COLLABORATING
I sat staring
At the sky.
Clouds
Moved in
And out
Of my
Sight...
I sighed!
The painter
Was
At work
Though
He could not
Make up
His mind.
A sunny day
Or a cloudy
One
Treetops swaying
In high
Winds
Or just leaves
Rustling
In a light
Breeze...
He could not
Decide
However much
He tried!
I watched it
All
From where
I was
Sitting
Relaxed
On a rock.
After many
Long
Moments
Of uncertainty
I whispered
A request
To the
Painter
Asking
Him to heed.
Let the day
Be balmy
So that all
Could enjoy.
He seemed
Happy
With this request
And
Soon the painting
Was done.
From where
I sat
Saw I the
Sky
And felt
The gentle breeze
Rustling
Leaves,
Making clouds
Sail
Across the
Sun's face...
Yea,
He and I
Had created
A new
Day!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
BIRDSONG
Perched atop
A tree branch
Sang thr
Bird
A song of
Love, joy
And beauty...
The song
Touched
My heart
Pulling at
It by
The strings!
My heart
Like a
Puppet
To every
Note
Danced
And swayed.
Togeher with
It
My limbs
Did the
Same!
It was a
Song of
Great feelings
Though the
Expanse of
Forest
Reverberating ...
O the bird
Sang
Casting a spell
And flee
Off
While
I swayed
And danced
To the
Memory of
The bird song
Melody!
A marionette
On Nature's
Strings!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
UNITENTIONAL POEM
Today, I wrote
No rhyme
Thought I to
Myself
I'll do something
Else
With my
Time...
So I called
Up a
Friend
And
Together, we
Sat
Gossiping
About
Everyone
And everything...
We read and
Sang
Together
Dancing!
Then I picked
Up
A pencil
So as to
Sketch.
A beautiful scene
I drew
A garden
In full bloom.
After this
I napped
A hbi
A dreamed
I was
Sprawling
Lines
In rhyme!
When I awoke
Here
It was
The poem
Never
Intended
But nevertheless
Penned!
Who did
Write it
I asked
Myself...
The answer
Clearly
Said ir all.
I wrote
This poem
Today
Despite
Thinking
I would not!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE LITTLEST
They were
Playing
In the
Mud.
Digging
For treasure
O what
Fun...
They dug
Here
And they
Dug there
Slowly
The digging
Got everywhere!
One of
Them
Found a tin
Then gathering
Everyone
Opened
It
To find
Nothing...
A let down!
They carried
On digging
Around...
They grumbled
About
The ground
How it yielded
Nothing
Precious.
No one
Expected it
But a
Tiny fist
Went up
Followed by
A cry
Saying
Yes!
The littlest
Among
Them
Had a
Treasure
Found.
It was
A box
Of money
Old and rare...
This little
One
Was chided
For such
A find!
No matter
Rare things
Are worth
More
In time!
So thinking
The young
One
Took the
Find
Home!
It's worth
Was so
Great
The young
One
Was among
The rest
Never
Seen again!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
ALL IN A TALE
It was
Time to
Go
From the
Playground
Home...
But more
I wanted
To stay
And
Play!
The swings
Beckoned
To me
So did
The monkey
Ladder
And the
Merry-go-round...
I went
To them
All
Playing
My heart out!
Come along
Now
It's getting
Late
We must
Make haste.
My mother
Said
Apprehensive!
The stage coach
Is waiting
Come along
Hurry...
Before
The spell
Is broken.
Too late
I kept at
Play
And refused
To go
The stage coach
Turned
To a big
Stone
While the
Horses
Turned
To mice
And me,
I Turned to
A rag doll.
I was
Picked up
Gently
And carried
Away
The playground
Left
Behind
In dissolved
Swirl!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
TRADING LIVES
How can
I describe
What I
Feel
When I them
My age
Walking, running
And living
While I
On my wheelchair
Sit?
I feel
No jealousy
Or rage
Just a
Deep
Pain!
They could
Be me
And I, them...
A change
Of lives
Would be
So wonderfully
Nice.
Then they'd
Know
Better than
Stupid questions
To ask
Regarding
How I
Live
My life.
They'd know
First hand
Of beating
The struggles
And survive!
I'd know
What'd be
To really
Live.
To run
To dance
To walk
The everyday
Race...
I wouldn't
Need to
Imagine
Anything!
How can I
Describe
The Joys
I've been
Denied?
Happiness of
Being
Independent
In pursuit
Of
Living
A complete
Life!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE KNOCK
There was
A knock
On the
Door...
It sounded
Urgent!
I drop
The pot
I held
Spilling
All contents...
Soup
Of carrots,
Potatoes,
Cheakpeas
And tomatoes...
All on the
Floor!
At this
My vegetarian
C,at
Made
A feast!
I ran
Toward the
Door
And on
The way
Tripped...
A tangled
Mat
At.my feet...
The knock
Came again
Shaking
The door
In its
Very frame!
Coming!
Called I
As to my
Feet
I got
And dashed
Forth...
Owww
I, on a
Just mopped
Floor
Slipped
Hitting
My behind,
Bringing
Tears
To my eyes...
I finally
Reached
The door
A mess of
Pain and
Spilled soup...
Yanking it
Open
I looked out.
Lo!
I beheld
No one....
A gust Of
Wind
Hit my
Face
Just as I
Turned
Away!
Oh, it was
You
Was it
That
Created so
Much
Havoc in
Just seconds?
As if
In answer
The wine
Blew past me
Into
The house
Rattling
Everything!
I quickly
Shut
The door
Watching
Things
Fall!
I opened
A window
And shouted
For the wind
Out to go...
It left
Leaving
Behind broken
China
Upturned
Pots
And pans
And more
Destruction
Than I care
Say.
It'll be a
Day
Too soon
Should tne
Wind
Return!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
HELP
Help!
Cried a
Frightened
Voice.
Help!
It cried
Over and
Again...
I sought
It everywhere
For from
Where the
Voice
Was coming
There
The person
Would be!
Much as I
Seeked
It
More
Confusion
Overtook me...
I found
Myself
In search
Lost...
Help me!
Came
The cry
To me
Yet again
As I moved
In circles
Searching!
Eventually
I grew
Tired
And set
Down...
Help me
Find you
I called
To my
Surroundings!
Silence
Was
All I heard
Until I called
Help
Once more
And I realized
I sought
Myself
For the
One lost
Was none
Other
Than me!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
WHO IT IS
I watched
As Grey
Clouds
Hid the
Sun.
They dressed
Him up
In the
Garb of
Rain...
Then they
Mocked
Him
Saying
Shine
We won't
Stand
In your
Way!
Now, the sun
Was
Quiet...
He was
Thinking
Of
Vengeful
Things
He could do...
The Grey cloud
Laughed
Taking
The silence
For
Defeat!
You admit
Defeat
And that
Rain
Is King
Of the
Elements?
The sun
Kept quiet
Still
Thinking...
The jibing
Went on
A while
Until the
Sun got
Tired...
He gave
A small
Shudder
And blinked...
Then
Came a
Gust
Of wind
Tearing rhe
Cloud
Apart!
Owww
Screamed
The cloud
As the
Sun Laughed
And the
Wind
Growled
Happily!
Now you
Know
Who's
Most powerful-
The sun
Exclaimed.
Not
You or me
But
The wind
It is!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE ANTS!
The ant
Was scurring
About
Gathering
Grain and
Food
Before the
Rains...
Alone she
Worked
To feed
Her family
Ungrateful
Little ant
Kids!
Come and
Help
Your mother
She'd yell
You eat without
Thought
From where
The grain
Came...
But Mum,
We know
You get
Us food...
We are little
Kids
There's not
Much
We
Can do!
Wrong!
Corrected
The mother
Ant
You can
Help.
Sniff out
And follow
The trail
Telling your mum
The whereabouts
Of more
Grain!
Alright
Echoed the
Ant Kids
As they
Fell behind
Their Mum
Wherever she
Went...
It was inevitable
They all
Got caught
The ant
Kids
Singing songs
As their Mum
Led them
On...
A sweep
Of
The broom
And.they
All went
Into the bin
Together
To gather
Food
Before the
Monsoons...
Ants in
The trash
That's what
They became
Then!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
RAIN DROPS
In the
Stifling heat
The rain drop
Came
Out
To play...
It skipped
And ran
Along the
Edge
Of its cloud
Land!
From there
It called
To its friends
To come
And play
See the
Brightness
Of Day
For this
Cloud land
Is Grey...
They joined
In the games!
Soon they were
Chasing
Each other...
That's when
It happened...
Thr rain drop
Slipped
And from
The clouds edge
Fell.
Help! All of
You
Grab
My Hands!
Pull me
Upwards
To you!
They did
As told
And pulled
And pulled...
To no avail
Though
For before
Long
Thru all were
Tumbling
Downward!
Ahhhh
Went their
Screama
In different
Crescendo!!
To earth
Fell they
Landing on
Nothing but
Stones
Hot dry
Stones
And evaporated!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
ONCE UPON A TIME
It had been
Raining
For days
And the
Princess
Was getting
Tired
Of it...
She could
Bear
It no longer
For, her
Beloved
Due to
Cloud bursts
She could
Not see.
She paced
Around
In circles
In her
Tower...
Brows furrowed
Fists clenched
Teeth barred
In angry
Anguish
Stamping her
Foot
Every other
Moment!
No one
Could
Calm
The rage
Though
Many tried,
They were
Slapped
In the
Face!
At last
There came
A yell...
Away with
You
Let my voice
Break
Your spell...
Go on and
Flee!
Let me
And my
Beloved sun
Be!
The rain
Stopped
And the
Beloveds
Were united
After a great
Many
Rain spells.
Happily
Ever afte
They lived
The sun
And me!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
CAUGHT
As the wind
Blew
Making the
Rain dance,
Unseen
It slithered
In...
Poking its
Head
In
First
It looked...
Studying
The surrounding!
The rain was
Being
Beaten
This way
And that
Wetting the
Window panes...
It decided
Like a
Snake
Slither
Further
In!
Just to
See more, a bit
More
Of
Everything...
The yells
Of the
Wind
Hid
Effectively
The not
Too loud
Intrusion!
It had entered
Far in
Now...
Unlike a snake
Ir spread
Itself
More like
A bird...
Soon though
It got caught
And stopped!
Yes, the water
Was quickly
Snared
By newspapers
And cloths...
It wasn't so
Smart
After all!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
BOOMARANG
Once upon
A time
There was
A fair
Liar...
She would
Look
Everyday
In the mirror
And to herself
Say
Today
I am in
Excellent
Spirits...
Then she'd
Convince
Others
Of the same!
On another
Day
She'd decide
She was
Terribly ill
And so
Play
That card...
All would
Worry
And wish
Her well
While
She went
About in
Perfect
Health
All behind
Their backs...
Still sometimes
The fair
Liar
Couldn't make
Up her
Mind.
Then she'd
Be between.
Wellness
And illness
For some
While!
All the lying
One day
Took a toll
On those
She'd often
Fooled...
They joined
Forces
And her
They confronted.
It was
By surprise
That she
Was caught
Lounging
Lazily around
When she'd
Said
She was busy
Beyond
A doubt.
They grabbed
Her
And by the
Shoulders
Shook her
As they
Into the
Chasm
Of lies
Dropped
Her!
Thus it was
That by her
Own
Doing
The fair liar
Met a
Liar's ending!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE DANCER
I watched
Her dance
The twirls
Of
Love...
Such beauty
Furled
And unfurled
Before
My eyes...
I smiled
Enchanted !
She winked
And smiled
She even
Laughed
As her feet
Danced
And her body
Swayed...
I sat
Mesmerized
At her
Act!
At one
Point
She even
Kissed
My finger
Ring...
I melted
Within heart
Of my heart
And smiled
Wide!
Who I'd this
Exotic
Beauty
You ask?
She is
None
Other
Than the
Diamond
On my
Ring!
Such unraveling
Beautiful
Thing!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE GHOUL'S DREAM
On a low
Stool
Sat the
Fat ghoul
Dozing away
To glory...
In her dreams.
She saw
Yummy things
To
Drink and eat!
A wild
Boar
She met
Who started
To chat
And so
She began
To snore...
The conversation
Was
Animated
Full of
Exclamations!
I quietly
Watched
From
Where I Was
Following
The two talk...
Soon though
The ghoul
Was called
To awaken...
The chat
Stopped abruptly
As the
Ghoul
Stirred from
Sleepiness
Leaving
The boar
Waiting
Until
The next
Snooze time
Snoring!
I laughed
Silently
As I witnessed
The whole
Thing!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
SLEEP EMBRACE
Sleep embraced
My eyes
And they
Closed
To dream.
What they
Saw
Was
Incredibly
Lovely...
Happy gardens
With
Many blooms
Birds singing
Merry tunes!
I was felt
True joy
And peace
I was
Simply at
Ease.
I smiled
In my
Sleep!
Reasons
To smile
Are hard
To come by
These days
So I cling
To the dream
Even when awake...
It is
Wonderfully
Realistic
What in my
Dreams
I see
That in
Slumber
I more often
Desire
To be!
Life
In dream
Reality!
.
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE PROMISE
We sat on
A rock
My friend
And me...
Hand in hand
Watched we
The Sea...
We began
Counting
Them waves
As
At our feet
They came!
Thousands
Upon
Thousands
We
Counted.
From the
Smallest
To the
Largest
Said my
Friend to me
That is
How much
Love
I feel
Toward our
Friendship..
I smiled
Nodding
For I knew
Well the feeling!
Time passed
Eve turned
To night...
It was
Soon
Time for
My friend
To go
Back home...
Promise, I do
To return
To see
You
And hold
Hands
We will
Again
As we
Talk
With our
Hearts...
Now, i
Must leave!
We kissed
Before he
Into the waves
Slipped.
Do not cry
Said
My merman
For
You are to
Me
What no
Mermaid
Ever
Will be.
Said he...
Everything!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
RIDING PAGES
I happened on
A thick
Book
Whose pages
In a kind
Of excitement
Shook...
I opened
The volume
And forth
Poured
Laughter
From pages
That quivered!
Next came
Terror
As the lines
Trembled...
Fear was
Followed by
Calm
And the
Pages
Lay
Lazily
One on the
Other!
Soon there
Came along
Mystery and thrill
And the book
Shook
In anxiety...
Last came
Love and joy
Pages gave
Off A whiff
Of immeasurable
Romance...
Clearly
I was loathe
To close
This book...
Then I figured
If I did
I could
Open it
Riding on
High emotions
Again!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
WHAT DO YOU THINK
Have you
Ever wondered
What it'd
Be like
To be a
Wave?
To ripple and
Rise
Majestically
Crashing
Upon
A rock
Causing
To the onlooker
An exciting
Shock?
You'd be
The star
Of sunset
Times
For you'd be
Resplendent
In golden
Garb...
And in the
Rains
You'd be
Eatery fury!
A friend
To fishermen
When in
A good mood
You'd be
And to
Sailors
A true
Companion
When on calm
Seas!
Oh to be
A
Wave
Would mean
So much
Don't you
Think?
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE CAT AND FEAR
Once upon
A time
A cat
Sauntered
By...
It passed
In front
Of an
Old woman
Who
Rather quickly
Mumbling
A prayer. .
The cat
Laughed
At such
Superstition!
It carried
On on
Its path
Where
It cake
Across
A rabbit...
Uh-oh
Exclaimed
It
Before
Hopping
Rapidly out
Of
The cat's way...
The cat
Grumbled
Shaking its head
How silly
They were
Being
When they
Saw it
Pass
Their way!
On it
Went
The cucumber
Cool cat!
As It neared
Its
Destination
It its
Owner
Saw
With a stick
Waiting...
Good grief
Muttered
The cat
Pausing
In its tracks...
It spun
Around
Without
A sound
And tasting
Fear
Ran
Passing the
Rabbit ans
The old
Prayer sayer...
The cat understood
Now
Their
Fright
At just
A sight!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE BALLOON
A little
Balloon
Escaped my
Grasp...
It floated
High and it
Floated fast!
Wait!
I called
Out with
All my
Heart
Wait, dont go
For you
Might
Get lost...
Lost?
Retorted
It
What, among
The clouds
And gentle
Wind?
Ha!
You worry
For nothing!
Now this
Balloon,
Was unique
One in
A million...
It had the
Beauty
Of a bird
And qualities
Of that
A girl...
Young antd
Silly
Yet somehow
Smart and wise.
Come back
Down
I called
You are getting
Too far
Very fast!
I'll come
Back
Before you
Know it
The Balloon
Me assured...
By now a
Speck
In the sky...
I squinted
Upwardx
Worried
And rightly
So
For just then
As
It did a twirl
The Balloon
Caught in
A tree branch
And burst
To pieces!
Pretty Balloon
Fell in
Tatters
To earth
In a swoon!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
. DIPPED!
Two biscuits
Sat in
A tin
Quiet
Afraid to
Be eaten...
If we
Remain
Silent
We will1
Survive
Won't that
Be grand
Instead
Of being
Eaten?
One said
To the
Other
In barely
Above
A whisper.
It's companion
Nodded
But asked
What if
They shake
This tin
And find
Us out?
Then they
Will surely
Have us
No doubt!
True, true!
Let's cling
Fast to the
Tin
So we don't
Jostle and
Move.
It was settled!
A short
While
Went by...
The smell
Of tea
Brewed already
Reached
The two...
Oh
To have
Dip
And a sip
Of that
Excellent
Drink!
Both exclaimed
In unison
Thus causing
A racket
Inside
The tin.
Soon
They were
Found
Out
Dipped in
Tea
And eaten!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
FALSE BLAME
A scolding
Mother
Spoke to
Her child
Angrily...
Why do you
Upset me
With your
Careless
Ways
And stupid
Says?
The child
Looked agast!
For he
Had done
Naught
To deserve
Such
Talk.
Still, he thought
Long and hard
But to
No avail...
Don't look
Like you
Don't know
What you've
Done
Scolded his
Mum
Once more!
I really
Don't know
Said he
With tears in
His eyes
Pleadingly...
Humph!
Who spilled
The milk
And broke
The mug
Wasn't it you?
Yelled rhe
Mother
Tell me
The truth!
I always
Tell the truth
Mum
Replied the
Lad.
It wasn't me
But
Gary
The cat!
Just then
A meow
Was heard
And along
Came
Gary
His black
Whiskers
White as
Snow!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE GREATER
I saw the
Grey cloud
Near...
The sun
Had
Hidden
In fear...
Why do you
Come
Asked I
Of
The Grey
Fluff blob!
I come
The sun
To shame
And wet
The soil
Until
It sprouts
Seeds...
Ah
Said i,
Surely too
Much of
You
For the earth
Is not
Good!
True that
May be
Yet fall I
Will...
Upon soil
And folks'
Heads!
Exclaimed
The grayness...
The sun peeped
From behind
The cloud
Of Grey.
Be gone
Far from
Here
Snapped
The sun
As It
Broke free
From
Its fear...
It tore
At the
Grey
Fiercely
Shining bright
Showing
Once for all
Who
Is truly
The greater
Of
Them...
Grey clouds
Or sun bright...
It was after
All
Only a contest
Not
A fight!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
HER TOMORROWS
She stares
Ahead
Looking toward
Her
Tomorrows...
How will
They be
She
Wonders...
Will she
Be
Who she
Wants to
Be
Or remain
Who she
Is?
Shall her
Days be
Brighter
Like those
Of her
Yesterday?
She'd very
Much
Like to believe
In the
Yes
To her
Questions...
Life isn't
Easy
Under any
Conditions.. .
So...
She stares
Ahead
At tomorrow's
Face
With trepidation!
For once
She'd like
Surerity
That
Life shall
Be
Burden free.
Who can
Guarantee
This?
She ponders
As she sits!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
REALIZATION
By the Sea
I stood
The waves
Came and
Went
Kissing
My feet...
I sighed
Lost to
The feel...
Overhead
The clouds
Ran
A race
While the sun
Slowly
Hid
His face!
It was drawing
To a close
The day...
A pang
Of pain
I felt...
So deep
It was
So profound
I shivered
Alone!
Time, please
Slow down
I begged...
Not ever
Wanting to
Lose
All I care
About...
Then the
Eagle
Called
From high
Over
My whole...
It spoke
To me
Somehow
And I
Realized
That I need
Not fear
The passing
Of time and
Loss
For before
Too long
I also
Shall be gone!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
UPSTAGING HATE
Love danced
As though
No one
Was looking...
It twirled
On its feet
Getting
Happily
Dizzy!
It skipped
It ran
It jumped
It sang...
Love kicked
Hate
Hard
And away
Sending it
For a
Toss
Of shame!
For, Hate
Always
Bragged about
Being
All
Consuming
So Love
Put it
In its place...
Oh Love
It has a
Flare
For drama
I'd say,
More so
Than hate!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
MASQUERADES
A painted
Face
Oh it can
Be so
Enchanting...
Powered nose
Rosy lips
Blushing
Cheeks!
Shadowed
Eyes
Giving
Off
A lovely
Vibe...
Ob the
Faces
So painted
Can make
The beholder's
Heart
Go faint!
The lips
Stretch
Into a
Smile
The cheeks
Blush
Ever more
Creating
The feeling
Of awe...
The eyes
They blink...
Coquettishly
One winks!
Hearts then
Get caught
In a trap
Of
Probable
Love...
Ah, the
Painted face
Holds
Power
Such captivation
As no other!
It can
Betray too
The charming
Face, can!
Thus
Proving to be
The downfall
Of sp many
Women and
Men!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
GUESSING GAME
Looking straight
At the
Camera
To myself
I thought...
What expression
Will best
Suit
The photo
To be
Shot?
Should I
Smile
Or frown
Thus bringing
The observer
Down...
Should I
Laugh
Or weep
Making the
One looking
At the photo
Shed
Tears?
A crinkled
Brow
Perhaps
Between
The eyes
A furrow
To show
Am deep
In thought
Or even
Fed up?
Nah!
I decided
On a
Poker face
Let them
Who see
Guess
How I feel!
The camera
Flashed
On an
Expressionless
Face
Indeed!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
SUDDEN STRIKE
Buzz! Buzz!
Went the
Bee
Tidying
Its home
Ever busy...
It was
Harvest
Time
Days to
Collect
Honey...
Soon the
House
Was filled
With
Zzzzing
Of bees!
They sang
And danced
The buzzed
About
Day became
Night
But harvest
Time was
Still
Not done!
The queen
Bee
Decided
To finally
Relax
And that's
When came
The attack!
All was
Lost.
Honey
Spilled over
Bees gone...
So came
The end
Of the
Honeycomb
And it's
Inhabitants!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
PROOF OF LIVING
All was
Silent
Around
Me...
I could.
Hear
The wall
Clock
Ticking
I could
Make out
The
Roaches
Running
And even
Tne milipedes
Crawling!
It was
So quiet
I heard distant
Traffic
Rumblinga. .
This is
Well
This is
Nice
Thought I
To myself
While
My coffee
I had.
It was
Early morn'
I Lay back
And thought...
What was
That sound
That like
A cannon
Rang out?
After a
Few seconds
Of listening
I realized
It was
My own
Heart
In the dead
Silence
Beating!
Alive, you are
It was
Saying!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
SELF DEPRECATION
I heard
A little
Giggle
That of all
Such
Was
The cutest
I ever
Heard.
Looking around
Me
I noticed
I was
Alone...
Where then
Could the
Giggle have
Come from?
Was I
In company
Of
A ghost?
I wondered
As I walked
About
Peeking
In shadowy
Corners
Ready
To find
Someone
Out...
Goosebumps
Formed
On my arms
And my
Breath
Came out
Short.
I sure
Was
Afraid
Of I
Don't know
Who or
What!
I walked
Three times
Around
Without
A sound.
Then of
A sudden
The Giggle
Again...
I started
At my
Wits' end...
It struck me
Then
I was by
Myself
So the
Little laugh
Surely
Was
My very
Own!
How pretty,
Hauntingly
Ridiculous!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
LOVE DECLERATION
A pretty petal
Fell
At my
Feet...
Gently
Scooping it
Up
I examined
It...
It wept
On my
Palm
I had no
Idea
How
To keep
It
Calm!
Why weep
Little one
Asked I
Why do you
Cry?
Distraught
I placed
It
By the
Rose's side...
I have Bern
Torn
In game
Love and
Dislike
And I was
Cast aside!
Oh lovely
One
Said I,
You are
Precious
And truly
Loved
Indeed.
By whom
Asked it...
Why, by me
Certainly!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
LOVE LETTER
Ink in a
Bottle
Quill
In hand...
I pose to
Scrawl
The love
Letter
Never before
Written...
The scratch
Of the feather
Tip
On parchment
Pours forth
Choice
Lines, and
Words!
By the light
Of the
Oil lamp,
The writings
Come to
Shadowy life...
Upon the walls
Dramas play
Out!
Dramas of
Love!
No one
Reads or sees
These
On walls
Playing
On parchment
Scribbled...
No one
Knows of
These
But me
The creator
Of
Love never
Before
Been!
FREDERIKA MENEZES D
STORY LINES
Blink! Blink!
Goes the
Cursor
While
The writer
Thinks...
Soon
The page
Will fill
With
Words and
Lines
About
Made up
Lives!
These lives
In a land
Unheard of
And
Far away
Their speech
Is
A unique
Lilting sway...
They pass
Simply
Every day-
These folk
The writer
Will pen
Are magical
In their
Ways...
Fair and not.
Tall and
Short.
Elegant
And crude
Generous
And rude...
Among them
Intelligence
Rules...
The writer
Has writ
The page is
Full
Of the tale
Of
The Dwarrs
Of the
Earth
And Elves
Of
The enchanting
Woods!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
IDENTITY CRISIS
While I
Waited
For prince
Charming
To come
My way,
I heard
Many young
Men
In rhyme
To me
Say...
That I am
Such a
Beauty
Without
Compare
That gold
Cascades
Down
Every strand
Of my hair...
That my
Lips are
Ruby red
And my eyes
Light
Topaz!
That I am
Like
A mermaid
Fair and
Elegantly
Made.
An open
Honest
Face
With a smile
To rival
All others
Falsely
Glued
In place!
They spoke
All these
Things
And more
They even
Said
How finely
A horse
I rode.
I heard it
All
With my
Head bowed...
None saw
Me
Laugh
Quietly
Out loud!
For I was
The prince
The others
Were talking
About!
Sure as day
I had
Their say
I did no longer
Need a crown
To prove
My royal
Renoun!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
BRAVING THE STORM
A gust
Of harsh
Wind
Blew through
The trees...
All living
Among
Leaves
Cowered
In fright...
At a distance
They saw
Clouds
Not white!
A storm
Was a near
They needed
More shelter...
A call
To meet
Was sent out
By a
Young parakeet...
All in every
Tree
Stood.to
Attention
And soon
The meeting
Was
Underway!
What do
We do,
Risk a flight
Together
To yonder
Trees in that
Far off
Land?
Do we
Wing down
To the
Ground
Below
Where the
Force
Of the storm
Will
Be less strong?
They discussed
To and back
Exchanging
Views.
No let us
Brave it
Said
An old
Eagle
The Elder
Of them all!
By now,
The storm
Was upon them
And every
Tree
Swayed
Violently.
They clung
To dear
Life
Along every
Branch
Even on
Leaves...
Before long
It had
All passed
And glad
They were
They had
Bravely
Stayed
Where they
Were!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
ADMIRED
A bright
Pair of eyes
I caught
Watching
Me...
I started
Then gave
A little
Scream of
Glee...
I was being
Quietly
Admired
For the first
Time
In my
Life!
Quickly
I smoothed,
Down
My frock
And ran fingers
Through
My hair...
I just had
To appear
A beauty
So fair!
The bright
Eyes
Blinked...
A little sigh
I heard
As from
The shadows
My admirerer
Emerged.
I gasped
When her
I beheld...
It was
So surprising ..
We giggled
As upon each
Other
We gazed
For,
From the
Shadows
Stepped forth
In a mirror
Reflection
Of my own!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
TBE BREAKOUT
Down the garden
Slope
I strode...
I had a
Purpose
In mind
A task to
Do!
Birds chirped
Many merry
A song
While butterflies
Flitted along
From flower
To flower...
I walked on..
Once I reached
Where I
Was headed,
I paused
In thought-
Do I truly
Want to
Do this
Or not?
I turned my
Head
Glancing back
From where
I
Came..
It stood
An imposing
Presence
Of
Impregnable
Stone
I'd just broken
Free from!
Oh
I was doing
This...
I resolved!
Opening the
Gate
In my
Unassuming.
Guises
I made
For freedom
Not ever
Again
To be
Held inside.
I took flight!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
THE ARGUMENT
Late one night
I witnessed
A beautiful
Sight...
A secret
Exchange
More like
It
I considered
Myself
Lucky to be
Privy
To it!
It happened
Between
A sweet dream
And a dreamer...
Marvelous
To the
Beholder!
The dream
Hovered
Above
The dreamers
Consçienceness...
Go away
Said sleep
Let me reign
With might
What little time
I have left.
The dream
Refused
To leave!
I have
Every right
To be seen
Exclaimed it.
For without me
You become
Dull
And heavy!
Sleep frowned
It can't be so
As if I
Weren't here
Now
You'd be nowhere
Near...
The argument
Went On
For a while..
I watched
Fascinated,
Quiet!
Okay, let us
Agree
To disagree
Said sleep...
Without me
You'd not be
And without you
I'd be boring!
They shook
On it
And laughed
All the while
I was
Seeing them
Behind
My slumbering
Eye lids!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
DON'T WORRY
My love! My love!
Called i
To the sun...
Where do
You hide
My precious
One?
I peeked up
At the sky
Only to catch
Raindrops
In my eyes!
Blinking them
Away
I dalled yet
Again...
Dark clouds
Loomed
Before my
Sight.
In fact,
The whole
Sky was black...
O sun
Tbought I
To myself.
Where have
You gone?
A wind
Blew
Carrying with
It
An Echo....
My love's
Voice reached
My ears...
I'm right
Here
But you cannot
See me...
I perceive
You
From behind
This dense
Wall of
Unfallen
Rajn!
Worry not
Gor soon
I shall
Be to you
Visible again!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
SHE RIDES
In the camouflage
Carraige
The princess
Adorned in
Her finery
Rides on
Her way...
Folk line up
The roadsides
So she waves
And smiles!
The carraige
Is glittery
And drawn by
Invisible
Horses, so jittery...
She sways
In her seat
Like a willow
In high
Winds!
In every
Weather kind
The princess
Rides...
She must
Be somewhere
At the appointed
Time!
In reality though
She just
Moves not...
Going nowhere,
A princess
Carved in
Stone!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
,DREAM WISH
I had a
Dream
A reason
To believe...
In the
Promise
Of
Sunny days
By the
Showing ot
Gentle ways!
It was my
Belief
That made
Me see
How very
Flawed
The world
Is...
I dreamt
Of perfection
In life's
Every direction...
In every
Friendship
And heartfelt
Relationship
I wished
Total
Unquestionable
Love, understanding
And affection!
Yes, I had
A dream
I seek
To make
A realization!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
CACAPHONIC ORCHESTRA
A hot and
Humid
Eve
It was
When the power
Was out...
With the
Door to
The back
Garden
Open
I sat
Nursing
A cool
Cup of
Drink!
I read
By the slow
Fading
Light...
I wasn't looking
Forward
To night...
The clouds
Ran after
Each other...
White fluffy
Against
The darkening
Sky!
I got up
Off the step
Where I sat
And lit
The gas light...
Holly!
For a moment
It was
Bright!
Then, sitting
By it
I once more
Began to
Sip...
It was dark
Now
And the
Orchestra had
Started to
Play!
Crickets, buzzflies
And mosquitoes
A chaotic
Melody...
Soon I yawned
Stretched
And my eyes
Closed...
To the
Sopranos
And
Altos of nature
I added
My baritone
Snore!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
CHANGE OF MIND
There was
A whisper
In the wind...
It spoke your
Name
Saying you
Were coming
To see
Me...
Finally!
I rejoiced.
Calling my
Friends
To myself
I told them
What the
Wind had
Said!
Hurray!
They danced
Happy
You would
Soon be
In our
Presence.
We were to
Have
Feasts,
Celebrations
Of the
Grandest kind...
You would be
Regailed
With the finest
Of everything!
Alas,
The wind dropped
A whisper
Softer than
Any other...
It said
You had changed
Your mind
And were not
Coming...
Humph!
We all
Exclaimed
Of one
Mind and heart...
By changing
Your mind,
Yours was
The loss
Of the biggest
Kind!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
GENTLEMEN
There goes
The gentleman
Who of all
Men
Is most
Handsome...
Not just that
But he
Holds
Great respect
For ladies
Children
And men!
Affection
For the
Animals
He has,
Recognizing,
In them
The beauty
Of every
Being!
Ah the
Gentleman
Is proud
Not meek.
Yet his
Pride
He does not
Show
But it radiates
From his
Mannerisms!
Words so
Polite, he
Speaks
And never
Does he
Abuse
Those around
Him...
So, if you
Cross his
Path
Bow and salute
For "gentlemen"
Are a rarity!
FREDERIKA MENEZES
