Zachary Schomburg’s prompt, “create a hinge” has been with me all week. What a challenge! Not sure that I completed the prompt but it “unhinged” me a bit.
the house sat silent in our neighborhood
wrought iron fence, weedy front, a place for games
hide n’ seek, “ring the doorbell” double dares and fear
secret missions, climbing over rusty sentinel, lacking fear
a marauding group of master mischief ninjas in the neighborhood
summer, late night always the best time for games
“ring the doorbell” gave way to other games
that first kiss from a younger man, I trembled in fear
summer, late night, a double dare in the neighborhood
childhood neighborhood, childhood games, I confess without fear
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Others are sharing their takes on the prompt at Read Write Poem.
And if you comment HERE by Monday, March 15, you will have a chance to win a book in honor of my 4ooth post yesterday.
Jone Rush MacCulloch 
I think you did a fine job with the prompt…your images take us from childhood to adolescence, and your language always gives an undertone of the forbidden, be it childhood games or the first kiss.
-Nicole
I love this – it’s so universally ‘personal’. Lovely read.
This poem is like an “initiation” poem–about becoming an adult.
Great word play and beautiful imagery!
my arms around myself won’t let me down
This is really nice. It brings back memories for me.
Jone,
Yes this has wonderful imagery and I also love the word play here. Thanks for sharing.
Pamela
I agree about the master mischief ninjas line. Wonderful imagery and wordplay. Well written throughout.
Oh, I absolutely love this part: “a marauding group of master mischief ninjas in the neighborhood
summer, late night always the best time for games.” It brings such a great image to mind, and taps into my childhood memories.
Impressive! Chilling. And I’m with Cynthia: I like your “master mischief ninjas.”
This was a really fun read. I like the menacing sense I get from the description of the house in the first part of the poem–yet in the beginning, the games are innocent and fun…then it transitions into more scary, grown-up stuff, but still with the house as the anchoring image…nicely done!
It WAS a very challenging prompt..but you did a fine job with it! From the beginning of early childhood, to the end with your character changing and growing. I also got quite a kick out of the description of “master mischief ninjas!