stories

Wrinkle Road

~ ~M ~ 6 Comments

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

Timeless Love

~ ~M ~ 56 Comments

Excitement builds
As you wait for the day
To see your old friend
On an arranged holiday

As the day draws near
You become quite giddy
You plan to meet each other
In a faraway city

Questions cross your mind
And you’re apprehensive
You can only wonder
If she’ll find you offensive

When the day finally comes
A strange pit forms in your gut
You know you must play it safe
No matter what

Shaking in your boots
You pray she still finds you attractive
Considering your age
You hope she’ll be adaptive

Stepping off the plane
You see her slender form
She smiles and waves at you
From the small open door

More questions flood your mind
About what she’ll think
Will she still want you
Or will this be a huge mistake

You clutch the flowers tighter
A bouquet bought just for her
She begins to run to you
And all becomes a blur

Tears quickly emerge
You’ve captured her awaiting heart
Instantly you wonder
How you ever made it apart

Clutching one another
As if your life depends on this embrace
You both feel emotions
Which cannot be erased

Neither one of you
Can hold back the steady stream of tears
The warmth of her body
Erases all your fears

Finally you know for certain
She’s always been the one
You eagerly kiss her lips
And look forward to some fun

She reciprocates your affections
And smiles in satisfaction
Nothing can thwart
This overwhelming attraction

It’s been many long years
Yet somehow love remained
You realize now
Your love was not in vain

Written by, Michelle Cook

I haven’t felt much like writing lately, so I decided instead to share one of the poems from my book, Beneath the Canopy. I wrote my poem, Timeless Love, back in February 2016. This poem was inspired by an old article about a couple who had been separated during WWII. They lost all contact, she thought he’d died, and both married other people. Eventually, against all odds, a letter one of them had sent during the war finally got delivered. This letter caused them to reunite, and since both had already outlived their spouses, they were able to rekindle their romance from long ago. I was so touched by the story that I wrote my poem, Timeless Love. This poem is one of my personal favorites, and if you like this poem, please check out my book. It’s free to read if you have a Kindle unlimited membership. 

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/love-nature-romance-couple-6706324/

What would you do?

~ ~M ~ 6 Comments

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What would you do
If you had a whole day?
Would you leave behind the things
That always get in your way?

Would you watch a sunset?
Or perhaps fly a kite?
Maybe sit on your front porch
And drink milkshakes all night?

What would you do
If you had an entire week?
Would you search for all the things
You’ve been dying to seek?

Would you act like a pirate?
And finally go on an adventure?
Searching far and wide
For that lost buried treasure?

What would you do
If you had a full month?
Would you express to the whole world
That you’ve had quite enough?

Would you go on a rampage?
Perhaps tell everyone how you feel?
Or would you just stay inside
And keep everything concealed?

What would you do
If you had a complete year?
Would you investigate all the things
Which have never been clear?

Would your curious mind take over?
Would you become a sleuth?
Perhaps a professional eavesdropper
So you could uncover the truth?

What would you do
If you had a forever?
Would you still stay inside
Even in good weather?

Or would you finally just enjoy
Everything you’ve got
And not let your life
Be all for naught

What would you do?

© 2019 Michelle Cook

The wonder of inspiration

~ ~M ~ 28 Comments

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It’s always fun to see
Where we glean our inspiration
Especially during those times
Of wordless frustration

Sometimes it’s a word
A picture or a quote
Or other times it’s simply
What someone else wrote

Often it’s the news
A book or a short story
Which gives us the means
To write our own allegory

There are so many things
Which speak to our souls
A writer’s mind
Is never in control

And even these words
Right here on this page
Have come from a place
I cannot gauge

So I sit and enjoy
My mind’s aimless ramble
It’s something I’ve never
Been able to unscramble

© 2018 Michelle Cook

Her Fortress of Solitude

~ ~M ~ 14 Comments

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Plagued by daily thoughts
Of disorganized whimsy
She’s forced to relegate to a chair
That’s tattered and flimsy

Shoved into her hand
Is a warm cup of black tea
In the other hand a pen
And a notebook on her knee

Sipping the day away
With an intense look of determination
Sometimes random smiles appear
Others times grimaces of frustration

Secretly she knows
The story which she’s telling
She only hopes that others
Will one day find it compelling

Carried far away
By all of her imaginative thoughts
She fervently scribbles down words
Ever assessing the plot

Biting her lower lip
She stares out the window
Very carefully considering
Who will be her hero

Time ticks away
And she’s oblivious to the passing hours
All she can think of
Is who she’ll entrust with superpowers

Every decision must be impeccable
And scrupulously thought out
She’s knows there cannot be
Even the slightest bit of doubt

 

© 2017 Michelle Cook