I've just noticed, 
as I looked up from writing poetry,
A magpie purchased on the high back 
of one of my outdoor setees, 
Staring smack at me 
as I sculpt words.
Fixed, it holds itself still, measured.
Scheming its next swoop;
Taking in my features, 
I was a moving target.

Always Here

for you my love.  I said
that last humid afternoon.  The
melt of love dripped,

refused to release
into rivers, steamy and
loud. The birðs

squacked
inside the black
cage,

as if they were prepared.

Love never lasts
in my yellow
world.

It is always  in Shakespeare

that tomorrow
accompanies
the winding down of
a love affair.

True north
is

Rarely ever

True


Caroline Shank
April 30, 2025

My doctor wanted to give me the results of a blood test so asked me to come down
As I sat there listening to him meandering on about cholesterol, blood pressure, vitamin deficiencies
I got fed up and cut in on him suddenly
"Look Doc don't sugarcoat it, how long have I got ?"
He said "What do you mean, you're still in pretty good shape, you have a few things you gotta watch...
Again I cut in on him "I appreciate you're trying to break it to me easy Doc
But y'know I don't mind, as long as I...as long as I just get some nice big fancy disease with a big fancy name on it
Not one of those ould common garden type diseases that everyone gets
Something that'd make them all jealous envious
They'd all be looking at their own boring little diseases saying
"I wish I had a disease like his, with a big fancy name on it
Not this ordinary little disease that I've got
They'd be all looking over thinking
He must be a very special type of guy to have gotten such a big fancy disease like that...

The ****** of a doctor, he went and charged me 60 Euros
Now... now that hurt.

the saddest part of dying
is what you forgot to do
the ideas born in lucid dreams
that vanished in the hue
the mountains never seen
the oceans never crossed
the poems written on scraps of paper
a lover's smile now lost
the tears you held inside
the chances never taken
the landscape of your life
an oasis now forsaken

My heart has been broken so many times
Surprised it is still beating
Stepped on and rejected
Bounced back in time and with good advice
Nobody listened
They were too busy rejecting who was different
Their listening skills were nil
No need to give them an answer
Just went forward on bumpy roads
Now the skills that were lacking are slowly there but I trust few
When you are hurt and used you build a big wall
My moment in time is now as I do what I want to do and have people cheering me on my journey
A little late but here goes something

Middle class philanthropist recognizes those with warped sense of priorities
Namely the wealthy
Maybe that should go unsaid
Beyond their comprehension
Do riches cloud their point of view?
Are they that deranged?
One stroke of a pen could change negatives to positives.
Make a life come alive and fruitful
An average woman could have flown into space with those celebrities.
Jeff could afford a freebie and changed the future of women and space exploration
Science would
have greater dimensions
No matter your passion and bank account reach out to help this world
Many need help
Take the first step