Good Intentions but...!

                                                                                                      Author Derek Ramsey
Image: A White Gold Wedding Ring

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license)

His mind declined to answer. Sadly it had happened again

He let slip the chance yet again

Had he gone bananas? When the option showed up beaming

he could not wrap it up

He towered over the rest when at his best but he burned 

the goodness again this time around. He could only manage to

breathe some light greetings before he began to stammer.

Stuck in the mud he  wondered in bewilderment

His shoes didn't fit. Rarely caught unawares he looked 

into the distance. The reality seemed apparent. The 

Starpainters were taking over now. The regular stance 

called for a review to stoke his confidence a few notches up

The ring was safely in his grips but still in his pocket!

To think this was the second attempt

Why was it so difficult to pop the six-million dollar 

question and slip it on?

Mish at d'Verse Prosery: Tribute to Gordon Downie

Cinderella -The Glass Slippers Fit?

 

                                                                              Author:Paramount Pictures
Image: Poster for the American fantasy 

film A Kiss for Cinderella (1925)
(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Petrified of her shadows
Pangs of loneliness
affected her health

If only she could trade places

Perhaps being Snow White 

having 7 little friends

No! the jealous Queen will 

look for a new mirror far worse

Hair disheveled dress crumpled
Her memory lingered

I'll be Cinderella in the grand 

carriage then with my Prince in the palace

No! a jealous Queen now aided

by 3 jealous sisters still after her

No. not a Beauty and the Beast
Her winsome beau revered in memory
Marauding thoughts ran wildly
No. not Jack and his Beans 
up high a giant shadowing him
No, much less a Frog Prince

nor Ali Baba with forty in tow

Guilt pervaded her mind
If only she brought herself
out of the abyss

She would overcome
Her resolve was determined

No more self pity 

Rommy's at PSU's Friday Writings #244: 

If the Glass Slipper Fits

Winning Ways

                                                                                             Author: Phyllis Bramson

Image: “Between the Falling in Love Parts,” 

by Phyllis Bramson

(courtesy of d'Verse at OLN)

Set to be settled not in a meek way undeterred
It was enduring with many happenings in between

When these occurred parts on love as expected

Were all the while there in the background

Young hearts in a groove of good assertions
Enjoying nights extending with wonderful skills

Lots of reasons to end up with stable outcomes
Determined to clamber back onto an even keel

To extend support aligned to their feelings
Friends were expected to lend a helping hand

Best to go along in parts ending in happiness

Success in wanting to stay in togetherness

Lisa at d'Verse Open Link Night #415

Teaching oneself not to bother others!

 

                                                                                                  Author :Susan Spaulding
Image: Learning Well
(courtesy of Sunday Photo Fiction – June 17, 2018)

What a treat!
To be sitting atop the table all alone
Seeing the world go leisurely by

It may take your breath away
Seeing an unusual stance
But it is not in harm's way
to any one
In fact, even the duck is able to tell
That I'm a safe bet to be with

How I sit is my bother
You may call it a passing fancy
but it is none of anyone's concern!

It may be late in the day
but as a parting shot let us say
that I need not tower over others
to earn my keeps
nor do I need to fiddle over their affairs

I don't owe anyone a living!

Punam's at d'Verse Poet's Pub Poetics Tuesday: To ma’am/sir…

I'm Bored..!

 

                                                                                                         Author: Martin Falbisoner

Image: '... ho-hum!..'

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons given under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

Such a relief!
All of nine months
Like a xenolith undisturbed
Now I am free
No more in the tummy

No, not again!

"Such a lovely baby!"

Smooching all over me
My granny!

Just cannot stomach the torture

Why can't they leave me alone!

Melissa's at d'Verse Poets Pub - Quadrille #255: X marks the spot

We Rule the World!

                                                               Author:Haliaeetus_leucocephalus_LC0195.jpg: Jörg Hempel

Image: A Menacing Bald Eagle

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany license)

The Sunday Whirl Wordle

The 10 of 12 given words: 

fantasy ruffle plumage tufts mosses 

forest fabric filtering threads cracks 

I just cannot  bear it

It is not a fantasy

We belong in the wilds

But we need to prosper

Why ruffle our plumage

The tufts and mosses within the forest

To provide salvation

That was the contention

A fabric filtering known threads

We belong in the wilds

But shoving us to be with humans

It cracks upon the spirit

It is sacred!

At least provide a wild environment

We were supposed to be progressive

To interact more with humans

To live like humans

To eventually take over the human race

We are expected to rule the world

We are allowed to take on a couple of humans as pets

Come to think of it

That is not a bad idea

Yes, that will be fun

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle773

A Second Love

                                                                                    Author: Hank's
Image: A Younger Hank during 

Competition A Long time Ago

Can’t  make out what’s happening
Running helter-skelter round and round

Why all these buzzing, swooping and swirling
A bee hive smoked out is not as bad

Head spinning wildly the world is moving
No! a merry-go-round has taken over my being
Spinning faster and faster….

Change of stance is apparent
Physically it’s all confusion
A physical would be a revelation

Doc, help me!

You have a headache?
Did you throw up?

Doc, I feel so weak!
I’m all cob-webs!
My mind’s blank

This happened before?
Once before…it was normally two rounds
But I did four yesterday
That’s what happened also before 

The physical is now done!

Nothing’s wrong with you my man!
It’s just exhaustion
From now on just the normal two rounds
Not more than that...

At your age, golf is meant to be enjoyed!

Rommy's at PSU Friday Writings #243: By the Numbers

Strange Occurrence

                                                                   Author: Rene Magritte

     Image: Split out

     (courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

a chunk of flesh

separated from the person

persuaded to drift out 

             

moved to the side 

not veiled or covered

but rose sparingly

a piece of a form

a pearl of nature

a scarce happening  

a little piece 

not to be placed in the sand

or entombed in clay

such is the idea

of a split personality

waiting for a bid

to correct its being

Grace at d'Verse : Poetry Form: Descort

Quiet and Tired

                                                                                                            Author: Jim Fischer

Image: Forty winks

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under its 

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license)

A bundle of heap
He laid still in a stupor
Oblivious of stares

The bench was god-sent

One of the many homeless!
The crowd sympathized 

Looked spent and tired

Perhaps lost his wallet and

slowly walking home

Or resting awhile

Had one too many and stoned 

on leaving the pub

Dora at d'Verse Poetics: Lyric Petrologies

A Marriage Made in Heaven

 

                                                             Ainee the Elegant Bride

The Playful Gesture of the Traditional  'Cake Tasting'

The Wedding: It was solemnised a long time ago

between Ainee a friend of Hank's daughter Azlin 

and Hendroff a Caucasian.

Images: Attributed to Azlin and her friends

 

The bride wore white of Victorian tradition demurely chic perhaps even docile

as a choice. Not strapless nor sleeveless but just as elegant, It was matched with 

the groom dressed in Malay costume. Teary eyed Mom emotional as seen often 

but not on this occasion looking brave as ever. Dad and family extending support 

with their presence. 

Friends of the bride threw in their lot accentuating their all, Not anything raucous 

but enough. They squeezed in a Bachelorette Party. They sacrificed time for three 

separate occasions, The Bachelorette, the akad (marriage vows ceremony) and the 

wedding reception. Drawing on experiences and a variety of  talents, they handled

it all for a modest outing hurriedly but perfect in execution

A whirlwind romance Hendroff and Ainee in matrimonial bliss uniting two families 

from two continents. For them both we would gladly wish them the best for the 

future, for that wonderful marriage made in heaven.

Blending two cultures

Supported by office mates

A blissful future

Mish at d'Verse Poets Pub Haibun Monday: Wedding Bliss

The Economic Front

 

                                                                                                     Author: Rene Hernandez

Image: Modern Cities

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under its Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

The Sunday Whirl Wordle

the 10 of the 12 given words: 

shadow stone compass random 

silver echo drone clip dry velvet

He's lost! Beyond a shadow of doubt

He has to get out of the situation

There is a thick jungle to go through

He's not going to leave stones unturned

Life's challenges present the test

 

No compass to provide directions

A random search for easy solutions

will not be the answer

Can he expect a silver lining 

in such an environment!

 

A global disaster is in the making

A build-up towards an economic

downturn is the ultimate scenario

It may echo the Depression of the 30's

But the reality of developments of 2 

different eras present a portent difference 

Given the current AL phenomenon 

with its exponential targets achieved it

is a revelation of beneficial perspectives

forthcoming. There are no drones 

of old from above dropping leaflets

but surprises of achievements are there

with no ending!

With BRICS, small countries will be

welcomed and not clipped high and dry 

when strong nations made decisions on 

a nice velvet fabric favouring big nations

Brenda at The Sunday Whirl Wordle 772

Magaly at PSU Friday Writings #242: Perspective

Simple Fables

                             
                                                                                             Author: Malene Thyssen
Image: The Wily Fox
(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under its Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)

It is fun and simple
Often relates to some things
familiar and at hand
It’ll catch immediate attention

Who has not heard of the Hare
and the Tortoise!

Fables have always been around
to instill awareness and
wonder in young minds

Explained simply 

yet effectively
Elements of fairy tales
yet with credibility

Never trust a flatterer
in the Fox and the Crow
Familiarity breeds contempt
in the Fox and the Lion

Why must it always be

the wily Fox, anyway!

Grace at d'Verse Poets Pub - OpenLinkNight #414

Flowers Galore

                                                                         Egon Schiele, Field of Flowers (1910)

Image: The Beauty of Spring

(courtesy of Melissa's Poetics at d'Verse)

Comes the time nature’s
swing moods clamouring towards
beauty of spring-time

Riding high buoyant
circle of life about to
accord fresh upsurge

Steadfast in splendour
greenery and flowers rule

drab cold forgotten

Melissa's at d'Verse : Poetics -Pulling poetry from the landscape

All is Not Lost!

                                                                                                           Author: Kody8958
Image; Youngsters at Play

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

Mark of innocence

Reckless show of defiance

Protesting for no good reason

Youngsters seen as indifferent

A process of growing up

Dare make an attempt

To accord due respect to elders

Prolonged process of awareness

Rough diamonds need polishing

But all is not lost!

Punam at d'Verse - Quadrille #354: I Protest

Modern China

                                                                                                      Author: ermell

Image: Chinese High Speed trains in Shanghai-
(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 

3.0 Unported license)

Looking at the illusion and to be able to 
breeze through a scattered gaze is plain 
to the eye but difficult  to fathom

Won the Korean currency is bent to gain 
international splendour upon a gathering
of strength befitting the hardy and hard-
working fervour of its people

It is beginning to rattle other growing 
economies through its ability to harness
and harvest the benefits of international 
commerce.They penetrate right through
the skin to lodge in to the secular and
jugular core of business acumen and ethics. 

They got over the stigma of inferior quality 
of products and are now worthy  successors 
to the Japanese who have lately sagged and 
lagged behind in their competitive advantage 
and are instead trailing from the rear.

Hank had written the above on Nov 30, 2014
With a little more than a decade we are 
privileged, and astounded to witness 
the change attributed to China.

An Epilogue
China has been blessed with the dedication
and foresight of its leadership. Deng Xiaoping
bravely emerged after Mao but not without 

challenges to his personal self. Nonetheless 

things changed variously and tremendously,

which is an understatement.

Barely a few years ago the change was felt
and expected but only until very recently it
thrived without a known ending

The AI 'revolution' brought it out in the open
and DeepSeek became known particularly.
The world is now basking in the exponential
development of things AL and no one can 
tell what's brewing!

Rosemary's at PSU Friday Writings #241: Change

In the Failing Lights

                                                                                                      Author Mariusz Guć

Image: Visions and Shadows

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

to include the following lines in the prose:

." . . and the iridescent image swims through a mirror that flows.” 
 -  Stanley Kunitz from his  poem King of the River.

Iridescent means: showing bright colours that seem 

to change when you move or look from a different angle.

Failing lights follow the rocking of the boat. 

It reserves a thought for what is in store in the morning. 

One feels the concern for the guilt for not coming 

back with a decent decision and looks like the 

iridescent image swims through a mirror that flows.

It appears better from the other side and then the 

other, depending on the movement of the sun earlier

Is it with full abandon to just raise both hands 

and prepare to give up.

Many have walked this path. Many are familiar with the

underlying frustrations of not being satisfied with the ones

done lately. Time constraints may not be the reason. 

It is perhaps to throw everything to the winds and to see 

what is giving way. Building walls around one's options 

may not get the desired results. It stifles growth and that 

is not good at all!

Dora at d'Verse's Prosery—Luminous Accounting

But dreams lingered on...!

                                                                                                   Author: Chris Downer
Image: Lady in the Distance

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons given under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

Rue to the one who thought

The eyes were seeing things
What apparition, playing tricks

Someone familiar out there?
Ruefully..
Check !

Someone beckoning in the distance

So he thought
An uncanny resemblance
How she had transformed
Sultry in the failing light

He asked, was it for real?
Stagnant in thoughts
Check again!

Undaunted he surged forward
He called out her name and waited….

There was no response
Just the cool of the day
There was nothingness
His stomach squirmed
His mind numbed
He yearned for her

His senses malfunctioned
Lost in thoughts…
She had been long gone
Reality was not easy to accept
But dreams lingered on...

Ruefully…
A quiet prayer….solace in silence!

There would be someone…!

Sanaa in d'Verse Open Link Night #413 

with Live Edition

Belimbing

 

Image:1 A bunch of belimbing on the tree in our backyard

Image:2 Taken from another angle of the same tree. The flowers are seen on the right side, red in colour

Note: A distant cousin of the star-fruit, smaller in size but rounded not star-shaped. Measures about 6cm (2.5 inch) The tree in our backyard sprouted a generous offering. Very sour, can be taken raw but not munched as a fruit. It is taken as an appetizer.. 

Pounded with chillies

Whets the appetite with meals

In place of chutney

As a curry dish

With fish and coconut milk

Fun with rice for lunch

Dried out in the sun

Thrown in as one of items

To make mixed pickles

Sumana's Open Link at 'What's Going On?' 

This is an old posting.

Kissing in the Rain

                                                                            Author ClickFlashPhotos / Nicki Varkevisser

Image: Wonders of the Weather
(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons given under the

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license)

Letting the rain to run down in rivulets
There they are oblivious of the wet
Resolute in not wanting to regret
 A panacea of pain failing to observe
Clasped in the entanglements of love

 

Sweetness belies feelings less of trivia 

Turbulent in thoughts but standing on air

Tugging in the cold they don’t deserve

Let loose emotions that are hazardous

A couple in throes of falling in love

Exudes warmness in having to let
Can man continue without feelings of guilt? 
Obliquely avoiding words of despair
Headstrong pushing seemingly unfair
 
Twinkling eyes of the lady a respite
Not revealing the dumbness of the plight
Softening the savage breast of the ardour 

Kissing in the rain is an obvious splendour

Lisa in dVerse Poetics — Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Island of Beauty

 

                                            Author:Honey 

Image: A Beautiful Lady

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license) 

Untouched 
Exuding bright rays of hope 
Island of beauty

Adored by many
Pristine serene and misty 
Far from prying eyes

Not readily seen
Rare glimpse at the window 
Smiles are luxuries

A forbidden fruit 
A courtship of old
Jumping for joy

Uppermost, Mom’s approval 

De Jackson at d'Verse Quadrille #353: 

Jumpstart your Poem

The Anaheim's Disneyland

                                                                                                       Author: Hank's
Image: Entrance to Anaheim's Disneyland

Process note: 

This is a revamp of an old posting of our journeying over to Anaheim many years ago  The original prompt calls for an Other Voice. I had it made out from my daughter's voice of her reminiscences of the wonderful sojourn. 

The Happiest Place on Earth

It was a dream that I had dreamt of. We were here now, Mom and Dad  and my younger brother Hafidz. I just couldn’t believe it. Barely a few weeks ago on TV, we were then watching a program tagged the Happiest Place on Earth.

Apparently Dad had long before decided and saved. A flurry of events followed which we later realised. Dad had made preparations but cooking up a surprise. Everything were ready, passports, luggage, light attire. And now we were all here!

Disneyland here we come. Wow, this was going to be fun!

Main Street  USA we gave it a pass. We went over to Fantasyland just as fast. Then it was What a Small World, Peter Pan and Space Mountain in Tomorowland. It was alive! Beware The Haunted House. The subsequent Adventureland and Jungle Cruise then  followed with later the Frontierland and Thunder Mountain Railroad. They were all full of surprises. We kids just wanted more!

Hafidz and I were in the ‘thrill’ mode. Taking snapshots Dad kept himself busy
Showing  them in class they would be green with envy

The 3-day Passport was not quite enough. But being here itself was heavenly, thank our lucky stars. Since we were in the vicinity, we had a peek at Las Vegas. Free meals in the casinos were widely advertised. Then into the Nevada desert in the morning a leisurely ride to arrive at another spectacle, the Hoover Dam, what a sight!

The next day we ventured south to San Diego Sea World with a stopover at Capistrano to sight the swallows. Awaiting at Sea World a sight of fantasy of illustrious performances. Man and sea animals all in unison, a  scenic spectacle, a marvel to see 

I’ll always love my Daddy, for giving us this marvelous opportunity

Dreams of youngsters here

Adventure rolled into one

Fulfilled in Disney

Frank's at d'Verse's a Haibun Monday 8-3-26: Journeying out!

Lying by the Sea-shore

                                                                                           Author: Hasanblaze
Image: A Coconut on the Beach

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

MLMM Monday Wordle 

The 10 of 12 given words:

cast, lightly street, sensitive, cool, view, 

tickle attract, evening, glow, attract 

Basking in the evening sun

Lying by the sea-shore
Not a worry anymore

The sea breeze seeks to brush by

The constant lashings of the waves 

Slow sounds in low octaves

Unlike the din on busy streets

Free to laze at ease 

With nothing sensitive
Filling in the time to feel easy

Cool view of moments of solitude
Feelings of gratitude 

No one to tickle or intrude

Heightened the  mood 

Later in the evening glow

Easiness held sway 

Attracting in a good way 

None that I’m seeing 

Engulfed all my being
Not a bother in the world

Picture Prompt: A lone coconut on the beach

Mindlovemisery Managerie's: MLMM 

Monday Wordle #488    

in their own world

 =

                                                                                                             Author: LN9267

Image: In A Subway

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

People sitting in the Subway train
Whether Subway, Metro or Underground
Nonchalantly in their own world

'Please let me be' a picture of relief
Able to steal a moment of peace

despite all the rush and confusion

A shuteye for a few of them
Tiredness impacting on tired souls
A good place to be having a rest

The alert brushing through the daily
Irrespective of the news but just reading

Others holding onto the strap
Staring in mid-air or at someone
With a stern face or unwittingly smiling

No matter what on their minds
until the next stop

A sudden opening a mad rush
Pandemonium in a split second
Going out or rushing in

and it was all over just as fast

Grace at OpenLinkNight #412

Henri Rousseau

                                                                                        Artist: Henri Rousseau

Image: Rousseau's The Walk in the Forest

(c. 1886), oil on canvas

The singer not the song

The creator not the creation

The inclination for an illustration

He chose art as a medium of expression
There had to be a start so he believed

He provoked his mind with no hesitation
despite having reached his early forties

"Nothing makes me so happy 

to observe nature and to paint what I see, 

so said he"

He picked a theme to have it done
It would trigger off the process
otherwise he would be stumped

if not aware of the progress

There had to be a likely starting point
It just could not be explained
Once it got off the ground
it went off smoothly insane 

Great masterpiece creations revealed

What of fronting a waterfall some deer

Woman's walk in the forest as billed

What of it of a crouching tiger

and a rabbit nearby stayed so still

It was wriggling in his head
Brilliance of something psychedelic
all colourful a kaleidoscopic spread
Once the cobwebs cleared and a good pick
enveloped over, it was plain to see 

amidst lots of jungle greenery 

It could be so hopelessly an excuse

Being self-taught what it did to his mind
would have dampened his creative juices

but all naturally expounded as designed 

He took it within his stride 

It had happened many times like this

through the hazardous hazards 

of a Post- impressionist artist

Melissa Lemay in d'Verse Poetics

Launch: light and truth of painting

Nostalgic playground

                                                                                                           Author:Nick Smith
Image: Neighbourhood  

Backyard Where Boys Roam

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

Nostalgic playground
Boyhood arena for
countless excitements

Catapult in the back pocket. 
Without a care of danger
They roam the large
expanse of wasteland

Light undergrowth rich
with little creatures hiding
to be discovered

Hedges and bushes 
a treasure trove lined 

with childhood abundance

Sanaarizvi at d'Verse in Quadrille Q. 252

Quadrilling without a care in the world

Chances of Possibilities

                                      Author: Shixart1985

Image: Reliving the Good Old Times

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.)

Sunday Whirl Wordle

The 10 of 12 given words:

wild cross space left grind 

room land last split hood

Longing for the myriads of possibilities.

Wild colours and lights full of promise

Cross its space brightly and wanting

To bid its time left to grind and hover

Here we are wishing for room 

to land a last call

To ward off the restlessness of being alone
Facing time without you as company

Serve me the garnish that I may devour
For I’ve never been through such a bore

Can we just hit it off ?

For even a split second
You and your wonderful ways
Ever so thoughtful of my feelings
To lift off the hood of quietness 

Having me rash and brash ever so loving.
Young hearts we are but not anymore.

Can it happen again, I just wonder 

Brenda at Sunday Whirl Wordle 767

Regret struck home

 

                                                                              Artist George Romney (1734–1802)

Image: Sad Lady

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 

licensed under Public Domain)

The Sunday Whirl Wordle 
The  10 of 12 given words

home wonder denied fallow pleas 

bees forgotten sky world sigh  

  

Friday Writings #185: 

Friday, July 11, 2025

Don’t be Afraid to Start Over

Regret struck home her conscience

She wondered petrified of her shadows

Pangs of loneliness denied

Her health unduly affected 

Hair disheveled dress crumpled

Her memory fallowed deep

Struck a vital chord with pleas

Like marauding bees thoughts ran wild

Beau revered now forgotten

Guilt pervaded her mind sky high

If only she had brought herself

Out of the abyss to contact him

No, she would overcome the world

Her own resolve was determined

No more self pity she sighed

She would get on without him

Note; I had a few days ago written this for Brenda. 

I had later adjusted it to allow for Rosemary's prompt

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle 766

Rosemary's PSU Optional Prompt

Friday Writings #237

Favourites Revisited

An Impending Downpour

                             
                                                                                                 Author: Kenneth Allen 
Image: Heavy Rain Building Up

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

Incorporating a line from

A Thunderstorm” by Archibald Lampman

Just got through, lucky enough
A drizzle initially and cloudy skies
Folks hurriedly fending for themselves

A shelter beckoning to offer what little
Rushed across just made it!
All to oneself bidding one’s time
Still tolerable people scurrying
Trying their best to beat

In the dying minutes an impending downpour
Briskly walking or trotting in tandem
With the light rain now more menacing

Over bleared fields and gardens disarrayed,

Some heading for the bus shelter
Sheepishly brushing off the tiny drops
Their faces, their arms upon reaching
Relief written all over, some kind words
Shared with those in a similar predicament

Exasperation building up 

with every increasing number
The shelter offering whatever little space
Wet body heat, emitting strange odors

Still acceptable rather than drenched

to the skin!

The downpour at its angriest was no friend
It lashed right through, no let up!

Mish at d'Verse Open Link Night #411