DREAM ESCAPE

DREAM ESCAPE

She closed

Her eyes

For it was

Night

And sleep

Called 

To dreamland...

What better

Way

To escape

Life's cruel,

Crazy ways?

She was 

A princess

Dressed

In silks

And satins...

She wore

Pearls

And precious

Stones

Gold and silver 

Threads

Around

Her neck...

She president

Over feasts

Eating wonder

Delicacies!

She was 

Living

In a castle

Surrounded

By

Royal folk...

Always

In company 

Never quite

Lonely!

Such

A difference 

From

Her real

World.

At daybreak

Slumber

Left her

Awake...

An ordinary

Gitl

With

A lone life

And an unknown

Fate!

     FREDERIKA MENEZES 

THE PICNIC

THE PICNIC

Rain, sun

And wind

One day

Went

On a

Picnic...

They had found

An open

Space

To chsse 

Each other

In play!

Long hours

Passed

With 

The three

In a game...

Then

They were

Hungry

And sat

To eat!

From the

Picnic basket

Rain brought

Out 

Devious

Edibles!

As long whiles

Had gone

By

The food 

Was cold...

Not eatable!

I'll warm it

Said the

Sun

As he blew

A hot breath

On the food.. 

Soon it was

Boiling

And sizzling

Mouthwatering!

The three

Ate

With gusto

Joking and

Singing

With every

Mouthful...

As hours

Slipped by

It wss time

To return home

But what of

The dirty

Dishes?

You wash

Said the

Sun

To the 

Rain

And she agreed

Only if

He would

Along with

The wind

Dry 

The things...

Done they

Both

Spoke in unison.

So the day

Ended

For once

Amicably

Between

These three

Companions!

          FREDERIKA MENEZES 

CREATION

CREATION

Once in long

Ages past

The Sun 

And Moon

Started

A love 

Dance...

For walks

They went

And to each 

Other

Letters

They sent

Of promises

Meant to be

Kept!!

To be 

True

And never

Let go

Of one

Another...

To be

To each other

Like

A hand 

In a glove!

Partners

In love!

Their Dance

Never ended

And they

Still

Go walking

Across 

The meadow

Of blue

Heaven...

It is from

The sun 

And Moon

The stars

Were born

For their passion 

Was 

Faithfully strong.

At least

This is how

The story 

Tells it

Of the

Universe

Was born!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

ON SHE GOES

ON SHE GOES

Ticking 

Away goes

Time...

On her chariot

Of 

Seconds

And hours...

The carraige

Is seen

In many

Forms

Driven by

A horse

And a pony!

Some chariots

Are tiny

Appearing on

Wrists, daintily...

Others are

Wide

Placed on 

Table tops...

There are 

Those

Adorning

Walls!

In all these

Time is 

Driven

Speedily

Like a 

Queen

In a hurry. .

One lady 

In waiting

Follows 

Close

Clippity clop

For in

The chariot

Only 

Time 

Goes...

Mostly fast

Only sometimes 

A little

Slow!

But nonetheless 

The queen

Time,

Waits not!

            FREDERIKA MENEZES 

YHE STALEMATE

THE STALEMATE

When the 

Rain fell,

The sun

Frowned...

Why are

You

Bathing

The ground

When I'm 

Around?

The day star

Demanded

To know....

After a bit

Of a thought

Replied thus

The raindrops...

We fall to

Cool

To

Quench

The parched

Earth

That thanks

To you

Is in thirst!

In thirst

You say?

Scoffed

The sun...

You turn it

Into a bowl

Of water,

Where fish

Are none...

Messiness

Ugliness

And no

Fun!

I suppose

You believe

You make

It better

Shining in

Your glory

Turning it hotter?

Countered

The rain...

I do! I do!

Exclaimed

The sun,,

For brighter

And hotter

Are so much

Nicer

Than any other!

The two

Had a stare 

Down...

Neither

Blinked

Do it all

Stood 

At stalemate...

The wind has

Had enough 

Having 

Heard it 

All too quietly 

It got

Fed up!

A whoosh

It blew

Exasperated!

Rain clouds

Scurried

Away

The sun

Blinked...

Of the two

Of you

Laughed

The wind

I win

For with

My breath

The earth

I freshen!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

THROAT TICKLE

THROAT TICKLE

I heard 

A croak...

It startled

Me

For I was 

Alone

And thought 

Someone 

Had cleared

Their throat!

Who could

It be?

I wondered 

In fear...

How'd they

Got in

When I'd 

Locked

Every window

And done?

How  could

Someone 

Have broken 

Into my

Home?

Questions

Swirled

In my mind

As I quietly

Checked the

House...

As I reached

My bedroom

I heard the

Clearing of

The throat

Again!

Oh!

I gasped

As the fire 

Extinguisher 

I grasped...

Ready to

Defend myself 

I entered the room

And followed 

The croak...

Don't hurt

Me

Please

Pleaded

A hoarse

Voice...

Kiss me

Rather

And turn me

Into 

A prince!

I am just

A humble

Old, ugly

Frog!

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 

PUZZLE PIECE

PUZZLE PIECE

A secret

Message 

Hidden

In writings

So only

The one

Can read...

Like a

Puzzle piece

It fits

Somewhere

Only the

Reader knows!

The secret

Message

Speaks

Much...

To an untrained

Eye

Though,

It's just words...

Meanings

Behind 

The written

Lines

Are meant

To make

The one reader

Laugh, blush,

Smile or cry...

To others

It does nothing

Of the sort!

I have found

One

Such puzzle 

Piece...

Hidden in among

Lines of texts...

It, I read...

It jangled 

My jaws

In a knowing

Chuckle...

Delight! Delight!

My very

Own 

Secret message 

Has received

A wonderful 

Response!

O what joy!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

THE POWER OF WRITING

THE POWER OF WRITING

Scribble

In blue

Or pink

Or even

Jet black

Ink...

Write

What you feel

And think...

It's what

Poets and

Authors 

Do

So, why

Can't you

Do it too?

It's a good

Remedy

For a quivering 

Soul

A tonic

For a 

Trembling heart...

Quill 

To parchment 

Is a sure

Medicinal dart!

It heals

All

Maladies 

So, get scribbling

Your

Fears, Joys,

Dreams...

Jot down

Everything!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

SLITHERING AWAY

SLITHERING AWAY

Slithering on

The ground

The snake

Reached

A pair

Of 

Dainty feet...

Shall I strike?

It thought

Merely to

Taste fair 

Blood...

The feet

Stood

Firm and 

Nails shone

Burgundy!

What pretty

Toes, delicate

Veins

Amazing

Legs

Observed

The snake

In admiration...

It slithered 

Closer

And still

The feet owner

Showed no

Fear!

Whoa!

The snake

Exclaimed 

I believe

I shall have

A taste...

It bit

Once, twice,

Thrice

Losing its fangs...

Ow!

Feet of stone

It whimpered

Never again

For I want

To bite

Such as 

These...

So the snake

Slithered 

Away

In a snake's

Agony!

          FREDERIKA MENEZES 

GIVE

GIVE

A hunger

Stricken face

Peers out

From behind 

A veil

Of rain...

It speaks

With teary

Eyes

Trembling lips..

Skeletal thin

An arm stretches

Forth

The hand 

Holding a

Coconut bowl...

Drop a penny

Or two

Better still

Fill it with

Food!

Little faces

Appear

By its side

Little ones

That cry...

Tiny cupped

Hands

Reach for

Something,

Anything 

That will fill

The hungry

Bellies!

Feed them

Give them

What you take

For granted

Most times...

Hand them 

Love on 

A platter

Kindness in 

A bowl...

Give to 

Them 

What they need

Clothe and feed!

Like you

They are

So, let them 

Not live

Any longer 

On the street!

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 

RAINFALL TREAT

RAINFALL TREAT

Clouds

In the sky...

Grey, Black

White...

They mingle

One with

The other

Their laughter

To us

Is thunder!

It's a very 

Big party

With  

Droplet

Celebrities...

The cameras

Click

Flashes are

Seen

As 

Droplet after Droplet

Smile

Posing for

The lenses...

We see

Dashes

Of lightning!

A loud roar

The wind

Blows...

The droplets

Dance 

To the

Music, galore!

Toward

The party's 

End,

In a rush

They leave...

Droplet celebrities 

Tumble in haste

And fall...

In a throng

They land

Heavenly

Elite

Upon our heads,

Body and feet!

          FREDERIKA MENEZES 

THE CALL

THE CALL

She was

Walking

By the river

When she 

Heard her

Name

Being called...

Look over

Here

Pretty lady

So elegantly

Tall

Said the voice!

Turning around

She sought

Who spoke

But all about

Her went

Running

Folk...

She kept on

Walking!

Yet again

The voice

Repeated

The say

And this time

Handsome

Eyes

Met her own!

She hardly

Could contain

And she ran 

Into arms

Wide open ..

Lo! By the waves

She was

Swallowed!

       FREDERIKA MENEZES 

FOR JUST AWHILE

FOR JUST AWHILE

When you

Find yourself

In an angry

Mind frame,

Take

A breath deep

Imaginining 

The scent

Of a

 Rose 

You are breathing...

Let your sight

See

Not the red

Of anger

But

White

Of 

Peace!

Your tongue

Make it sing

Instead of

Arguing.

Unclench your fists

And smile

Relax your tense 

Muscles

During that while!

Anger is destructive

It hurts

Making hearts

Weep...

It tricks

You into

Saying

Things you

Sooner or later

Regret...

Yes, anger

Is a terrible

Influence

On your 

Emotional

Health!

So relax

And let

It pass 

You by...

Anger

Is much like

Nothing

But a buzzing

Fly...

Not worth 

At all getting

Upset by!

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 

DREAM AWAKE

DREAM AWAKE

I heard a 

Call

While I 

Asleep 

I was...

It felt urgent

And lazy

At the same

Time!

Like a

Ship on

Rough seas

I turned, I

Tossed

Not at all

Waiting to

Wake from

The delightful 

Dream 

I was in...

A meadow

Of wild 

Blooms

With birdsong

And fluttery

Butterfly

WIngs...

The sun 

Some down 

Upon

Me

In warm glory!

I sang, I danced

I even pranced!

Then two 

Hands

Shook me

Awake

For, lo!

I had fallen 

Off my bed!

Me, the singing

Dancing, prancing

Stag!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

I was 

WHO I AM

WHO I AM

I sometimes 

Wonder

What life

Would be

Like

If I were

Not

A wheelchair 

User...

Would I

Be wearing 

Rose colored

Glasses

Seeing the

World

Through these

To be

Happy?

Perhaps

High heels

To be

Taller

Than

The rest

Giving off

The appearance 

Of being 

The best!

Would I do

That?

Maybe, I'd be

A beauty

Queen

With heavily

Made up eyes

And cheeks

And rose red

Lips...

I'd probably 

Laugh 

Fakely

Pretending

To be

In front of

Others,

Happy!

I suppose

I'd have 

The dream

Living...

A cat, a dog

A wonder

Companion

And kids...

I guess I'll

Probably never

Know

What id be like 

If I wasn't 

Who I am

In this 

Present day

World...

I do know

Though

I'd be me,

My own 

Unique

Personality!

        FREDERIKA MENEZES 

LOVE STRUCK

LOVE STRUCK 

Struck by an

Arrow,

I began

To see

Hearts...

I believed 

Cupid had

Dealt

A dart!

I danced

To music

Only I

Could hear

Songs

Of 

Love.

So dear!

There was

A spring 

In my steo

Wherever

I went.. 

The earth

Beneath

My feet

I felt

Was of

 Very unique!

Oh what a

Fantastic 

Feel!

.

Then all

A sudden 

The arrow

Was retrieved...

The spring

Left

My walking

Dancing feet

And to the

Floor

I fell!

Alas! Cupid's

Aim ,was

Missed...

The love dart

Hit me

By mistake!

For shame! For shame!

        FREDERIKA MENEZES 

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

BEFORE ITS TOO LATE

Lazy Sally

Curled

On a 

Mat...

Snoring louder

Than

A purring

Cat...

Sleeps at

Every chance

And if not

She's in

A trance!

Put a 

Plateful

Before her

And down,

She gobbles

Every crumb

Of anything

Given her....

She has

A jealous 

Appetite

Making her

Ever more

Visible

To the

Eyes!

Oh lazy Saly

Enough

Of your 

Sleep

Debauchery.

And gluttony...

Let me knock

Sense 

Into you

Before into

A food 

Balloon you

Turn

One day

To burst

Showering 

Us

With

Your very own

Delicacies 

Galore!

        FREDERIKA MENEZES 

MINE

MINE

A mischievous 

Little smile

Caught my

Eye

Some several

Dawns ago...

I watched

Mesmerized!

The face

Was round

With tiny

Ears, a red

Nose

And big

Wonder eyes...

And upon  

A closer

Look

There were

Small feet

And paws

That held

Mt already

Stolen heart...

I laughed

Trying to

Snatch

It back

But "it is mine now"

Was what

The naughty

Smile said

While the 

Eyes

Twinkled and

The nose

Shone red!

I grabbed

The creature

To whom

These 

Belonged

And planted 

The sweetest

Kiss

Ever known...

I'll make you

Mine

I whispered 

In the tiny

Ear

And so began

The story

Of Booglie Bear

Heartthrob of

The universe!

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 

ONE QUESTION

ONE QUESTION 

When days

Are calm

And all 

Is fair

We think seldom.

Of saying

A "Thank you"

Prayer....

Indeed, some

Do party,

Laugh and 

Sing

But few

Give

Praises to

The King!

Many kneel

And mumble

Words

Incomprehensible...

To show

They are

So very humble!

I only ask

One thing

Why not

Utter

Thanks

When days

Are good

And bad?

Why not

Sing and dance,

Praise

In less better 

Days?

The true 

Meaning of

Prayer

Is acknowledging

Him

In every

Moment of

Our

Humanness!

We ought

To thank

Him,  the One

Dwelling 

In the 

Heavens

Above!

          FREDERIKA MENEZES

WHO IS IT

WHO IS IT

I hear footfalls

Outside 

My door....

They are

Heavy,

A man's

I think

And I cower!

It is early

Morning

I say to 

Myself...

Who can it

Be

I ask

As further

In my sheets

I hide!

Oh, that I'd have

Powers of

Invisibility 

So I would not

Be found

By the one

Outside My

Door

The one with

Thunder feet!

From beneath

My blanket 

I peek.. 

The door 

Opens.. 

Heavens!

Who is it?

And then

A broom

Appears

Along with a

Dustpan...

Oh good grief

I sigh

In relief!

It is only

The Monster

Maid 

Come to

Sweep a

Dust storm

Allowing spiders

To get away!

          FREDERIKA MENEZES 

WORLD'S GARDEN

WORLD'S GARDEN

There, in the

Garden

She sits

Like an elegant

Woman

Elderly yet

Young...

She's known

As a Tree!

Surrounded

She is by 

Her dear 

Ones!

From sunrise

To sundown

She talks in

Riddles and 

Tales

Rhymes and 

Songs..

To the 

Listening 

Pleasure

Of her darlings

Around!

So much

Entertainment 

Exudes from 

Her...

It's hard not

To stop

In one's doings

And hear!

She's a book

A film

A record

A series...

She is the

Radio

And TV!

If only there

Were a billion

More like 

Her

The garden 

Of the world

Would be so

Much more 

Than a concrete

Plane

Where trees, greens

Lay

Asunder!

We'd be dwelling 

In a nature treasure!

           FREDERIKA MENEZES 

PHILOSOPHERS' TREASURE TROVE

PHILOSOPHER'S' TREASURE TROVE

There is 

Something 

Of immense

Value

We all need

But rarely 

Find...

It is a

Precious thing

That comes

Handy

At the right

Time!

Philosophers

Are known

To have

This one thing 

More prized

Than gold...

They pour

It forth

In their spoken

And written 

Words!

Seek, we do

What only

The lucky

Have....

It is a sense

Uncommon 

Yet everywhere

For the taking...

Without it

We are branded

Fools!

It is in

Our heads

All we need

Is to

Switch on

Our minds

And let it

Flow...

Common sense

Is a good old

Treasure trove!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

PEICE OF FICKLDNESS

PRICE OF FICKLENESS

How fickle

Are we humans!

When all is

Well 

We say 

Oh, it 

Could be

Better...

When all is

Wonders

We look

For marvels...

Such shallowness

We are!

If it's cold

We desire heat

We say

Oh were it hot!

But when hot,

All we think

Of is coolness

We say

Were it cold!

How silly, 

Really!

If something is

Not to our liking

Such as a 

Meal

We go

Yuck, that was

Horrible...

But when everything 

Is yummy

We decide 

It is too tasty!

We truly

Are

Impossible to

Please!

Oh and should

A young

Find 

Someone

To match,

Both sides

Flaws will find

With each 

Other...

And so 

The future

Is at risk

Of the

Inheritance 

Of indecisive

Ficklehess!

THE TRICKSTERS GAME

THE TRICKSTER'S GAME

.light a candle

Or a match

For in the 

Dark

It's hard

To play

The catch up

Game...

It covers

You whole 

The Dark, does

Like a blanket

It rolls 

You

Inside its 

Folds...

You fumble

To get free

Only to

Fall

Let a lamp

Be lit

Lest your feet

Trip

In the 

Blackness 

Of your surroundings...

Where children

Are afraid 

And way

Of the invisible

Snatcher

Dwelling in

The lightless place!

Beware! Beware!

The Dark 

Is a trickster...

It makes you 

Hear and see

Things

Alive in stories

Alone.

You shall scream

And your heart

Shall go

Boom

In a Dark

Room!

       FREDERIKA MENEZES 

THE NOVEL

THE NOVEL

A flash

In the dark

The greatest

Novel

Is torn...

All the lines 

That formed 

The story's 

Plot and sub

Plots

Shredded

In a growl

Of anger!

Hands holding 

The pieces

Tear 

Them further

Gathering

Them together...

The novelist

Watches...

Wondering if

Another  such

A tale

Can be written...

It has taken 

Months

To put down

Only to be

Torn up in 

Moments!

Another flash

A louder growl...

The candles

In sky 

Have been

Snuffed out

The table

Turned up 

On its legs!

The hands 

Holding the

Novel fragments 

Come

Opened palmes

Close

Letting the bits

In a shower

Of translucent 

Paper fall

In tatters...

Much like

Rain falling,.

Gathering

Onto the writer's

Lap

To be rearranged...

A rewrite

Only to be

Destroyed again

Yet again!

        FREDERIKA MENEZES 

SCRIBBLES OF LOVE

SCRIBBLES OF LOVE

I have spied

A love

Letter...

It is written

In haste

Upon the

Parchment of

Sands

With the

Wind for

A quill

And waves

For ink!

Oh what a

Declaration of

Love

It is...

To the world

Above water

From the

Fish below...

How mellow!

Not all know

To read 

The writing

For, not all

Are versed

In the

Language 

Of

The Sea beings...

Those who

Are, they will

Understand 

Every scribble

On the Sand!

I happen to

Read

And feel

The letters

Written by

Fish out 

Of sight...

Yes, j know

What they say!

It is a 

Love plea

To us ...

We love you

Pray do not

Fish us...

Hunt not with

Hook and bait...

Let us live

So we might

Grow...

Dears,

Eat us not...

Intruding with 

Your boats

And nets

Into our world!

We are the

Love letter writers

Of the

Seashore!

Read our words

Heed our 

Love plea

From the

Sea to you

Human beings!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

SLIPPING BY

SLIPPING BY

I watch

The clock

The minutes

Tick by...

Why o why

Does time

Fly?

Days slip

Into each other

Forming weeks

And months...

Before one

Knows it

Years

Have gone by

With them

Taking the

Best of whiles!

We flounder

Not knowing

How to slow

Run away days...

Until finally

We let go

Saying 

Oh it's okay,

Its old age...

Slow down 

Time

I beg, I pray

Before you

Run out of

Life's living

Moments!

        FREDERIKA MENEZES 

HIPPITY HOP

HIPPITY HOP

In the land

Of hearts

Lives one

That every

Few seconds 

Beats

Fast...

For it is

Of an 

Excitable 

Nature!

At the sound

Of a musical

Beat

It skips...

A familiar 

Voice

And hippity-hop

It goes pop!

Oh, when it 

Thunders

Overhead

Before the

Pitter patter

Of rain,

It runs 

And jumps

Causing

Confusion

Among the

Others so

Calm...

In the land of

Hearts

This one

Is a handful

Of laughs 

And fun!

           FREDERIKA MENEZES 

THE WORD TRAIN

THE WORD TRAIN

There's one

Word

Of which

I have

Something

To say...

This single 

Word

In itself

Stands, a lot

Of company 

To gain!

Once spoken

It staggers.

Alone

Until another

Like it

Is uttered along...

One after the 

Other

The words

Form lines....

Tall tales

They build

Like brick

Upon brick!

Sometimes

They all fall

Apart

Especially when

Closely studied ...

This one 

Word

Collects

Others to

It's heart

For support

To stand on!

But more often

Than not

A lie told

Is easily 

Lonesomely 

Caught!

Other words

Run away

Leaving the

Lie

Exposed

In a sway

Of its 

Creator's say!

Though when not

Closely

Seen

And not 

Abandoned by

Its friends,

The Lie

Stands high

To Its 

Maker, such pride!

   

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 

HIDDEN STASH

HIDDEN STASH

Ah youth...

To be young

Again

A tender 

Age

Where everything 

Is possible...

Starry eyed

And a dreamy

Smiled

The paths

Of life

Stretching on

Wide and 

Unnumbered...

With ready

Feet

We only needed 

To step forth

Onto the

Juvenile 

Mystery streets

And roads!

Dreams were

Made of

Cotton candy 

Clouds

Quickly changing

With no consequence

No regret...

Only laughs

No frowns!

Wonderful youth

Where entire

Days were

A happy blur

Merging as one

Now, in fragments

To recall!

Yourhful sunsets

Filled with hope...

I'd like to 

Think

I've got a

Bit of it still

Stashed somewhere

Deep in my

Aging

Soul...

That by finding

It

I shall be

Young forevermore!

Joy galore! Joy galore!

       FREDERIKA MENEZES 

REWIND TIME

REWIND TIME

O to remember 

The days

Bygone

Is to dig

Up treasure...

The reel

Rewinds

And brings forth

What you 

In the now

Want...

Feelings you

Feel

A shadow, an echo 

Of what

Was then

Real!

Like Autumn leaves

Memories 

Are crisp

Vivid...

They fall

Around us

As the film

Plays in

Reverse...

The rewinding 

Of better days

For some

And for orhers

Mingled emotions 

Shown forth

With each frame!

Good old days

Goes the say...

I agree

While I beg

Time to slow

Even as it flees...

Oh to go

Back ...

Live again 

Not just relive

The gone by

Years

In flashback

Moving stills...

What would I

Not give?

           FREDERIKA MENEZES 

RAT RACE

RAT RACE

Aimlessly

Running around

Like rats

In a maze....

Not wanting

To stay in

Or get out

Confused 

We run

In a daze!

Directions

Are every

Which way

Yet our minds

Boggle

On which paths

To take...

Why us the 

Human mind

So lost

In its way?

We must stop

And breathe

Eyes closed

With the

Goal in 

Our mind

Individually 

Our roads, we

Ought to take!

It is only then

That out of

Life's maze

We will break!

      FREDERIKA MENEZES 

THE MONSTER, SILVER GREY

THE MONSTER SILVER GREY

It has ruffled

It's

 feathers

And begun

To growl...

Silver Grey

Monster

Awake!

Soon it shall

Be on the prowl!

Dare not

Stand nearby

Watch from 

A distance 

Its doings...

Lest it

Pounces

Upon you

Tearing you

Breath from 

Soul! 

You then, no

Longer one!

It roars, wild

As an animal...

Silver Grey

Beast by

The shore...

Step not, on the

Sand

It's soon to be

Swallowed whole!

Yes,

It's awake!

Growling louder

Each day

As the monsoon

Draws near...

The armor

Of the 

Wild one

In Grey Silver!

Stay away, afar! Safe

And clear!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

THE PRIVELEDGE

THE PRIVELEDGE

I scribble a 

Word

On a 

Blank page...

It has immense

Power

Only four

Letters

Bur it can 

Make our

World

A fairer place!

This word

Is dreamy

With a touch

A smile,

A hug

It heals...

In It, the word 

Carries 

Magical feel-good

Elixirs!

Such positive

Force

In a four alphabetical 

Word...

How privileged 

I am

To know it,

To feel its energy

Inside out!

I write it down

Singing softly aloud

Love

Is the word

I'm  talking about!

             FREDERIKA MENEZES 

POSITIVE VIBES

POSITIVE VIBES

Why do you

Sit 

So glum

Chum?

There on the edge

Of life

You merely

Survive...

The surrounding

About you

Is filled with

Life 

Laughter

Music of every

Kind...

Jump in

Join the

Adventurous

Fun!

Sing and dance 

Friend of unfriendliness

Life's too short

For your glumness!

         FREDERIKA MENEZES 

POEM FOR PEACE

POEM FOR PEACE

Where is Peace

When it's needed

Most?

What of Friendships

And Tolerence?

What has gone

Wrong

With our world

Sulking in

Shadows

Of Indifference?

Love is a

Cast away

An unrequited

Feeling

It would seem...

Just the kind

That was 

Told in stories

Of Romance

Narratives of

Old!

Patience, crawls

Thin

Starved and denied

Of being...

How, oh how

Did humanity

Reach this

State

Where Peace

Is a thing

To be sold 

And bought

Not a beautiful 

Way of 

Living...?

I wonder, I ponder

I think

Sad that this

World is

Teetering on

Destruction's brink!

       FREDERIKA MENEZES 

O RAIN

O RAIN

Silver arrows

Losoosed from

A cloudy

Bow

Strike us

From skies⁶

About 

To earth below...

Not arrows

Of mere

Love

But of a delight

That Rain gifts

Us 

Letting earth

Quench her

Thirst

And grow

Supple!

Such a wonder

It can be

When the love 

And delight

Turn our gentle 

Not violent

Toward

Us living beings...

For, when this

Happens

Destruction

Is what meets

Our sights

And at this

We shut our

Own rainy 

Eyes!

So I have a 

Prayer wish...

Let Rain shoot

Playful, love filled

Delightful

Arrows from her

Bowstring

And allow earth

And being to be

Without loss 

And destruction...

Just let us be!

          FREDERIKA MENEZES 

OVER AMBITIOUS

OVER AMBITIOUS

There I sat

Lost in thought

I muled

Over

My life's lot...

The joys

Challenges 

What I have

Thus far

Achieved 

And had yet

To accomplish...

Pah!

I exclaimed 

I have reached 

A long way

But have

A longer way

Still to go...

What am I 

Gloating for?

I am grateful!

Folk around me

Climbed down

And up

In their

Doings...

Unhappy, always 

Grumbling 

Frowning...

Why complain

Be grumpy

Unsmiling

When they achieve 

All they

Can and more 

Why not be happy 

With their life's 

Lot?

I wondered

And asked a few

Who in 

Reply shrugged 

Unknowingly...

Funny, I to myself

Mumbled

That like

An overcast sky

People

Hold their breath 

Wanting to

Achieve 

More and more

Without thankfully 

Acknowledging 

All they 

Have done

Til this day

By the sweat

Of their brow...

Perhaps they should

Sit and ponder

As I do

In unspoken

Gratitude!

        FREDERIKA MENEZES 

A RHYME FOR WORDS

A RHYME FOR WORDS

Words...

On a page

They form a

Line

A statement, a

Question

A fhyme...

Of all words 

I choose but two!

These are of 

Power.

They are

Forces of their own...

The Words

Create worlds

And happy homes

Within hearts

Of  those who

Choose them...

.

So much 

Harmony

In discords

So much 

Calm

In storms...

Yes, I know 

Well, I have 

Chosen

The Words

From the 

Wordsmith

Who gave me

Speech!

I am pleased 

With my 

Treasures 

As they 

Dwell on my 

Tongue...

Love and Peace

Are the Words'

Names,

And worthy are

They

Of such 

For, true to

Their forms

They spread

Calm, harmony, 

Joy

Even without being 

Actually called...!

          FREDERIKA MENEZES 

FROZEN FRAME

FROZEN FRAME

Fragments of a

Single moment

Have caught

My senses...

Like ripples in water

They twirl

In my mind

Even as my heart

Breaks

At being unable

To rewind

This act on life's

Stage!

The breeze blew 

Gentle

The river lapped,

Lazily licking the 

Shore

Taking cares away

Of this world

So tired and old...

Voices spoke 

Laughter rang

Chaotic harmony

Around!

That's when

I spotted the one

Looking at me

Through me as it were

Despite the distance

Stretched between us...

Gazes met

A smile was 

Sent forth...

Time stopped

For too long...

The smile

Was reeled back

By the one given

Like a fishing

Line!

Empty, it returned

To the giver

Before the frame

Unfroze, before

Time once more 

Ticked on

And the genial

Face now unsmiling

Moved on!

The breeze blew

Softly

The waves lapped

At the shore

This time

Asking why I had

Not welcomed the

Kind smile...

I feel regret

Sad even

At my cold

Cold unusual 

Unfriendly act...

Oh let me

See for real

That face

Again

So I might smile

And wipe

My regret away!

           FREDERIKA MENEZES 

WIND AND SEA

WIND AND SEA

Oh how you

Regale me

With tales of burbling

Mirth

As blowing gently

You caress my

Skin and ruffle

My hair!

A child I am

Once again...

I smile, I laugh 

At your doings

While I marvel at

Your telling...

Tales of adventure 

Of joy, of mystery 

You narrate to me!

I sit and feel

Companionable

I am not alone

In a world so lonely

Treacherous and scary...

The ripples sing 

A mellow tune...

Like Elves tenderly 

Stroking their harps...

Sweet melancholy 

Embraces me

With your tall stories

And the waves roiling

Singing rhymes...

I fall asleep

But not really...

Hard reality is

Far away

As I happily

Sit

In company of

The Wind and Sea...

⁵

Unwavering Wavering

Friends

Encompassing me

Ever unfalteringly...

Friends for eternity!

           FREDERIKA MENEZES