Writing Poetry

On a whim, I entered a Shakespeare sonnet contest put on by the Southern Shakespeare Company in Tallahassee, Florida. I didn’t win, but I enjoyed reviewing the required rhyming structure and composed this poem:

Loves Nearly Fiery Loss

On October 17, 2017 -
Loud banging and shouting at our front door!
Awakening to a harrowing scene,
Hearing, “Fire!” “Go!” as our feet hit the floor.

Grabbing my journals, we raced to the car,
Fiery branches and ashes rained on by,
The ridges were blazing not too afar,
Driving along flames, I began to cry.

My dear mother! Oh, no! Will she survive?
Will she soon flee these fires of Sonoma?
Will I soon find her, calm, safe and alive?
Or will she suffer a stroke, lapse to a coma?

And then, her text - whew, my mother, no harm!
Her selfie, clasping a fireman’s arm!