Lost in Motherhood

For Day 25 of NaPoWriMo, this is the prompt I followed: "to write your own poem in which you use at least three metaphors for a single thing, include an exclamation, ruminate on the definition of a word, and come back in the closing line to the image or idea with which you opened the poem." 

Lost in Motherhood
By Candace Shultz

She lost herself in a pile of clothes,
Under dirty socks and wrinkled slacks.
Not lost in thought or deeply engrossed,
But lost as in no longer visible,
Unappreciated, unable to find her way
In a world that left her behind
When she chose to cherish
Her children instead of a career.

She lost herself slowly,
Like walking into a large city,
Taking twists and turns, 
Trying not to step on others' toes,
Walking in circles
Until getting turned around.
She can't remember where she started
Or where she should go.

She lost herself completely
As though she was hiking in the woods,
And she left the well-worn path
To take a detour in the trees
Until the branches entwined together,
Making a canopy of their leaves
So even the sun couldn't see her
As she made her way alone.

She lost herself in a pile of laundry,
In unending dishes, in dinners
And driving and school dances
And school assignments 
And wiping noses and singing songs
And breaking up disagreements
And hugs and kisses and sticky hands
And love. So much love! 
But who is she without her children?

She is on the side of the mountain
Trying to climb up to the top
To see herself with clarity,
To remember who she was,
To find out who she will be,
But she slips on a pair of dirty socks
And becomes buried by an avalanche,
Losing herself in a pile of clothes.

The Snow Is Bittersweet

Today's poem follows the NaPoWriMo prompt to describe something magical or strange that takes place at night while no one is awake. I describe snow falling at night, but I try to make it seem more magical with my descriptions and the use of the wind god as a character. I hope you enjoy it.

 

The Snow Is Bittersweet
By Candace Shultz

The sun sinks below the horizon
And sleepy heads sink into beds.
A hush falls over the city
As stars wink from overhead.

The wind god whistles lightly, slowly blowing
The clouds as they ripple across the sky.
The air outside dips into the freeze 
And a single snowflake lets out a sigh.

As it begins to dance down to the ground,
A ballerina in the gentle breeze,
Diamond dust soon falls after,
Joining the first flake with ease.

The wind god laughs out a gust
And the snowflakes begin to hurry.
They twist and turn and twirl about.
They fall down in a flurry.

And when they can dance no more,
They settle in the street.
Like glitter, their crystals shimmer.
The snow is bittersweet.

 

There Is Silence in the Waiting

For Day 23 of NaPoWriMo, I followed the prompt to write a villanelle that ends with a question. 

There Is Silence in the Waiting
By Candace Shultz 

There is silence
In the waiting.
Please be well.

She worries quietly, 
Waiting for news.
There is silence.

She prays for his recovery
And for the surgeon's steady hands.
Please be well.

Air hums in the vent above her,
Cooling her skin, yet still
There is silence. 

She looks at her phone screen,
Checking the time again and again. 
Please be well. 

Finally, the doctor appears and
Walks into the waiting room. 
There is silence.
"Is he well?"

 

Coffee - a haiku

 

Sips of bliss. Caffeine
flows like blood through my veins as
my brain stirs to life.

 

 

I Am Candace

For today's prompt, I was challenged to write a poem reflecting on my name and nicknames. If you do a quick Google search on my name's meaning, you'll see that my name means "queen," "glowing," and "pure," and it is associated with clarity, strength, and royal authority. I tried to use most of those meanings in my poem. As for nicknames, I've had a few throughout my life, but I chose to use only one in this poem. Candy is a common nickname for Candace, but it never stuck to me. I never really liked it as a nickname, so I never let it stay with me. I hope you enjoy my poem!

 

I Am Candace
By Candace Shultz

Who am I?
I am Candace.
I am named after a queen.
I claim my name with pride. 

My name is pure,
Given to me with love.
It surrounded me at birth
And settled in to stay.

My name has power.
It defines me. It holds fast 
Even when nicknames fade,
Like Candy who just melted away.

My name has strength.
It walks with me every day
As I journey through my life,
A constant companion in an 
Ever changing and confusing world.

My name is ethereal.
It will carry on in the wind
When my body is no more,
Touching the lips of those
Who speak its rhythm,
Tumbling in their laughter
As they remember me,
Sliding down their tears
As they mourn.

Who am I?
I am Candace.
I am named after a queen.
I claim my name with pride.

Raindrops

 

Little raindrops fall
Tapping softly on the wall
Otherwise silence

 

 

Tiger Lily

This poem was inspired by the NaPoWriMo prompt to muse on a flower's name and its meanings.

 

 

 

Tiger Lily
By Candace Shultz 

Oh, tiger lily! 
The passion that flows 
through your petals
entices the heart to love! 
Your subtle scent sweetens 
the air around you.
Is it no wonder a man dares
to pluck you from the earth 
to give you to his heart's desire?
Your strength becomes
the endurance of their love,
thriving in this harsh world.
You bring good fortune 
to all who know you,
imbuing them with
your fiery soul.