Scared Sacred (PPOW:RED)

Welcome Poetry Play on Words members and anyone who should happen on this poem.

"I worry about everything, all the time"

T.C. Boyle

Scared Sacred

My writing often featured love attired in sweet caresses,
couples bickered until their hatred enraptured them;
all rose colored glasses and sweet perfumed tresses;
bewildered dames adored by men who dared them.

But I'd like to see what occurred if I dared to reach
to the realm of Rice, King or T.C. Boyle and scared readers
into going to church for sacred relief. Could I preach
of eyes fired red instead of tales of suave city leaders?

Poe mastered the art of macabre suspense; he blurred
lines of good taste with mudered hearts and lettered
prose stolen, embittered villains, some who demurred.
Could I as artfully tell of damsels captured and fettered?

As I stared at America's Next Top Model it appeared
the girls who garnered looks weren't sweet natured things,
but the ones who looked bored, bothered, who blubbered
and bordered on psychotic. They spared us no feelings.

What if my red-caped heroes faltered intead of capered;
villains cowered instead of butchered? What emotions could
I draw out if the ladies never simpered, but instead hollered?
What if the plot veered off a cliff instead of into dappled woods?

Just once I want to be scared by my own words, take credit
for incredibly harsh, fierce scenes, get teared up reading
my own sad prose. There's so much still undiscovered yet
I'm afeared where this idea of holy terror will be leading.

© Sue Barton 2008

This was written for the Poetry Play on Words Challenge. The word to be included this week (Week 10 - 2008) is "RED" See poetrypow.gather.com for further information. Join the group to join in the fun. (It is also in answer to Kimberly Ripley's Thursday Writing Essentials article of 03/13/08.

If you enjoyed this poem, you might like to read some more. To see a complete listing of the poems I have posted on Gather, follow this link.