We all hide
We take out a mask
And put forth
What the world expects
We often want to vanish
Escape from what we know
To a different life
We can put on a costume
And forget what ails us
But the mask and the costume
Must eventually come off
It is ok to flee for a moment
Take a break
Just don’t expect it to last
Reality will follow us
No matter how good the disguise
Remember the illusion is only temporary
Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – costume
****Warning – possible triggers about domestic violence****
NO ONE is alone … get help https://www.thehotline.org/help/
She was his woman
She was his toy
He liked to dangle love
In front of her
Then rip it away
With callous words
And a slap of the hand
He never hit with an open fist
So she gave him
Many second chances
After all it was not like
He had raised a fist
Then one day
The hand balled up
And her jaw got broken
She was alone and desperate
She would no longer
Be dependent upon him
She would no longer be his toy
She found a shelter
And life and love again
Never looking back
Again… NO ONE is ever alone. Call, get help, there is always hope on the horizon!
Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – dependent
The darkness consumes
The fading light
Voices begin to whisper
Insults to me
Shadows creep within
My heart and mind
I feel trapped inside
With no chance of escape
The world a dangerous place
But alone with myself
Even more deadly
*Remember you are never truly alone but if you find yourself in a dark place like this, world wide there are hotlines you can call when in crisis. Here are a couple from the US.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line – text HOME to 741741
Veterans Crisis Text Line – text to 838255
Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – escape
The way you laugh –
It makes the world seem kinder.
The way you take time for me –
Makes me feel important.
The way you look at me –
It makes me feel beautiful.
But the way I feel
Leaves me scared…
I think you could make me do
Things I know are wrong.
With just a simple word from you
I would fall into your arms,
Leaving the past behind.
…that thought leaves me petrified.
Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – petrified
One thing after another
The problems compound
But I still have a way to escape
And keep my sanity
A walk in the sunshine
A breath of fresh air
The birds singing
The flowers blooming
So I stop the chaos for a moment
And then return to face the troubles
If only you would see the truth
And admit your part in this
Until then I am alone in this battle
Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – compound
Abandonment from Momma
The fist from Dad
His gifts of childhood
One bruise at a time
Dodging the temper
From an empty bottle
Knowing it would still come
Sooner or later
But he broke free
The tender age of 16
Learned about life
In the back of a bar
And the corner of the street
Worked hard
To pave his way
Living honestly
With kindness
Trying to find some peace
In a less than perfect life
Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – temper
Life is so hard
You must keep up your guard
Do daily battle
Or just skedaddle
Run away
No time to pay
The price of life
Is filled with strife
Time to stand firm
No room to squirm
Buckle up and grin
You may even win
Written for Fandango’s One Word Challenge (FOWC)
The path lies in front of me
And I gingerly take a step
Somewhat unsure of my footing
Slowly I increase my pace
As I meander through the park
Knowing that you are the prize
At the end of this network of paths
You wait for me
My escape from my life of chaos
The only one I can
Open up to and be myself with
You understand me
You do not question me
You are just simply
My friend
the music blasted out of the speakers
the dance floor was packed shoulder to shoulder
many bodies that would undulate to the rhythm
creating a sea like motion over the space
lights flashed and the smells of sweat and alcohol mixed
Saturday night energy pulsed through the crowd
people wanting to find a release
a connection
a moment of escape
temporarily lost in the music
in a world of fantasy…
Turn up the volume
Let the bass rattle my bones
I want the world to disappear
Let me get lost in a song
Crank the dial higher
Let the neighbors complain
I want it too loud to really hear
Let the voices drown in my ears
Move the dial to max
Let me feel the tune
I want to blast away my worries
Let the music set me free
Leigha Robbins 