that, beyond strife, lies

In the serenity of summer skies!

Ripple Effect

(c) copyright 2010

by Brianna Lee McKenzie 

 (an excerpt from "Ripple Effect" the novel)

A tiny droplet, insignificantly small

Invades the armor of one’s sheltered soul

Delving deeper into its boring hole,

Ripping the heart with a bleeding tear

Pouring out all which was hidden there

Safe and sound, or so one believed

Then comes the first wave, the apex of fate

Vilely, it drives its gauntlet of hate

Viciously piercing one’s shielded core

‘Til the melting armor subsides and weeps

Shrouds of silver optimism sweep

Across the pond of tears one grieved

Its mirror image, a reflective wave

Rises to take its waning place

To repeat the invasion once again

To assail the soul with a another pain

Echoing like a terrifying gale

Howling fiercely, with no reprieve

One more wave and then another

Coming in the wake of all the others

Rolling, undulating, a forceful surge

‘til all safe treasures are finally purged

Languid liquid ripples repeat

Gilded arrows into a heart deceived

The effect is visible for all to see

The failure of hope in one’s shattered heart

Punctured by fate’s defining dart

The minuscule droplet, skillfully aimed

The tranquil lake forever maimed

By the ripples of grief, never relieved

Ripple Effect (the novel) This poem was written while "channeling" my main character, Amber Tamblin, who is such a cynic that she hated life until that very moment when she died.