Mirrored Image
I like my gray hair.
Wrinkles, age spots, double chin…
I don’t like so much!
My mirrored image looks best
when it’s smiling back at me.
Copyright © 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
Mirrored Image
Author / Cheryl Batavia
Putin, What Will Your Legacy Be?
Putin, What Will Your Legacy Be?
How did you use
your position, influence, resources?
Did you exercise your power
to enrich yourself,
to oppress your fellow citizens,
to be above the law?
Or did you use your power
to uplift humanity,
to build a world
with opportunity for all,
to be an example
of integrity and courage?
What will your legacy be?
Will you leave behind
roads, hospitals, universities?
What are you known for…
justice, peace, progress?
Or are you infamous?
Are you the one who
invaded his neighbor,
committed war crimes,
ruined his nation’s economy,
silenced protests and media,
ignored pleas for peace?
Do you think
no one will notice?
Do you think
no one will remember?
Eventually, you will be known
as you truly were!
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
Two Poems: Storm Clouds & Sunbeams
Storm Clouds
Storm clouds
foster fears.
I view this world
through a veil of tears.
Loss of courage,
lack of trust.
Ashes to ashes,
Dust to dust.
Sunbeams
Bright hopes
shine anew.
I view the clouds with
sunlight breaking through.
Summoning courage,
building trust.
Living joyfully
until I’m dust.
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
Can I?
Can I?
Can I hope?
Can I dream?
Can I believe?
Can I see
the future?
Hope I can.
Dream I can
Believe I can.
See, I can!
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
Egalitarian Utopia
Egalitarian Utopia
All human beings
individual, unique,
nurture their talents.
Equals working together,
creating a better world.
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
Sunflowers
Sunflowers
Sunflowers of Ukraine,
the world turns toward you in admiration
as sunflowers turn toward the sun,
always facing the light.
A president, refusing to retreat to safety,
fighting side-by-side with his fellow citizens,
delivering eloquent messages of brotherhood
in the face of brutal attacks.
Civilians…men, women, and children
shine the light of courage and patriotism
into the darkness
of violence and aggression.
Young and old serve their country
standing in unarmed solidarity
in front of advancing tanks…
Fearless sunflowers!
Citizens making and stockpiling Molotov cocktails.
Civilians, men and women, learning to shoot guns.
People delivering food to brave soldiers…
Patriotic sunflowers!
A little girl giving a Russian soldier an earful and a slap!
The soldier turns and walks away…He knows he is
an unwilling puppet forced to attack his Ukrainian neighbors.
He can see that she’s a sunflower!
Men welding together roadblocks
from scrap metal and rebar.
Women constructing camouflage nets
to conceal Ukrainian tanks!
Babies being born in hospital basements,
into a world of devastated neighborhoods
and schools in ruins…
the tiniest sunflowers!
Ukraine, the nations of the world
stand with you in your fight for freedom.
We mourn with you the loss of loved ones.
We support you.
The sunflowers of Ukraine
shine brightly in this dark time,
always turning their faces toward the light…
Freedom-loving sunflowers!
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
At One with the River
At One with the River
Time of river…
River of dreams
blissfully reflecting
sky blue, trees green.
Feeling peaceful,
gently flowing past
heron sentinel,
sunshine in mind.
Consciousness of stream,
underwater wonders,
fish inquisitive.
Joyful making memories.
At one with the river, time flowing by…
Memories making joyful.
Inquisitive fish,
wonders underwater,
stream of consciousness.
Mind in sunshine,
sentinel heron,
past flowing gently.
Peaceful feeling,
green trees, blue sky
blissfully reflecting.
Dreams of river…
River of time.
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
This Little Boat
This Little Boat
In all honesty, man-to-man,
I am rowing this little boat as fast as I can.
Courage, friend, as forward we go.
If you keep bailing as I row,
we may reach the shore, I think,
before our little boat begins to sink.
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
Among Friends
Among Friends
Day-by day, we live on earth.
Face-to-face and virtually, we greet each other.
Eye-to-eye, we often see.
Toe-to-toe, we engage in friendly competition.
Side-by-side, we work together.
Arm-in-arm, we walk along.
Hand-in-hand, we share life’s journey.
Moment-by-moment, we face life’s uncertainties.
Heart-to-heart, we know we are not alone.
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
❤ Happy Valentines’ Day! ❤
Happy Valentines’ Day to all my WordPress Friends
&
to my Best Friend, Robert!
Quest for the Holy Grail
“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Alexander Pope
Some adventurers engage in one one risky venture after the other, unprepared, trusting in luck, giving up too soon.
Quest for the Holy Grail
Upon our worthy quest, the fates will smile.
We venture forth in faith and confidence.
Our fervent zeal inspires each lonely mile,
and hearts sing gratitude to providence.
With compass and a map, we chart our course.
At night we have the stars to guide us there.
We endure for better or for worse,
through rough terrain and weather foul or fair.
We tire of questing for the holy grail.
Our hopes are dead, our dreams all turned to dust.
This foolish enterprise is doomed to fail.
We doubt the grail exists…In gold we trust!
Now seeking pirate wealth from days of old,
we’ll share with God our glory and our gold!
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
Shakespearean Sonnet Written for D’Verse https://dversepoets.com
Gulf Coast Poet 