Swing In A Tree: 2026-04-12

Saturday, April 18, 2026

"Your Silence"

I have no excuse for hurting you
Saying
“I didn’t understand”
doesn’t erase your pain
When you stripped bare
our differences,
I built a defensive wall
to shelter our friendship
to protect us from the World’s invasive
discord and discontent
I begged for less
Your silence honors me

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Friday, April 17, 2026

"He Doesn't Like Me"

An indestructible bond
Woven together by laughter and tears
Revelations of doubt shared in the hushed pre-dawn hours
Private thoughts and hopes spilled across endless pages
Our friendship strong and true

Subtle changes unfolded
Before a single box was packed

Before a vow of faith and love was made
You grew distant and reserved
Still our friendship held strong and true

You battled against yourself
Pulling me awake with midnight calls of uncertainty
Our friendship frayed around the edges
The years of sisterhood withstood your demands
Yet our friendship held strong and true

Imperceptibly, you excluded me
Letters not answered, phone calls shortened
Visits while our children played ended abruptly
You needed to clean, and cook, and make things perfect
Our friendship weakened by his demands

You tucked into yourself
Tightened into a ball so tight I missed your despair
Your silence the only response to my concern
Even after Death ripped through your life
He withheld you from friendship strong and true

IOUNIO's song, "Scared" with today's poem!

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Thursday, April 16, 2026

"There's A Pill For That"

headache or heartache; weight up or down

fungus or fever; face in frown

helpless or tired; skin with a red rash

anxious or cold; a nighttime hot flash

grab a cure-all; or rub a lotion

pop an antidote; or down potion

drink elixir; or chew sweet tablets

suck a lozenge; or swallow pellets

foolish and stupid; minds closed to truth

shallow and stubborn; creeds blight our youth

righteous and pure; their justice is small

cruel and petty; their views destroy all

grab a cure-all; or rub a lotion

pop an antidote; or down potion

drink elixir; or chew sweet tablets

suck a lozenge; or swallow pellets

JCMG MUSIC's "Lullaby" provides a delightful soundtrack for today's poem!

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Wednesday, April 15, 2026

"The Enemy Without"

my bliss

begins with rusted rake, scarred shovel

continues with ancient clippers that snap winter’s residue

pulses with knees planted to ground

thrives with bulbs separated, clippings rooted

grows with tipsy walls reset with careful hands

pushes skyward with dew dusted blades

my bliss

conquers the enemy without with patience

soothes with dappled sunlight

transforms death with restoration

mornings blend into afternoons

days meld into weeks

When Life challlenges me, I plunge my fingers into dirt. Sometimes, I turn to music, like IOUNIO's "Big Top Blues" to manage my day!

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Monday, April 13, 2026

"Umbrella Paradiddle"

walking in the morning rain
steps confidently secure
not a single fret for pain
morning’s aura warm and pure
thunder threads a distant plane
raindrops offer a soft cure
bold grackles dive into drains
tempted by the water’s lure
paradiddles tap refrains
against my shelter’s contour

IOUNIO's "Dancing in the Rain" pairs perfectly with my poem!

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"Stillness"

Today I need to step outside of myself
  to embrace caution
  to access this new information
  to slow down my pulse with measured breaths

Today I need to locate my panic’s source
  to immobilize my fear
  to heed my heart’s warnings
  to analyze my certainty I’ll be hurt again

Today I need to be still
  to reflect upon my younger self’s doubts
  to acknowledge her searing pain
  to wrap her safely within the tranquility of my experiences

IOIUNIO's "Isolated" wraps around me today as I find the perfect poem to share with you.

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Sunday, April 12, 2026

"Be Still"

Loss and grief wrap around my spirit
They drag my steps, pull me into silence,
Hone my thoughts down to brittle bits of despair
Loss and grief echo through my dreams
They invade my nights, snap me into vigilance,
Pace with me from room to room
Loss and grief whittle away my heart
They cause my tears, push me into darkness,
Force my days into protective stillness

For April's Poetry Month, I'm tapping into some of the lyrics from my favorite IOUNIO songs.

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"Dental Floss"

Cheap dental floss

—not the desired brand—
            Frays
            Leaves strands
                        trapped
Frustrated before sunrise
            I fling the new container aside—
                        thumping it into the trash
                        announcing my irritation
Temper flames my words,
            “We had an entire conversation about this!”
Feeling trivialized and minimized
            I cut to make him smaller
And I braid those fine wax fibers
            into Porter’s rope
                        Giving it weight—
                                    Importance
Until
            my snarling reflection
            snaps me to The Big Picture
It is—
            after all—
Only dental floss

IOUNIO's "Lost and Found" to help me celebrate Poetry Month! Read the lyrics as you listen to the song!

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