“Picture Perfect"

 

New camera in hand, I scouted our neighborhood a couple of weeks ago in search of perfection. Unexpected rain left the ground soaked, but mud caking my favorite tennis shoes didn’t deter me from finding just the right prickly pear cactus for a photo-op. I love the surprises on what my lens captures hidden under petals.

Another day, another location found me dripping sweat in sauna heat as I snapped more shots of sun drenched cacti thriving and surviving, and providing nutrients to insects crawling along the flower’s edges and dipping into its depths.

Nature’s perfection captured with my camera.

Copyright 2026 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman   

IOUNIO's "Scared" dips into our wants, needs and fears.

 

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"Approval"

   

her exclamations of righteousness
fill every hour of every day
as she proclaims her piety
she protects her façade of devotion
with her illusions of perfection
she announces her good deeds
by never saying no
she weaves wreaths of sacrifices
she carries the cross of expectations
over her broken body
her fears wrap around her
 when she judges herself harshly
with condemnation for human failings
she kneels in supplication
asking forgiveness for her sins
 

Coppyright 2024 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

SUBSCRIBE today when you listen to IOUNIO's "Run From Fear"

 

"April's Fool"

    

I kneel in awe each spring 

 Worshiping nature’s rebirth 

Stomach flattening to Earth’s coolness 

My lens captures the first blush of blossoms 

The constancy of nature 

Makes me an April’s Fool 

Trespassing over field and farm 

 For one perfect shot

Copyright Elizabeth Abrams Chapman 2022

Sharing IOUNIO's "Toy Kingdom" today!

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"In A Perfect World"

 

In a perfect world

we wrap our children within love, beauty, and grace

the fear

of heavy hands or words that scorch

of empty stomachs and lonely nights

of filth and destitution

            slayed

In a perfect world

we protect the Mother

            the rape

                        of forest and field

                        of streams and oceans

                        of mountain peaks and sloping valleys

            eradicated

In a perfect world

we honor knowledge by encouraging free thought

            the condemnation

                        of different traditions

                        of diversity in truths

                        of multiplicity of dreams

            abolished

In a perfect world . . .

 

Copyright 2013 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

           

   

"April's Fool"

   

I kneel in awe each spring 

 Worshiping nature’s rebirth 

Stomach flattening to Earth’s coolness 

My lens captures the first blush of blossoms 

The constancy of nature 

Makes me an April’s Fool 

Trespassing over field and farm 

 For one perfect shot

Copyright Elizabeth Abrams Chapman 2022

"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
 

 

Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

"The Play"

  

ACT ONE              

            She lightens her brown hair        

                        He prefers blondes        

            She leaves family, drops friends      

                        He wants her to himself        

            She quits schools, leaves her job        

                        He cheats and she forgives        

ACT TWO         

 

            He demands exact replicas        

                        She produces an heir and a spare        

            He expects superiority        

                        She learns deceit and lies        

            He builds and buys a lifestyle        

                        She numbs herself with wine        

ACT THREE        

            A mansion filled with regrets        

                        Their marriage is a glossy veneer        

            Time spent in sun and sand       

                        Their love becomes a mirage        

            A picture of perfection       

                        Photoshop over Truth        

 

Copyright 2015 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

"Butterflies and Hummingbirds"

 

 

 

Camera

weighing heavily in hand

 longing for the perfect shot

yearning to capture a butterfly

floating delicately on a flower

holding breath to capture the hummingbird’s faerie flight

balancing luck and patience

focusing life’s lens  

Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

 

 

 

"Blocked"

 

         I grabbed my spiral notebook yesterday with the intention of writing something spectacular. The blank page pulsed with emptiness. After a few minutes, I wrote the word “Blocked” across the top, believing that by labeling my affliction, I would begin the process of overcoming it.

         No other words followed. I left pen angled across the page, hoping that seeing the two paired together on the coffee table would trigger some inner well of creativity, and words would flow forth effortlessly.

         Nothing happened.

         Not a single word.

         I don’t know why my ideas and thoughts ram against this invisible wall. In my mind, I see them ebbing and flowing. I stand on a precipice, watching my words undulate in silent waves. They never reach the shore.

         So this morning, instead of taking pen and paper in hand, I pull up Word. The curser’s insistent blink-blink-blink-blink challenges me. I type the single word, “Blocked” again, centered perfectly on the page.

         And words push through the water’s rolling surface.

         Not perfect.

         But there.

Copyright 2012 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

"Close Enough"

          Writing sometimes surprises me. I’ll stumble upon a topic one day, mull it over for a few hours or a few days; and when I finally get the words out onto the page, delight fills me. I celebrate when the right phrase paints the picture that’s in my mind. I mentally pat myself on my back and do a victory lap whenever the spirit of a poem holds true from beginning to ending. Occasionally, I’ll revisit an older piece of prose, or a poem written long ago, and feel satisfaction that this creation grew from within me.

         Then comes a block. The cursor keeps its metronome beat. It pulses in recrimination because I’ve summoned it to the page and left it hanging. The swirling, whirling words within me can’t find form or substance. An emotion vaporizes before I can make it solid. A thought teases me in a seductive lap dance then leaves me wanting. (That would work better  if I were a man!)

         Frustration, hesitation and perspiration often accompany the writer into the creative process. So when the sunlight contrasting with shadow plays across my vision, I long to create just the right description. I hunger for perfection as I grope for each phrase. My goal, however, to produce writing almost daily means I accept the concept of “close enough.” I embrace that as I learn my craft and fine tune my abilities; discrepancies will abound between that unflawed poem and my final draft.

         The art of writing teaches important lessons. I’ve learned to welcome imperfections in other aspects of my life. Each day, in essence, is a rough draft. As I fill the pages of my life, I don’t mind false starts, revisions or rewrites. I’m even happy when sometimes I don’t—quite—get—it—right. Close enough, but not perfect.  

 Copyright 2012 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

“Approval"

 

her exclamations of righteousness
fill every hour of every day
as she proclaims her piety
she protects her façade of devotion
with her illusions of perfection
she announces her good deeds
by never saying no
she weaves wreaths of sacrifices
she carries the cross of expectations
over her broken body
her fears wrap around her
 when she judges herself harshly
with condemnation for human failings
she kneels in supplication
asking forgiveness for her sins
 

Coppyright 2024 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

 

“A Lesson in Art”

 

            Take a few moments to check out the latest art my son’s offering on his site! These extremely unique pieces are his vision of a black and white world that reflects what we see in the mirror and model through our mannequins of perfection.

https://www.jcmgstudio.com/

Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

 

 

"April's Fool"

  

I kneel in awe each spring 

 Worshiping nature’s rebirth 

Stomach flattening to Earth’s coolness 

My lens captures the first blush of blossoms 

The constancy of nature 

Makes me an April’s Fool 

Trespassing over field and farm 

 For one perfect shot

Copyright Elizabeth Abrams Chapman 2022

"Chasing the Moon"

 

"In a Perfect World"

In a perfect world

we wrap our children within love, beauty, and grace

the fear

of heavy hands or words that scorch

of empty stomachs and lonely nights

of filth and destitution

            slayed

In a perfect world

we protect the Mother

            the rape

                        of forest and field

                        of streams and oceans

                        of mountain peaks and sloping valleys

            eradicated

In a perfect world

we honor knowledge by encouraging free thought

            the condemnation

                        of different traditions

                        of diversity in truths

                        of multiplicity of dreams

            abolished

In a perfect world . . .

 

Copyright 2013 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

           

   

"Nostalgia"

 

The Crimson Rambler
Philip Leslie Hale, 1908   

masterpieces   

moments of custom   

memories of etiquette   

polite smiles  

curtsies and bows

the good ol’ days in softness 

a vivid palette of bold sunlight   

fields of flowers and fanciful fantasies   

gentleness, hope, grace   

perfection within illusion   

masterpieces   

Copyright 2012 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman



"Ironing"

 

I wish I could iron out   

         the wrinkles of my life   

                     Use a little heat   

                     Apply a little pressure   

         to smooth out the imperfections of my day   

              neaten up cuffs and collars and puckering button holes   

                                the little irritations   

                                             gone   

                                                         with a touch of heat   

                                                                     a little attention   

But   

         Those Natural Cottons   

                     long forgotten in the dryer   

                                 Require more heat   

                                 Demand steam and starch   

                                             Pressure   

                                                         to reach perfection   

And I always get burned   

Copyright 2012 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman