17 Aug 2019
by lynn__
in rhyming verse, sestina
Tags: creation, fall, man, paradise, redemption, restoration, sacrifice, sin
A man is wed to land as dear as wife
and for his farm he‘ll gladly sacrifice
what is his livelihood becomes his life
such dedication keeps away most vice
invested time gives meaning in the strife
as he creates his own small paradise
reflection of first garden paradise
tilling the land together, man and wife
completely innocent of hate or strife
man gladly gave his rib, small sacrifice
but snake twisted the truth of God’s advice
eating forbidden fruit embittered life
to work in sweat would be man’s lot in life
rebellion led them out of paradise
their eyes opened to every evil vice
still-birth of sin brought pain to Adam’s wife
to cover shame requires blood sacrifice
our fall brought all creation death and strife
seeds of weed, thistle, and thorn now rife
disease and aging process shortens life
to bear children demands self-sacrifice
we cannot find way back to paradise
now shame’s dark secrets divide man and wife
our world is broken by our greed and vice
the Enemy holds captives in sin’s vise
conquers the world with anger, fear, and strife
cools the love between each man and wife
our stubborn pride leads miserable life
the only way to restore paradise
would be a perfect human sacrifice
God’s Son offered himself as sacrifice
divine and human free of any vice
for Christ alone can restore paradise
and put an end to all our sin and strife
if choose to follow him, we find true life
he loves the church as his own precious wife
to work the land ‘mid sacrifice and strife
farmer’s advice says his is still best life
earth’s paradise shared with beloved wife
This sestina surprised me by turning theological…I think it was the repeating/rhyming word choices I made that lent itself to themes of creation/fall/redemption/restoration. A sestina has six stanzas of six lines followed by a 3-line envoi each with a complicated pattern of final words repeated. This challenging form is described in detail by our host Victoria at d’Verse Poets.
29 Jul 2019
by lynn__
in quadrille, rhyming verse
Tags: bananas, freckles, kids, speckles, toads, trout
kids have ‘em on their noses
toads have ‘em on their toes-es
bananas get ‘em when yummy ripe
trout wear ‘em with tummy stripe
speckles of sunlight shine upon leaves
treckles of water dripping from eaves
when all’s said and done
freckles are fun!
charlotte sun
No changing freckles and no editing this poem 🙂 It’s a quadrille with exactly 44 words for Mish’s prompt at dVerse poets pub tonight.
26 Jun 2019
by lynn__
in quatrain, rhyming verse
Tags: dusk, fireflies, garden, june bug, rhubarb, slug, snake
Wandering past my dusky wet garden
twilight meets me, dancing with fireflies
cicadas serenade blades of tall ditch grass
pink clouds palely kiss soft lavender skies
Wondering if snake stripes glow nocturnal,
i startle at whirred flight of june beetle bug
humid air oppressed by scant scent of skunk
rippled rhubarb leaf umbrellas sleeping slug.
See Laura’s prompt at dVerse Poets inspired by naturalist poet, Laurie Lee. He sought simplicity in his poetry; often written in 1st person, quatrain form, ABCB rhyme.
22 Apr 2019
by lynn__
in quadrille, rhyming verse
Tags: crucifies, hate, kiss, lives, Messiah, rise, soldiers, tomb
disciples and Jesus
share passover meal
Judas betrays him—
kiss seals the deal
arrested, on trial
in kangaroo court
soldiers spit, hit,
crown him for sport
Pilate denies
hate crucifies
Messiah dies
tomb found empty
wondrous surprise
because he lives
we, too, will rise!
The day after Resurrection Sunday and linking a quadrille (44 words) for dVerse prompt using the word “rise”.
21 Feb 2019
by lynn__
in rhyming verse
Tags: baby, cheeks, dimple, face, kiss, sleep
Dear Babyface,
birthed by God’s grace;
let me hold you, kiss you, squeeze you,
while you’re sleeping, let me tease you:
misshapen head and wrinkly skin,
you sport a double…no, triple chin!
your pudgy nose is slightly pimpled,
your chubby cheeks are sweetly dimpled.
I admire all I see ‘cuz, Babyface,
you look like me!
I submitted this poem to Lyrical Iowa last year. It received 3rd Place in the “humorous verse” category and was published in their 2018 collection. Linking to dVerse Poets where Lillian hosts Open Link Night with “Ah, sweet youth” theme.
03 Dec 2018
by lynn__
in decastitch, rhyming verse
Tags: angels, candles, carolers, fire, light, moon, stars
Decastitch poem of 10 lines, 10 syllables each; see Elsie at Ramblings of a Writer.
angels illuminate this holy night
wreath of candles on table flickers bright
white lights twinkle from pine branches in snow
winter moon on velvet night sheds soft glow
joyful gleam in children’s eyes wait to see
shimmering garlands encircle the tree
carolers who sing under lamp post’s glare
gather near fire’s hearth with stories to share
each window mirrors shining stars’ array
celebrate light of the world born today
Decided to expand it for smoother reading out loud…at our Christmas Eve service!
As angels illuminated this holy night,
we light wreath of candles flickering bright.
White lights twinkle from pine branches in snow,
winter moon on velvet night sheds softer glow.
Joyful gleam in child’s eyes waiting to see
shimmering tinsel garlands encircle the tree.
Carolers, who sing under lamp post’s glare,
will gather near fire’s hearth with stories to share.
Each window reflects a star pointing the way
as we celebrate the Light of the World today!
24 Nov 2018
by lynn__
in rhyming verse
Tags: gratitude, greed, pilgrim, providential, Thanksgiving
Let us remember this Thanksgiving day
how our forefathers walked the pilgrim way
forgive our greedy attitude
and give us hearts of gratitude
for providential blessings, Lord, we pray.
*Listen to brief podcast by John Piper on Giving Thanks here
Quintet of 5 lines (in iambic meter and AABBA rhyme scheme) for dVerse.
26 Oct 2018
by lynn__
in rhyming verse, triolet
Tags: cow, dew, fog, leaves, mist, pumpkins, scarlet
A triolet is a French form of 8 lines with ABaAabAB repetition…for dVerse MTB
wet scarlet leaves carpet cold ground
embraced with dew and kissed by mist
hidden in fog, pumpkins lie ’round
wet scarlet leaves carpet cold ground
ghost cows graze cornfield, make no sound
where earth meets sky in phantom tryst
wet scarlet leaves carpet cold ground
embraced with dew and kissed by mist
24 Oct 2018
by lynn__
in rhyming verse, Uncategorized
when cows are mooing, hungry for hay
early me, early me, early the day
when love comes calling, sweetly we lay
early me, early me, early the day
when Spirit is whispering urge to pray
early me, early me, early the day
when open road beckons to journey away
early me, early me, early the day!
13 Oct 2018
by lynn__
in rhyming verse, rubaiyat
Tags: cornstalks, farmers, harvest, soybeans, weather, wet
stuck weather pattern only brings more rain
while farmers ripe to harvest feel the strain
soybeans swell fat, cornstalks rot wet
without a crop, families grow debt
we hope and pray for sun to shine again!
(oh no, could that be snow?!)
Linking to dVerse poets’ pub where Frank is toasting iambic pentameter…
08 Oct 2018
by lynn__
in rhyming verse
Tags: boots, cows, farm, manure, rural
De at dVerse asked for this when she suggested a quadrille about “yuck”!
you may not be a fan-ure
because it stinks like sin
but maybe it’s called “man-ure”
‘cause men keep falling in!
if you come visit our farm
be sure to bring your boots
remember here in cow town
“bull sh__” has rural roots!
word of the day
03 Oct 2018
by lynn__
in rhyming verse
Tags: alfalfa, breeze, coffee, laundry, mother, skin, wood shavings
this poet followed nose to see
all the smells that comfort me:
new mown hay… alfalfa, please
fresh laundry dried on gentle breeze
strong coffee brew drips into pot
wood shavings piled under knot
just bathed baby’s silken skin (the
top of head where hair grows thin)
lilacs, idyllic of childhood play and
an orchid corsage on Mothers Day
pancake breakfast with bacon frying
crunchy leaves when geese go flying
salty spray froth-whipped by boat or
wrapped warm in mother’s worn coat.
Link to dVerse where poets explore comforting smells…
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