Poetry|Prompt

Stroke

Poem

In response to a prompt by Sherry McGuinn.

Words impose their meaning we receive them as defined we listen to remember and then remember to refine

Some words are often brutal and others quite inane Our mind’s adrift in waters that borders on the insane

We look for just the right one a word that makes us right A second to reassure us a third to hold us tight

We stroke our fragile egos and play with our new toys then ask that they go where we go As we become one of the boys

These words are not for children for some they’re filled with hate We stroke them like our kitties then hide behind that gate

When will, we be upstanding? When will, we be gentile? When will these strokes be gentle, and help us to reveal.

I’m tagging those that Sherry tagged, and a few others, to keep the madness continuing. Thank you.

P.G. Barnett Kristi Keller Caroline de Braganza Helen Cassidy Page Desiree Driesenaar Marla Bishop Rasheed Hooda Robin Klammer Gurpreet Dhariwal Selma Amy Marley

Joe Luca is writer and editor for ILLUMINATION and a published author and writer of children’s stories, short fiction, non-fiction articles, screenplays and poetry. Publications include Child’s Life, Children’s Playmate and others. There are some other articles below — have a read. And thank you for stopping by.