Locker

“why? i don’t know. maybe i was young and naive. perhaps i was young and injudicious. maybe i was young and haughty. or maybe, i was trusting you’d fight for me, for us.

but you did not. you let me go without fighting a damn good worthy fight.

with tears in my eyes, i sauntered away. i walked away with pride in my mind and remorse in my heart. i marched away with a love i not once get to say.”

Locker – A Collection of Poetic Flash Fiction Stories, releasing soon worldwide in all platforms in all formats.

The Utkrisht Prerna Puraskar – The Global Award Of 2023 By The Update India

thank you India 🇼🇳, with love and gratitude from the Philippines đŸ‡”đŸ‡­

“In celebration of extraordinary talent and profound influence, The Update India, a leading news and awareness website in India proudly unveils the illustrious recepients of The Utkrisht Prena Puraskar- The Global Award 2023. The coveted award bestowed upon individuals who have left an indelible mark in their respective domains, recognizes the impact they have had over the years. “

Powerhouses of Excellence: Meet the Recipients of The Utkrisht Prerna Puraskar – The Global Award Of 2023 By The Update India

Read more At:
https://www.aninews.in/news/business/business/powerhouses-of-excellence-meet-the-recipients-of-the-utkrisht-prerna-puraskar-the-global-award-of-2023-by-the-update-india20230524162135/

Vote -That Firewoman on Spillwords

My poem “That Firewoman”, a poem I wrote in celebration of the International Firefighters Day last May 4, 2023 is nominated for Publication of the Month on Spillwords Press NYC along with other brilliant pieces from amazing poets/writers worldwide.

Thank you to Dagmara K. and to the entire team of Spillwords for publishing my poem and for their support to all of my works.

Thank you too, to all my loving and loyal readers for their never -ending love and support and for making this poem “That Firewoman”, trending/popular post on Spillwords leading to this nomination.

If you love the poem, kindly click this link to vote.

you may need to log in again if you are a registered Spillwords user; otherwise you need to register to vote. To register, you may use your email or fb account.

Vote

From Best-Selling Sensation to Unforgettable Wordsmith: The Extraordinary Journey of Michelle Ayon Navajas

such a good news to wake up to on a hot Wednesday morning 👇👇👇

thank you “The Update India” for this feature story.

“In addition to her poetic prowess, Michelle is captivating readers with her latest book, “Locker,” a collection of fictional stories that promise to ignite a range of emotions. Calling its success ‘anticipated’, Michelle expressed her excitement, stating, â€œThis new book of fictional short stories holds a special place in my heart, and I knew it will resonate deeply with readers, much like it has resonated with me.”

Michelle’s literary achievements are unparalleled, with four consecutive books making their way onto Amazon’s best-sellers list, including “I Will Love You Forever, Too,” “After Rain Skies, 2nd Edition,” “It Ain’t Winning If Without You,” and “I Am In Itself Poetry In The Dark.” Moreover, three of her books have secured the coveted #1 spot on Amazon’s Hot New Releases/New Releases list.

As a distinguished freelance content writer and blogger, Michelle’s online presence has flourished, amassing over 100,000 hits on her blog. Her poetic contributions have graced the pages of esteemed international literary magazines and anthologies such as Spillwords NYC, MasticadoresUsa, and MasticadoresIndia. Notably, her poems “Holding Hands” and “Love Happens” were crowned as Spillwords Publications of the Month in November 2021 and December 2022, respectively.

Michelle’s talent extends beyond her individual work, as she has made significant contributions to award-winning poetry anthologies like “Hidden In Childhood” and “Wounds I Healed,” further solidifying her status as a luminary in the literary realm.

Having earned a Master of Education degree with a major in English from the University of San Agustin, Iloilo City, Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her craft. Previously serving as a college professor, she imparted her wisdom in literature, speech and oral communication, creative writing, drama, and theater arts. Furthermore, Michelle holds a degree in Mass Communications, majoring in Journalism, from Centro Escolar University, Manila.”

Read full story on

A Mother

A Mother

two buckets of water,
over her shoulders
buckets of water, to quench
her little ones
left at home.

hard labor, a mother does
to raise her children,
providing for their needs
never an easy feat.

two buckets of water,
over her shoulders
buckets of water, fetched from
a distance, not minding the strain
over her shoulders.

hard labor, a mother does
truly admirable.

Author’s note:

i am from the Philippines which is primarily an agricultural country with a large portion of Filipinos living in rural areas and supporting themselves through agricultural activities. there are areas that do not have access to a decent drinking water system like in most urban cities. thus, mothers (who are the homemakers) fetch water from natural sources like rivers, lakes or ponds; which are usually farther from where they live. having clean drinking water is one of the problems Filipinos from far flung barangays and villages are facing.

out of its population of 109 million people, 57 million people (52% of the population) lack access to a reliable, safely managed source of water, according to https://water.org/our-impact/where-we-work/philippines/

the photo may look like a work of art or a product of creative brilliance of the photographer; but it actually depicts one of the most jarring realities in my country.

For Sadje’s WDYS

Heavy

Heavy

i need a poem that’s heavy on consonance;
i don’t know if this counts ‘cos my heart’s heavy in pain, deeply strained
it’s bleeding, oozing in agony,
massively strangled with branched chain.

i need a poem that’s heavy on assonance;
i don’t know if this counts ‘cos my soul’s losing control,
it’s true i do love you; damn that just won’t do, the ache just won’t go.

consonance or no consonance,
assonance or no assonance,
heavy on both;
heavy on both, my heart, my soul
wanting to burst,
it’s heavier, heavier each time,
it has to break open;

crack open, the soreness
let the agony be prickled out
and split
maybe then, maybe then the hurt
won’t be heavier, or be heaviest.

explode.

detonate.

ignite.

then let it burn.

II. The prompt guidelines

‱ Write a poem of at least six lines that’s heavy on consonance, assonance, or both;

‱ Consonance: repetition of identical consonant sounds;

‱ Assonance: repetition of similar vowel sounds.

The Evil Out of the Basket, I Let it All Out(after e.e. cummings)

The Evil Out of the Basket, I Let it All Out
(after e.e. cummings)

my hand reached out for yours, sadly you refused to choose
the need to take a stand, a battle i tried to withstand;
in my solitude i do nothing but grieve in silence
’till i can hold my tongue no more, you don’t understand.

your slightest trigger provokes the bad in me
though i have chose not to take the evil out of the basket
you always find a better way, to let it all out
(with little or nothing at all), the worst just flashed out.

if you wish to understand this heart of mine
i, will make you see the life that i long thee
as every wind blows the dying petal each day
so as my light dims slowly, fading away;

for nothing in this world can diminish
the light within my soul, but the power
upon which you have control, so take me
as i am, or let death be my eternal respite.

(i don’t know what it is about you) that makes
my knees weaker than it has already been,
my strength is your strength; my love is your
love, my life is your life; despite everything.

For Sadje’s WDYS

For day 25

Here’s our prompt for the day. Begin by reading e e cummings’ poem [somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond]. This is a pretty classic love poem, so well-known that it has spawned at least one silly meme. Today’s prompt challenges you to also write a love poem, one that names at least one flower, contains one parenthetical statement, and in which at least some lines break in unusual places.

Somewhere I Have Never Travelled, Gladly Beyond (e e cummings)

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skillfully, mysteriously) her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;

nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands

Midnight Daydream Island

Midnight Daydream Island

1.

sugar coated sand
splashed over the island
crystal shore water beach
a sanctuary paradise.

2.

heaven you are
to me and to all
whose lives were
touched by your charm.

3.

sunset is a symphony
of magical tales
enchanting moments
suspended in the air.

4.

a burst of rainbow
in the midst of sorrow
for lonely hearts
burrowing grieve misery.

5.

midnight daydream
appearing in between
reality and fantasy
over moonlight realm.

6.

a sweet fantasy
glorious respite
when love and hate
in a great crossfire.

Finally, here’s our optional prompt for the day! Start off by reading Arvind Krishna Mehrotra’s “Lockdown Garden.” Now, try to write a poem of your own that has multiple numbered sections. Attempt to have each section be in dialogue with the others, like a song where a different person sings each verse, giving a different point of view. Set the poem in a specific place that you used to spend a lot of time in, but don’t spend time in anymore.

I Am A Bomb

I Am A Bomb

i am a bomb ready to explode
at your disposal for you hold
the pin to diffuse blast wave
causing a death rave.

i wander in the comfort
of my bewildered  thought
calling for a halt, let it stop
the blast caused me to snap.

i take a moment to smile
somehow it’s for a short while
then you would see to realize
it is not worth the prize.

so the night comes
day’s over as it shams
better be sleeping
than be weeping.

the enemy is thyself
pain upon pain is felt
with trigger after trigger
detonator slips easier.

i am a ticking bomb
set to explode
never to die.

Today’s exercise asks you to do something similar, but in the interests of creativity, rather than ill-conceived “correction.” Find an Emily Dickinson poem – preferably one you’ve never previously read – and take out all the dashes and line breaks. Make it just one big block of prose. Now, rebreak the lines. Add words where you want. Take out some words. Make your own poem out of it!

My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun (764)

BY EMILY DICKINSON

My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun –
In Corners – till a Day
The Owner passed – identified –
And carried Me away –

And now We roam in Sovreign Woods –
And now We hunt the Doe –
And every time I speak for Him
The Mountains straight reply –

And do I smile, such cordial light
Opon the Valley glow –
It is as a Vesuvian face
Had let it’s pleasure through –

And when at Night – Our good Day done –
I guard My Master’s Head –
’Tis better than the Eider Duck’s
Deep Pillow – to have shared –

To foe of His – I’m deadly foe –
None stir the second time –
On whom I lay a Yellow Eye –
Or an emphatic Thumb –

Though I than He – may longer live
He longer must – than I –
For I have but the power to kill,
Without – the power to die –

Honesty ( A Hay (na) ku)

Honesty ( A Hay (na) ku)

love
me with
the love of

the
ocean to
the sky completely

love
me with
the love of

the
sunset to
the sea setting

in
late afternoon
with vibrant glee

love
me with
your gentle kisses

drive
me crazy
with your caresses

love
me with
honesty of intentions

gusto
ko ako
lang walang kahati.

Day 21 of NaPoWriMo
https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-one-8/

Today we close out the first three weeks of Na/GloPoWriMo! We’ve just nine days left to go until April comes to a close.

Our featured participant today is clayandbranches, where the “future archeology” prompt for Day 20 brings us a lecture from the Cephalopod Academy.

Our daily resource is the BBC’s archive of poetry-related writing, where you’ll find essays and articles aplenty, exploring different poets, poems, and poetic forms.

Last but not least, here’s today’s (optional) prompt. Begin by reading Sarah Gambito’s poem “Grace.” Now, choose an abstract noun from the list below, and then use that as the title for a poem that contains very short lines, and at least one invented word.

Glory
Courage
Anxiety
Failure
Defeat
Delight
Confusion
Calm
Belief
Cleverness
Despair
Honesty
Deceit
Strength

Happy writing!

👉 my take, i chose the word honesty and in honor of my country, the Philippines i am using the poetic form hay (-na)ku invented by a fellow Filipino poet Eileen Tabios.

and instead or using invented words i used Filipino words in the last stanza:

gusto
ko ako
lang walang kahati.

which means: i just want it to be me completely

For Eugi’s Moonwashed Challenge.