The Tunnel

The darkness around us becomes a tunnel to drive thru the night.

The songs on the radio carry us along racing to our destination.

But the night stretches the end beyond our reach.

The pain and fatigue make us anxious for home but the tunnel is demanding.

Rough stretches at the maximum speed allowed, feel like standing still.

Opposite travelers lights pinprick the night. Lighting the tunnel ahead.

Outside world present but untouchable. One a driver one a passive passenger.

One with eyes wide with caffeine the others eyes drooping in spite of it.

The lines of the road captivating and maddening. Home will come soon, really.

A Poem for Micky

A Poem for Micky. 3/12/16

By Abigail R LoCascio

There is a girl, I love her face.

In my heart she has a place.

When she leaves I'll miss her so.

I wish she didn't have to go.

She loves Jehovah with all her heart.

Her parents gave her an excellent start.

At every meeting without fail,

She filches my necklace and off she'll sail.

I know she's sad to leave her friends,

But, then, true friendship never ends.

She'll leave us all behind and go

To make new friends, and she'll show

Them her sweet whacky self.

Her old friends placed upon the shelf.

But one day soon, if we all strive,

We'll be in paradise, strong and alive.

And we won't have to say goodbyes.

Or miss each other as tears we cry.

I know my "Gurly" whose face I love

Will worship our dear God above.

No matter where she has to live,

All of her heart she'll always give.

I know she's able to be strong.

We'll see each other before too long.

Whatever pathway she might pave

I know my "Gurly" will be brave.

Forever in my heart a place.

Forever I will love her face.

Act One

The darkness overwhelms me,  shadows, fear, pain. A fog envelops me, for that is when I am pressured to perform. To convince that I am normal. That because I am young I have no pain, no reason for exhaustion.  But I am Pain, I am Exhaustion. I am old under this skin. They see the smile on the outside, the cheerful voice and come to expect it, so when it impossible for me to show that, I am just too spent, they feel justified in calling me rude. Saying I have no compassion. I'm sorry if my compassion is missing. Where is yours? Is it missing too? Excuse me while I try to muster up enough energy to apologize. Let me try to escape the fog enough to understand what you are implying. Don't worry. Tomorrow the mask will be in place once more. I'm glad you enjoyed my performance today. Day spent,  I head home peeling back the layers to reveal the fatigue, the fraud, the tears, the pain. The "real" me that is taking over like I am a host. I wasn't always like this. I slip into darkness and repair the cracks in the mask, find the friendly voice that I misplaced during the day. So by morning the performance begins again. I'll do better today, I promise. The sun is shining. I'm fine. Really...

The Edge

I'm standing on the edge of night
I think I'm beginning to see the light
With darkness behind and light up ahead
I silently creep out of my bed
With sleep still tugging from the rear
I feel the sunshine coming near
An early bird begins his song
To us alone this moment belongs
Watching the sun present his rays
I'm standing on the edge of day

Change (9/2010)

Do you fear change the way I do?
Well I know just what you're going through.
I the blink of an eye your life takes a path,
That a moment before it might never have.

Your stomach lurches
As your heart searches
For some stability,
But lost is your ability.

Your comfort zome attacked,
Into a corner you're backed.
Instead embrace change
Things of the past rearrange.

Allow the changes your shell to breach,
Or else you're grasping for something you can't reach.
Learn to go
With the flow.

You can't be happy clinging to the past,
You're allowed to move on, memories last.

So embrace the future and the changes that it holds.
Out and face the future, stand tall and be bold.

Base life on the future and be free at last.

Papa

 

Papa was a simple man who cared for others all his life
He found a sweet and simple gal who soon became his wife
They took him off to prison because he wouldn't fight
But the trials that he faced there did not destroy his light
While he was there her Mama died, the news so very sad
And the family home burned down; they lost everything they had
But he loved his wife, he loved his God, and so he kept right on
And when he walked home from the bus, he ran into her arms
A few years later, going home one day, they were in a crash
His muscles and her bones were very torn and smashed
She was dead and he was gonna be was the news that day
But then they found she was alive; she hadn't slipped away
The two of them took time to heal and soon they bought a house
This simple and sweet loving man and his wife "The Mouse"
Then one day to their surprise they got some shocking news
That they would soon be three instead of only two
I came into their world on a cold, January morn
A gift from Jah they always said when I asked how I was born
They raised me and they taught me so many wonderful things
How to live and serve our God and all the joy that brings
Now that he's gone and I reflect upon our time together
I wish I'd had more time here now to get to know him better
But thanks to our God that he taught me about I'll get a chance one day
To hug him and to thank him and to finally say
I love you Papa I always have, and thanks for being my dad
You and Ma were the best parents that I ever could've had

7/17/2010

Treebreathers

Deep within the forest green
There lives a race unheard unseen
They live their lives among the trees
Because without them they would cease
Their bodies have a faulty gene
I came upon this race so rare
When we came upon their lair
The company was cutting trees
When I heard an eerie wheeze
Floating in the sawdust air
I had the men shut down the saws
And left them in the charge of Dawes
There was something in the forest
Chanting in a choking chorus
Quite noticable in our pause
I held up my hand to tell then men
To not do anything and then
I stepped into the forest deep
As quietly as I could creep
And heard the sounds again
As I walked I heard a sigh
"Do not continue for we shall die."
I looked around in frantic awe
And from the treetops then I saw
A small dark man swing down from high
"Who are you?" I bluntly asked
"And why do you resent our task?"
"My People must live among the trees
The way the fishes need the seas
We are a strange but simple race
But now a problem we do face
Each tree cut down means our death
Fro from each tree we get our breath
We've lived among the trees for years
Have lived our lives with joy and tears
Our lungs grew used to so much purity
It seemed we would endure with surity
And then you came with your machines
With them you shattered hopes and dreams
For first the old ones passed away
And then the weak ones fell each day
And now the young are dying too
They cannot breathe you see and you,
Go right on chopping down the trees..."
With that he fell upon his knees
He gasped for air and clutched my shirt
Within his eyes I saw the hurt
He'd lost so many and I knew
Many more would die soon too
For I knew this forest was almost gone
We hauled out lumber by the ton
The company owner was a heartless man
The head of a million dollar clan
Who cared for nature only when
It made him money and paid his men
Though I felt the deed was done
I had to try to save these ones
I called the master then and there
But he said he didn't care
To get those people off his land
And get the saws on and manned
I helped the native to his feet
For I had yet to be beat
I told the men to start their work
Inside I felt like such a jerk
Into the forest we then fled
I followed the native as he led
The way deep into the trees
Natives surrounded me like bees
"I'll try again" I fairly wept
Off to the side with my cell I crept
And phoned my friend Suzanne LaRue
Who surely would know what to do
She pulled some strings and wouldn't you know
She worked a miracle and so
To this day in a strange land
Cutting trees is strictly banned
For there in a teeny tiny forest
Singing and enchanting chorus
The Treebreathers live in peace
Their whole lives among the trees
(Finished 6/21/2010) All rights Abigail R. LoCascio


https://www.blurb.com/b/7372651-the-treebreathers

At Worlds End

The world ended when Papa died
the screaming of my soul... echoed in my voice.
Suddenly the security I had always known...gone.
My small, safe world now huge and frightening.
My savior, guide, teacher, and friend,
gone in a blink of my eyes.
What will I do now?
Who will help me now?
Who will teach me now?
Where will my life go from here?
How will I know if I'm making good decisions?
So that life is over and this life must go on.
The revelations keep coming, and I find after the tragedy
is a continuation of saving, guiding, teaching, friendship.
Others take these roles, and fill them
like a square peg in a round hole.
They are filled but not exactly...None will be my Papa.
None can take that place.
But I learn he was not perfect, and so others in his roles,
succeed for they too are not perfect.
The end was only the beginning.

5/11/09

Writing In Bed

I snuggle deep into my bed,
as words float round and round my head.
Much needed sleep away has fled
and so its this I write instead.

My husband and my kitty too
are sound asleep. yet guess who
is wide awake and oh so blue
that I can't welcome sleep anew.

The faucet drips and clock does tick,
cramped diaphram makes me hic,
my thirsty tongue feels very thick,
and restless legs just want to kick.

Blanket off and blanket on,
all hope of sleep completely gone.

Silent Sleep

You nestle deep into my chest,
my heart finds some peace and rest,
in our private little nest,
as you sleep on in silence.

I feel your heart beating strong,
as you stretch your legs out long,
my love for you cannot be wrong,
as you sleep on in silence.

I feel your breath on my face,
dampening a tiny place,
a hint of tuna I can trace,
as you sleep on in silence.

Then I disturb your messy fur,
and you awake with yawn and purr,
you're still as sweet as you were,
when you slept on in silence.

3/17/09 For a contest "Intimate Moment"

Cat Limericks

Brammy

There once was a kitty named Bram,
Who is as meek and mild as a lamb,
He is a bit shy
Which is probably why,
It's surprising when he's a ham.

Puddy

There is a crazy pussy named Pud,
Who tries to do what he should.
But he scratches and bites
and wants to start fights,
But in the end he's usually good.

Bella

There is a cute kitty named Bella
Who makes her litter box smell-a
You could break the scoop
when scooping her poop.
And shout when she makes the rug yella!

Bo-Jangles

There is a strange kitty named Jangles
He just adores shiny bangles.
He sits on your feet,
And begs to be beat,
As over your kneecap he dangles.

Bailey

There's an aloof cat named Bailey
He'd rather you not pet his tail-y
He looks down his short nose
In distant repose,
And bites my hand almost daily.

Missy

There is a cute kitty named Missy,
Who sometimes is terribly hissy.
She can be quite sweet,
but in a heartbeat
She changes 'cause she is p****.

I Loved

I met you and I loved you,
You smiled and shook my hand.

I followed you and I loved you,
You kept a neutral stand.

I learned you and I loved you,
You never really knew.

I played you and I loved you,
Away from me you drew.

I gave up and I loved you,
I met another man.

I felt sorry and I loved you,
You became another's man.

You married and I loved you,
You moved on and I grieved.

I moved on and I loved you,
Your lack of love bereaved.

I'm taken, I don't love you,
There's not much more to say.

I'm married, I don't love you,
But memories still stay.

Me-n-you

You left and so I started over,
but over me I feel you hover,
my distrust it makes me suffer,
and time gone by not much a buffer.

You made me nervous, made me quake,
my heart remembers and it aches,
I wonder and my head I shake,
was our friendship always fake?

My best friend you claimed to be,
through your destruction, I didn't see,
until you almost smothered me,
and tried to keep him away from me,

He became the love of my life,
he asked me to be his wife,
he helped me through my mental strife,
And then we started our new life.

But still some days I miss my friend,
And I contemplate the end,
A million thoughts I'll never send,
a broken part of life, not mend.

I started over, started new,
yet, I still often think of you,
Of all the things that we went through,
When you and I were me-n-you.

The Robbery

The Robbery 8/14/08

At the pharmacy that day,
I have a gun the man did say.
He threatened us with ½ a minute,
Open the safe the drugs are in it.
Finally opened the safe she did,
He grabbed 5 bottles by their lids.
Off he ran while we all trembled,
All bravery away it crumbled.
Will ran to tell the LP guy,
While Pharmacist and I did cry.
Then all the police, and detective came,
To take our statements and our names.
The camera’s of course they didn’t work,
So now we can’t ID the jerk.
Now we try to pick up the pieces,
The memory it never ceases.

Phunny Pharm

Phunny Pharm by Abigail R. LoCascio

"I need some refills!, said the dude
In a manner almost rude.
"I need Prozac for my wife
and Viagra for our sex-life,
Then the Adderall for my kid,
Also either Nix or Rid.
I need them NOW.
I GUESS I'll wait.
Twenty minutes??
I'll be late!"
Insurance problems,
the printer's jammed
Today we're very under-manned.
Three lines on hold,
another ringing,
All my nerves on edge are pinging!
The end of this so far away,
I just started out my day!
But then, the day calms down at last,
and craziness is finally past.
Then the kind folks come and go,
John and Lisa, Beth and Joe.
This "pharm" day has finally ended,
All the issues, off are fended.
Off we drive into the night,
To rest up for next day's fight.

The Man from Wikiup

The Man from Wikiup (Feb 2007) by Abigail R. LoCascio

There once was a man from Wikiup,
Who drove to town in his picky-up.
He wooed Senoritas,
And drank Margaritas,
And had to walk home with a hiccy-up.

The Lost

The Lost (06/30/08) by Abigail R LoCascio

I’m so sad for all the lost.
They throw away their lives, at cost.
They run away into the world,
Forever life, away they’ve hurled.
Everything held dear in past,
Away from them, afar, have cast.
My heart, it breaks for these young ones,
All the daughters, and the sons.
Why from Jehovah do you run?
And, the ransom of his son?
This is not some little thing,
To Jah, you promised, you would cling.
And yet the world called out to you,
And away to it you flew.
Please come back and do not wait!
Please… before it is too late.
I want you there, by my side,
In Paradise to reside.
Please come back my dear young friends,
Before this wicked system ends.
I’ll be here, waiting for you.
To be your friend, to help you through.
Just please come back, come back to us,
Do not fight and do not fuss.
Jehovah’s true, the world is not,
And after Armageddon fought,
This world you’re living for today,
Will be completely thrown away.
And then it will be too late.
So do not balk and do not wait.

My Room

My Room (published 1996 By Majestic Books) by Abigail R. Zacharias {LoCascio}

Mother says, "Your room's a mess,
Here's a slipper - there's a dress,
A stack of books, a teddy bear,
Your sweatshirt draped across the chair.
There's a pair of purple socks
Stuffed into the Kleenex box.
Your dirty clothes in a heap-
Oh my! It must be four feet deep!
A faded poster on the door,
An old dog biscuit on the floor.
And too, I think the family cat
Chewed the flowers off your hat.
I see your homework 'neath your shoe-
Is that the paper that's past due?
I think you;d better start today,
And get this stuff all put away!"
But I look around and it's plain to me,
That things are where they ought to be.

Too Much Rain

Too Much Rain 6/3/1997 by Abigail R. Zacharias (LoCascio)

All the sky gives us is rain.
If we get much more, I'll go insane.
I wish the sun would shine real soon,
Cuz here it is already June.
I'm so depressed that I could cry,
But I won't and I'll tell you why,
We don't need more of this liquid stuff.
I think that we've had quite enough!

Sneaker

Sneaker 10/21/96 by Abigail R. Zacharias (LoCascio)
S- Sweet and cute and oh, so dear
N- Nose and eyes, and toes and ears
E- Eager to please that silly cat
A- And black and white and Oh, so fat.
K- Kitten right up to the last
E- Everlasting? No he's past
R- Roadway was his own death bed,

So now I cry and hang my head.

(My sweet kitty Sneaker got hit my a car. So I wrote this poem.)