Rain

During the heart of summer silliness
shimmery beads spill softly
subduing, yet giving rise
to the warm embrace of the day.

A kaleidoscope of kisses
clings to my sun-scorched skin
whispering sweet nothings
in my worn-out, weathered ears.

A single drop sizzles
on the tip of my tongue
pieces of parched earth
come alive in my mouth.

I drink in the days of my youth
the ends of eras, no longer lost
forgotten moments flickering
embers that never quite expired.

A flood of emotions permeates
all the hidden parts of me.
Funny, I could’ve sworn
I’d never see days like this again.

© 2025 Michelle Cook


Photo generated with AI

Random Musings

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Slide across a rainbow
Kiss the midday sun
Swim with the dolphins
Now there’s some intense fun

Lick a bright red lollipop
Hug a crying friend
Build a fort or treehouse
See what’s lurking round the bend

Throw a glitzy party
Give jelly sandwiches to the poor
Catch a flight to Denver
Who’s that knocking at the door?

Toss the ball right over
Sail off to the ends of the earth
Drink a bottle of champagne every day
Find the sum of all you’re worth

Dance an Irish jig
Make a wish under a harvest moon
Go in search of buried treasure
Find that lost helium filled balloon

Eat loads of chunky monkey ice cream
Be happy in the midst of the storm
Read by the light of a candle
Crochet a blanket to keep you warm

Send secret messages while sleeping
Peel potatoes for the stew
Put lights up on the eaves
Celebrate each day that you’re you

Believe in forever and evers
Set the moon ablaze
Splash under a crowded waterfall
Count your blessings now and always

© 2017 Michelle Cook

Prim

What are you doing aside from getting into my space
Licking my face
And floating fur into my morning cup of tea
I get that you n I are a “we” now
But your inability to have boundaries is a little hard to swallow
I don’t necessarily enjoy your sassy little buns being situated in front of my face
You’re a sexy little sweetheart but not of my preferred species
I think we’re gonna have to rethink the terms of our agreement

© 2024 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: This is a picture of my cat Prim, the little devil herself. 😉

Wrinkle Road

It all began
on wrinkle road
a story so profound
it must be told

But who am I
to expose the truth
and knowing the world
they’ll just want proof

So back n forth I go
holding my tongue
with sweaty hands
ready to be wrung

Juicy details
begging to burst
but I’m just me
and my lips are pursed

Looking around
no soul to tell
helps quiet my mind
and the images quell

So I’ll save my story
for another day
too good to tell
anyway

© 2023 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/wrinkled-old-faded-paper-past-470799/

*On my recent adventure to visit my family, I encountered a road named Wrinkle Rd. I was driving about in the middle of nowhere when I saw the road, and the name just sort of stuck with me for the rest of the day. So after much deliberation, I finally decided to challenge myself to write about it. But too many thoughts were racing through my head as I pondered such a place, and in the end, it seemed like a place of unlimited possibilities. So I leave it up to you, dear reader, to decide what profound things may happen on Wrinkle Rd. Maybe you can even write your own story or poem about what you think goes on there. ~M xo

Life’s doorways

There’s a doorway to destruction;
it seems to find me every day;
I take different paths to avoid it
and look for the merrier way
.

There’s also a doorway to delight;
it finds me less than other doors;
oh, but when it does find me,
I’m sent up a hundred floors!

There’s a doorway to regret
and another that opens to grief;
thankfully, neither stays open long,
so that’s quite a relief.

There’s also a doorway to peace
and another that leads to fun;
both are best enjoyed
walking through with a bit of sun.

My favorite door of all
is the one that leads to love,
but I have to be open to finding it,
sometimes needing a little shove.

There’s a doorway to adventure,
one that I look for every day,
and when I eventually find it,
It’s like being on holiday.

Some doors are pretty,
and others I’m afraid to touch,
but those that are welcoming
always mean so much.

I’m excited yet cautious
to see where most of them go;
I know if I’m too afraid to open one,
I’ll never really know.

The right door for me
might be the wrong door for you;
I guess none of us will ever know
until we’ve opened quite a few.

I’m grateful for so many choices
and the opportunities to succeed;
I hope you find your door today,
the one you really need.

© 2022 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/doorway-beach-opening-entrance-981803/