therealtamara

Why?

Why did she hesitate when
She could have moved with
Certainty, moved forward in
Time to catch this bus as it
Idled, ideally positioned to
Pick her up. Why hesitate?
Why wait til that moment
Had passed and certainty
Certainly gone. Why wait?

Versus vice versa

Against the tide and up 
Close is where it begins
To get personal where it
Looks like a fight to the
End that endlessly drags
You around. You want to
Hold your horses, but can
Only hold your water and
Ball up a fist, pugnacious
To the core. Up against it.
Slamming at windmills, 
Going against the tide to
Find trouble even where
There is none. Up close.

At last

What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?

Dying is a selfish act, devoid
Of companionship, committed 
Alone and sometimes in the
Dark. It is your dark darkening
As everything quiets. Those
You loved cannot participate. 
They may be sitting with you
By your side, but you are alone.
This is a moment of privacy. 
A moment for keeping your
Own counsel, letting the
Quiet and the darkness settle.

‘Plaints

What do you complain about the most?

Our family joke was always that
The Complaint Department was
Closed. It was an order to come 
Back tomorrow, when, of course,
It would again be closed. No one
Was allowed to express any form
Of displeasure. Complaining was
For sissies and unseemly. Closed.

Player

What are your favorite sports to watch and play?

Playful doesn't define sports
Even peewee football is so so
Serious. They're waiting for a
Huge contract, I warrant you.
If you're watching, it's because 
You've got money on the game.
Summo championships indeed.
Bets wagers bets odds and outs.

Lotto

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Winning tickets are a big
Draw. Winners posted at
The kiosk, an attraction to
Me, and I'm guessing you
Too. We buy from this guy
Rather than another, luck
Is contagious. We think. 
We are all winners! Yay

Win or lose

What would you do if you won the lottery?

There is a hipster attitude that gives trophies to all players.

You showed up. Hey, you win. MVP stands for “most valued participant.”

I am guessing that the state lottery commission doesn’t share that generous point of view. Funny you should ask because I seldom get a ticket; this weekend I have one.

If I win, if the numbers I am carrying in my purse are the numbers chosen by the machine that makes those choices, I won’t make an acceptance speech.

It behooves me to take my money and contribute it to the running of my life.

There are many pressing matters that will welcome the added boost.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Love song

If I remember you 
Will that be enough, 
Or is it too little or 
Is it too late? When
I remember you will
That be enough? Or
Is it too little or too
Late? Is my memory
Ours. For always. Now

Seasonal love

1.

Young and in love sharing 
Jokes both private and, ah,
Profane or sometimes, yes,
Profound. A giggle, a flirt
Averted eyes, but suddenly
They meet. It's sweet and 
Delicious. That's young love.

2.

Puppy love, they call it, but
It's not as indiscriminate as
Your puppy who slathers his
Loving tongue on every face
Or hand that's near him. You
Know that first pang when a
New boy looks at you. Like
That. Like he likes you. Like
He sees you. That pang is as
Real as love will ever be. Do
Not judge me by my age or
The time I take to find a love.

3.

Older wiser and still as foolish
Love makes me so. He is as much
To me as ever he was. Love finds
All fools, young or old, strapping 
Or stripplets equal to its tasks.

Exotica

Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

There was a time not
So long ago or maybe
Longer than I recall
My name was exotic
An unexpected turn
Of phrase. "I never,"
They'd say "heard it
Before. Such a pretty
Name." All that has
Changed. My name is
Channeled by bunches
Of girls and women, 
All wearing it proudly 
Or destroying it to a
Nickname that fore-
Shortens its beauty.