A Tanka
Just another day
Pizza or McDonald's, hmm
In the neighborhood
We at Lincoln Park chillin'
Sit down, relax, be easy
This Tanka is written in response to Sadje’s prompt. Thank you for reading! 
Image credit; Julee Juu @ Unsplash
A Tanka
Why such a hurry
People move in a scurry
No time for hello
Passersby in a flurry
Sitting I watch and worry
Such a Hurry is written in response to Sadje’s prompt.
Image credit: Антон Воробьев @ Unsplash
As always, thank you for reading! 
beautiful to see
love, warmth, kindness, protection
only moms possess
keeping offspring safe, happy
indeed, the eyes tell it all
Near and Dear to My Heart is in response to Sadje’s prompt.
Image credit: Leandra Rieger on Unsplash
Luminous ones
Flying high above
Breath escaping lungs
Beautiful, beautiful belove
Spreading light into the dark
Shards of lightness lend a spark
To an otherwise blind sky
Your brightness leading the eye
Helping to make things clear
Letting the night lift the fear
Accompanying the moon, you are near
When the sun goes down, luminous ones appear
The night no longer scary
Look up and you discover
Concerns of danger are nary
No longer lurking, no room to hover
Luminous ones, luminous ones
So dear to me, flying so light and free
Teaching many to see the bright side
It’s always there, use your cre a ti vi ty
Luminous Ones is written in response to Sadje’s picture prompt.
Image credit: Leon Contreras on Unsplash
Concrete outer shell
So hard and cold
Full of cracks
From head to toe
Break through
Will quickly reveal
The hardness is hollow
Not as solid as it seems
Beneath the facade
Softer inner core
Unveiled and vulnerable
Out there for all to see
Hardness uncloaked
Softness appeared
With eyes closed
It's difficult to see
Widened pupils recognize
Duality unfolds
Revealing what's underneath
The crackling concrete stone
This writing is in response to the picture prompt by Sadje.
Optimistically
Viewing
Everyone
Rallying
Surely
Having
Absolute
Determination
Optimizing
Wisdom
Overshadow was written in response to Sadje’s prompt, what do you see?
Image credit: Tom Barrett on Unsplash
Come into the light All is not lost Life can be a conundrum Which do you choose; fight or flight? Come into the light Flames are still smoldering Calling for your attention Release the pressures you are shouldering Come into the light Turn on the wick Accept light and love Fulfillment comes real quick Come into the light Whether you choose fight or flight Flames are still smoldering Accept light and love
Image credit: Kier in Sight Archives on Unsplash
Come into the light was written in response to the picture prompt by Sadje, What do you see # 222- January 22, 2024.
Let’s go find someone to play Duck, duck goose or jump rope. Teddy, we are almost there. Just down the road we should be able to find someone to play Hide and Seek with. I guess we can’t play Hopscotch or Double Dutch, I don’t see any concrete. Oh, I know, let’s play Mother May I? Teddy, where is everyone? I guess they are all indoors sitting in front of their video games and on their cell phones. Who do we have to play with now? Oh well, I guess it’s just you and me Teddy.
It’s Just You and Me, Teddy was written in response to the picture prompt, What do you see by Sadje. http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/11/13/what-do-you-see-212-13-november-2023/
Sunday; a day of rest Come dressed in your Sunday best The doors of the church are open Walking through the door, appreciation of token Monday, starts the work week Get your body and mind in gear Walk through the door smiling Awaiting life lessons are near Tuesday, one workday down Come to yoga class or meditation The exercise will release any trepidation about the upcoming week ahead Wednesday, mid-week is here Unload your cares on me Free your body and mind Come and talk it out Thursday, one day away from the weekend Tidy up any closet clutter Bag up those old clothes Take them to the donation center Friday, well what else is there to say The weekend has arrived Come over for cocktails We can talk and just vibe Saturday. Thought you would never show up Come in, take a minute to reflect Spiritual, work, body and mental health Aspects of cleansing and socialization Just remember, the door is open. Why don't you come? The door is open. Why don't you come was first published on Inspire By O'Nika and written in response to Sadje's prompt. https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/08/14/what-do-you-see-199-august-14-2023/
Image credit; Simon Berger @ Unsplash
Look at me with this bag on my hip This is some kind of a trip What kind of dog has to wear such a thing This kind of attention is not what I want to bring The bag has the nerve to read, grin Wearing this is much to my chagrin My human likes to play tricks Meanwhile, all I want is to throw bricks When they come my way with something weird Their wayward thoughts I try to steer Away from the clothes and people gear I’m a dog, rules to which you must adhere No fanny packs, no tutus, I just want to play fetch Instead, they take my picture, makes me just retch No more pictures please, no more pictures Written in response to Sadje's prompt, What Do You See #187 http://What do you see # 187- May 22, 2023
You are my mom, tried and true You cheer me up, when I am blue When I need a hug, you are there I can turn to you, when it’s too much to bear You take me to the park I can see the dogs play and bark You make me laugh and smile You wear motherhood with much style Thank you for being my mother Your role, invaluable, like no other Have I told you lately? You are loved by me, greatly ---O'Nika McGill---
Have I Told You Lately? is written in response to prompt by Sadje, http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/05/15/what-do-you-see-186-may-15-2023-mothers-day/
Have I Told You Lately? first appeared on Inspire By O’Nika.
Show your hand, raise it high Shyness has no place, let your aura shine Block the naysayers, they will try to deny The gold band protection, just like an alibi Show your hand, raise it high Let your positivity glow Inspire people and make them smile Where it comes from, they will never know Show your hand, raise it high When people feel like they can't They look to you, see that it is possible Doubt in their minds, start to recant If the gold band gives you courage to muster Your inner thoughts that make you fluster Show your hand, raise it high Gold band speaks for itself, no need to specify --O'Nika McGill--
Written in response to Sadje’s prompt, What Do You See #179
http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/03/27/what-do-you-see-179-march-27-2024/
Image Credit: Axel Ruffini @ Unsplash
Show Your Hand, Raise It High appeared first on Inspirebyonika.com on April 1, 2023
You know you have it good When you are in the neighborhood Being toted around town Puppy pads not touching down Taking in the sights With much joy and delight Watching everyone on their feet Walking to the tune of life's beat From a place of comfort, I watch Relishing in this life Letting the bunions breathe I can take a reprieve Sitting in my carrying tote Feeling the breeze on my furry coat Enjoying the beautiful scenery The lush trees, flowers and greenery This is the life, this is the life
Written in response to Sadje’s prompt, http://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/03/06/what-do-you-see-176-6th-march-2023/
Image credit: Dex Ezekiel/Unsplash
This is the life was published first on Inspirebyonika.com on March 10, 2023
I can only read so much Of this BS and such and such Who in their right mind This info is so maligned Where are the hopeful stories Of animal rescues and watching lories Of good-will and cheer Of not crime and fear Stories about curing cancer Slashing grocery prices like a lancer Restoring faith in the system Less about being a robbery victim Thieves need to get a job Stop stealing and being a slob People work hard for their money This is not the land of milk and honey What about affordable housing and gas Less homelessness, are these things of the past Where are the stories to make you smile Laugh inside and not bring up the bile Bile that makes you want to gag Reading news about this mixed bag Report on something better About successes and the go-getters Maybe then I can read this thing See a story that makes me want to sing And not want to set the pages ablaze Watching the ashes blow away in a haze Written in response to Sadje's prompt, what to you see #174What do you see # 174- Feb 20, 2023Mixed Bag of Trash was first published on Inspirebyonika.com on February 25, 2023
Excuse me, may I interject Let me put things into retrospect I am a human, animate Between two sculptures, laminate Laminate, sculptures void of life Stone-faced, emotionless Let me inject some feelings Sadness, indifference, or joy will suffice Sadness has its place of reflection The level of sadness depends on the inflection Inflection in the voice of the owner The owner who claims it Indifference can go either way You either care or you don't Feelings have a way to sway Even the most stone-faced and emotionless Joy is what turns it all around What makes a smile out of a frown Let your joy astound Inject joy and peace will abound --O'Nika McGill--
Written in response to Sadje’s prompt, #168 WDYS
Interjection was first published on Inspirebyonika.com on Jan 15, 2023