I STILL GOT MY SOUL

I wrote this poem for anyone who has been abused or subjected to violence.

YOU ASSAULTED MY BODY
AND MESSED WITH MY MIND
BUT I AM MUCH STRONGER THAN YOU CAN DEFINE
I'LL SCRUB MY SELF CLEAN
I'LL SHED ALL MY TEARS
SEEK HELP FOR THE DAMAGE AND GET RID OF MY FEARS
AS MY SOUL SLOWLY HEALS
MAKE NO MISTAKE
I STILL GOT MY SOUL
THAT ONLY GOD CAN TAKE

©2010 Joyce E Coley

Age Ain't Nothin' But A Number

I listened ….. because ……… I wanted to hear
your smooth Mississippi born.. Georgia raised … silver tongued voice try to convince me … that ….
” age ain’t nothin’ but a number” .

.. I listened to smooth .. eloquent words…
the verbal stimulation touched spots I needed touched …and sparked a flame … dwindling inside of me … so …
I bathed in the shower of words ..
expressed as though you read my thoughts
beautiful words … carefully sultry …
spoken with the strategy to weaken my hesitancy ..
and nudge your way into my fantasies ..


I allowed them to cascade over me ….
pushed aside the realities trying to invade my thoughts
and momentarily succumbed ….
even when they became … too fast ..too familiar
but all too soon those beautiful … eloquent words…became empty …
“beautiful words lose their luster when they are empty”
and you didn’t realize you were bringing back my reality
and ….talking me OUT of you …

© 2005 Joyce E Coley

Crocks and Such

VIRGO REMEMBERED

his smile was infectious

when he laughed .. it was loud

I couldn’t help but notice him ..6’3 in the crowd ..

I was quite surprised

that we hit it off.. right away

since he was 25 and I was 38

©2005Joyce E Coley

Thanks .. PFP ... Poetry for the People

Peabo Bryson sings..
“she hides a tear behind a smile”
I hid many tears behind my smiles ...

And finally … I just hid

Peabo sings on…

“to let you know the way she REALLY feels

And .. by hiding …. No one would REALLY know

How I felt or why the tears …

The smile you see now …

Since I’ve been coming here …

no longer masks inner turmoil or …

hides all my tears …  

my smile reflects the pleasure …

From our association …

And I thank ….

All of you who have lent your ears

And helped erase the lonely tears

Gave me some of the confidence..

Lost over the years

Helping me conquer

My  “Steppin’ Out”  fears …

©2005Joyce E Coley

Would you believe this is a Napping Butterfly?

Steppin' Out .. a poem

I started going to a local poetry venue and was inspired to write... the words seemed to flow...

Steppin’ Out

I’m steppin’ out

of the cocoon I’ve built around myself ……….

the small world that perpetuates stagnation..

cramps creativity …..

alienates friends …

I’m steppin’ out

of the comfort zone I’ve created at my computer …..

my tiny cyber world ..

looking at personals

attempting to write

ignoring the self imposed …loneliness …

I’m steppin’ out

looking for perspectives . …discussions ..

mental stimulation .. camaraderie …

leaving behind ….

the deprivation of unchallenged thoughts….

the me .. myself … and I … conversations

I’m steppin’ out

into the realm of ideas …. to expand visions for my art...

the art of fabric .. the art of words…

to the encouragement.. the criticism …

and the acknowledgement of positive people ..

I’m steppin’ out

leaving behind ….

. years of telling myself ….

“this year.. I’m gonna step out”

and because … time waits for no woman …

… here I am….. it’s a start …

a dialogue with oneself is a monologue …

©2005Joyce E Coley

Can't help doodling between writing ..

I named this one ... Crocks and Such ...

What do you see??

Spring

from my bed I can see

the goldenrod color of the rising sun

slowly bathing my living room

with warm .. radiant rays

it is my invitation to rise ..

look outside and witness that ..

spring is coming ..

like spring used to come..
between winter and summer ..

with gentle breezes ..

urging weeping willows to dance in the sunlight..

while dogwoods filter light to an assortment of colorful

azaleas and pansies

trees tinged with a myriad of colors.. bloom slowly..
over plants showing off fresh blossoms
yellow daffodils welcome colored tulips
forsythias contrast with lilacs and hydrangeas
and irises .. regaled in purple ..
tower over pink and white hyacinths
as peonies push through the ground
anxious to show off...

the array of colors.. are like eye candy
floral aromas .. though pleasant ..
attract huge bumble bees that fortell
stinging yellow jackets
and while we reluctantly tolerate pesky flies and gnats..
we lend our ears to the chirping of baby birds
our eyes to robins .. cardinals and fluttering butterflies
we adapt to the usual rain showers..
these are but a few harbingers of Spring
one of the four seasons
approaching slowly
showing off
like it used to
a beautiful prelude to summer.

                    © 2005 Joyce E Coley