So at the suggestion (encouragement?) of dear Jabberwocky, I am intending to revamp this into something more oriented around my writing (though also featuring writing that I sincerely enjoy). In the spirit of that:

I.

Storm clouds

flash

in the distance

but that is not

the drum I hear

II.

If the wind blew

my bottle away

I cannot blame

the wind, nor the

                   bottle

III.

Shouting may win

attention your way

but, for me, the chimes

do all the talking

IV.

If the porch collapsed,

today or another,

would we still stand-

would it disrupt our stride?

V.

This pen, does it

hold me?

Does the paper bear

already the mark

or do I scar it now?

VI.

Lift your hands, pull!

Lift your hands, pull!

Lift your hands! Pull

down the word.

VII.

You have lost. Your

eyes continue to mind

you, poorly, and you

lose continuously to read

VIII.

Stop.

You cannot part

from the stick the bowl;

nor from the bowl

the din.