08 Nov 2019
by lynn__
in free verse, question poem
Tags: black, cat, death, ignorance, shadows, truck
searching for any witnesses,
he questioned as if suspect:
“where were you?” he probed
“in my room,” a shocked reply
(nowhere near bloodied body)
at least, victim didn’t feel much,
unexpected and instantaneous.
trucker on road never slowed,
could not see in night’s blackness
didn’t notice impact, drove on.
circles under eyes mark grief
remembered as good mother;
affectionate, gave warm gifts.
she’d lived life until the ninth
when bad luck found black cat.
how often we commit dark deeds;
does ignorance prove innocence?
Linking to dVerse poets. This “mystery” poem fits previous prompt (shades of black) and current prompt (changing perspective). Written in third person about our barn cat found on the road but also thinking of a former acquaintance who was struck by a truck and killed. It’s always sad when animals die but how much more a human being?!
29 Oct 2019
by lynn__
in haiku series, troiku
Tags: crawdads, evening, fireflies, grass, minnows, moon, pool, prairie, summer, wind

longing for the grass
at the bottom of the pool
those fireflies.
© Buson
longing for the grass
blades wave under prairie wind
rustle in ditches
at bottom of pool
crawdads and minnows asleep
moon passes over
elusive fireflies
hide in long grasses near pond
flicker on and off
© lynn
Image and troiku challenge celebrating Carpe Diem Haiku Kai’s 7th anniversary!
22 Oct 2019
by lynn__
in quote, Uncategorized, worship
Tags: apples, autumn, cornstalks, leaves, pumpkins, squirrel, tumbleweeds, wind

do you know what the earth meditates upon in autumn?
when north wind breathes fresh worship
over cornfield of heavy stalks bowed down
as ripe apples bless orchard with abundance
and tumbleweeds dance across rural road?
when crispy leaves gather in harvest pile
over rich soil fully yielded to waning sun
as pumpkins swell with orange-ribbed grace
and squirrel chatters praise for scattered nuts?
do you know what the earth meditates upon in autumn?
The beginning (and ending) question is from Pablo Neruda’s El Libro de las Preguntas.
15 Oct 2019
by lynn__
in haibun
Tags: archaeological dig, Blood Run, catlinite, indigenous, mounds, Oneota
Link to dVerse Poets where Frank J. Tassone hosts a celebration of “indigenous”.
An archaeological dig in agricultural fields reveals ancient city of indigenous peoples: the Ioway, Omaha, Winnebago, Arikara, and Lakota. They settled at the confluence of Blood Run Creek and Big Sioux River, present-day boundary between Iowa and South Dakota.
Mysterious mounds push up; boulder rings outline lodge sites. Horse bones, iron tools, even marine shell wampum have been discovered here. Natives fashioned available catlinite into pipes and clay into pottery. They dug pits for storing grain and other pits for garbage.
This trading center flourished as an economic hub for the region. The Oneota culture left its mark on the land, most notably as a serpent-shaped effigy mound which was unfortunately lost by modern tillage before the area was recognized as an historic site.
indigenous tribes
leave indelible trail on
history’s pages
08 Oct 2019
by lynn__
in quadrille
Tags: chat, guest, porch, setter, sunset, tea
don’t be upset by
my russet setter
on the side porch;
step over him and
please, have a seat
on my satin settee
here we’ll have tea,
chat, recite verset till
supper; then play
games after sunset
until we settle into
long moonset night.
Joining dVerse poets writing quadrilles (44 words) using the word “set”.
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