NO RAINBOWS

anger

NO RAINBOWS

Fiery breath surfaces

On her own progeny

In a flash of annoyance

drains her command fleetingly

Yet emboldens afresh

When bothered by her offspring

 

They back off once her face twists

And turns flush

A mark of sinister behavior

and seek solace

follow her bout with timidity

and linger with trust

that in time it will desist

and her venom breath will tire

 

She denigrates others as well

But not in equal measure

There is no query as to why

These little ones spend significant

Amounts of time dreaming of rainbows

In their own lamentable climate

 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading!

Reviews

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Betty,

nicely penned thoughts of creatures within Nature ... Strangely enough, it is Human Nature that is most UN-natural ...

Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn de Graham

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Marvin for an insightful review! Good to be back at the Cafe!
Best, B

[Vertigo Cat1111]

She sounds like a real warrior- or maybe even scary. It depends on how you take the poem, but I love the thought of it being a real lioness of a mother baring her teeth for her kiddies. The words you used I found particularly enchanting and fitting with the entire subject. It felt like a flame that keep flickering and you just can’t stop watching. Thank you for sharing!

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Cat for a very thoughtful review!
Best, B

[Cherrie Palmer]

It all comes back to: if momma ain't happy. Ain't nobody happy. 😀

[Betty Hermelee]

very true Cherrie!
Thanks for your review.
best Betty

[Kelly Scheppers]

I believe you've captured their thought process of "no rainbows" quite intellectually. Most impressive, Betty. It's as if you became Isak Dinesen, through the eyes of Karen Blixen.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks so much for a thoughtful review!
Best, B

[Lisasview]

Hi Betty,
I love metaphors and boy your poem is full of them... Hidden meanings behind clever words are always so mind provoking.
To me, and I am so sorry if I am wrong, this is such a sad poem...full of hurt.
Not all mothers are kind...
Lisa, getting late and quite hot here in Spain...

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you so much for a thoughtful review, and yes you are right, it's quite tragic and very personal....
Best, B

[Lisasview]

I had a gut feeling Betty,
Good that you could write your thoughts and emotions... I am sure that it helps some..
Lisa

[Betty Hermelee]

It's a great outlet.

[Lisasview]

I so agree... So much of my poems come from moments in my life when I needed to "scream"
Lisa, on my way, in a couple of minutes, to the gym

[Betty Hermelee]

Have fun!!!

[Lisasview]

Thank you!!

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Betty… now that our World is Crazy… all Mothers will be a Lioness even
More so to prepare her Cubs for the Dangers lurking… An amazing Poem and a Keeper… gently, Pat

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you for your top notch review...much appreciated!!!
Truly, B

[W. Barrett Munn]

A wonderful description of cubs with a mother who is annoyed. I've seen it with cats but never the big cats. Nicely descriptive. I like how the young ones back off from her feigned ? anger and try to make nice.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you so much for your review, nice to see different interpretations...
Best, B

[John the Baptist]

Who is it we are talking about here, Mary Tudor? Lucretia Borgia? Ma Barker? Sounds as though this old girl has everyone walking on eggs, especially her children. Maybe they're not little ones at all, just adults fearful the old bat will cut them out of the will.

[Betty Hermelee]

It's up to you John as to who is talking....your interpretation..and thank you so much for the review (as always, you're right on it!)
Best, B

[Dave Brown]

Deep stuff Betty
Happens too often to too many
One day I will paint a picture of a lion
An impressive beast

[Betty Hermelee]

It is deep stuff and it happens in real life!!!
Thanks Dave for your review!
BESTB

[jacob erin-cilberto]

not good for kids to grow up in that environment...being a parent means giving love, not anger.
really strong poem, Betty.

the picture, on the other hand, looks like me trying to wake up in the morning.
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

J.. you've got a good sense of humor, especially the last line... thank you so much for reviewing this poem... actually pretty painful to write and yo can most likely guess why...
Best, B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, I can, Betty.