posting poetic prose
20 Jul 2020 5 Comments
Poem inspired by young calligrapher, singer & songwriter, Samara Ribbens.
seed must crack for sprout to grow
bulb buried deep sends roots below
sepals stretch for blossom to show
rain must fall so green life can flow
hope for harvest gain, in pain we sow
such tearful truth we shall die to know!
linden tree
04 Jul 2020 7 Comments
in question poem, Uncategorized Tags: america, constitution, God, justice, law, liberty, nation
My fellow Americans,
What is happening to our country?
We are ONE nation but some are trying to divide us!
Have we forgotten our pledge of allegiance to her?
America’s past isn’t perfect; let us learn from our mistakes.
America’s future is full of promise if we reach for her ideals;
If we preserve freedom’s principle to protect individual rights,
If we respect our Constitution and agree to live united under law.
Have we forgotten GOD who is the source of life, law, and justice?
Let us humble ourselves, give thanks for our blessings of opportunity,
and keep working together toward true liberty and justice for ALL!
02 Jul 2020 6 Comments
in haiku, Uncategorized
photo by lynn
summer’s wild rose shines
after a morning shower
raindrops kiss petals
Linking to new prompt at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. “Apokoinou” is a grammatical feature in which the middle phrase can complete the first thought and/or introduce the final idea.
30 Jun 2020 3 Comments
where is the church
when racial injustice
perpetuates oppression?
if we are the body
we kneel in humility
to confess our own sins
where is the church
when families breakdown
because fathers are absent?
if we are the body
we live out God’s truth
and serve with his love
where is the church
when devastated mothers
regret aborting their children?
if we are the body
we share the powerful
hope of the Holy Spirit
where is the church
when mentally ill people
live on the streets?
if we are the body,
we will follow Jesus in
redeeming the world !
16 Jun 2020 31 Comments
in haiku, imagism, Uncategorized Tags: beaks, crow, fight, murder, roadkill
carrion crow’s flight
wings chop air with whirring sound
caw cacophony
swoop down to murder
sharp beaks jab at feast and mates
fight over road kill
I added a second haiku to join dVerse poets as we revisit “imagism”; MTB (meeting the bar) challenge hosted by Frank J. Tassone…check it out!
02 Jun 2020 12 Comments
we have lived privileged
denied generational racism:
promoting eugenic abortions
in minority neighborhoods
and government dependency
programs that undermine
fatherhood, family, and
educational choice.
years of anger over injustice,
fear of pandemic isolation are
fuel; police brutality the spark
for radicals like antifa to…
“Cry havoc and let slip the gods of war.”
(quote by Marc Anthony in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar)
A quadrille for dVerse poets where Linda challenges us to write on this quote.
30 May 2020 4 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: black hole, greek, improvisation, ivory, jazz, saffron, saxophone
Another paint chip poetry challenge from Linda Kruschke at “Another Fearless Year”
jazz player works
as server in clatter
of greek restaurant;
smells of saffron and
grease, noisy demands
feel like a black hole
he got sucked into. it’s
not his dream job but
his lion heart, inspired
by ivory-petaled songs
of spring snowdrops,
composes after hours
a new saxophone solo
to make his spirit rock.
27 May 2020 1 Comment
in haiku, Uncategorized
garden fresh radish
red skin sur-ROUNDs crisp white flesh
top, wash, rub in salt
Ohio State Fair
21 May 2020 3 Comments
21 May 2020 16 Comments
frank(ly) i thank ya
not to mess with my tanka
(syllabic rut stuck)
why can’t japanese mora
fit my english euphora?
Frank J. Tassone challenges us to “meet the bar” of tanka/kyoka writing at dVerse poets pub.I had learned strict syllabic writing of these forms so was surprised by Frank’s notes:
“Now, a brief word on tanka/kyoka and syllabic writing. Beginners are often taught that both tanka and kyoka need to be written in no more than 31 syllables, usually broken up into a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern. However, an English syllable is a different linguistic unit from a Japanese mora, and the counts refer to mora, not syllable. If an English-language writer of Japanese forms wants to write accurately, the proper syllable count for a haiku/senryu would be 10-12, and a tanka/kyoka 20-24.”
19 May 2020 27 Comments
life portals bear import
more than ports of call
they demand deportment
choose to step through
this door to the other side
as it shuts quietly behind
there’s no going back now
the goodbyes and hellos of
these unmasked emotions
express momentous change
leave outgrown past for
future’s fresh opportunities
every end is new beginning
I stare at empty nest as our fourth son is now married and moved out…and Anmol (HA) hosts dVerse poetics with interesting with “portals” prompt. How fitting!
12 May 2020 4 Comments
in haiku, Uncategorized
awaken at night
moon illumines tree branches
teacup half empty
image by Michael Schwartz
