natural revelation

sunday morning
all the waves in white
kneeling on the beach
© Jane Reichhold

prayer clouds in blue heaven
creation’s meditation
© lynn__

white+waves

Tan renga challenge at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

wind vs. sun

Carpe Diem‘s “tan renga” challenge…add 2 line response to original haiku.

 

the cold wintry wind
is blowing so hard that
the sun sinks into the ocean

© Soseki

today, sun admits defeat
tomorrow, will rise stronger

© lynn__

sundown

image from pinterest

 

to survive snowstorm

across this frozen prairie, winter blows
strong blizzard gale bullwhips up fallen snow
we shiver, polar-cold, wind’s frightful roar
and add thick logs to embers burning low

such fierceness could freeze creature to the core
if wait exposed;  come, safe inside closed door
we offer mugs to drink in warming flow
and reminisce of summer sun-swept shores

 


Rubaiyat: The ruba’i is a classical Persian quatrain or double couplet of 4 lines and having rhyme scheme either AABA or AAAA. A collection of more than one quatrain is called a rubaiyat.

Edward Fitzgerald popularized the form in English. He chose iambic pentameter, generally 10-syllable lines with alternating accents, for the meter and used the AABA rhyme scheme. Having the unrhymed third line allows the poet to use that sound from the first quatrain as the main rhyming sound in the next quatrain, connecting the stanzas.

My thanks to Frank at dVerse Poets for this information on the rubaiyat form!

beauty’s weight

Carpe Diem Haiku Kai’s “tan renga” challenge…add 2 lines to original haiku.


 

waterweed
floating away, despite
the butterfly’s weight on it

© Chiyo-Ni

beauty flits magnificent
but life’s current moves stronger

© lynn__

 

IMG_1208

photo by lynn

the invisibles

 

who go unseen by fine society?
the ones unnoticed and unheard today
they live invisible to you and me

on city streets with nowhere else to stay
he sits on curb, searches through garbage can
inside small tent or under bridge he’ll lay

she’s taught by pimp to satisfy the man
but now that she is pregnant, he’s enraged
he curses in her face, hits her with hand

they live forgotten in home for the aged
small rooms smell sour as wander down the hall
both residents and staff are feeling caged

if listen closely can we hear them call?
with open eyes and hearts respond to all.

 


A sonnet consists of 14 lines structured into two parts: first part gives an “argument” and second part a “solution” separated by a “volta” (turn).

English sonnets are usuallly written in iambic pentameter (10 syllables in 5 feet), which resembles natural speech in a “da DUM” rhythm.

Terza Rima is a sonnet divided into 4 tercets and a couplet with the rhyme scheme: ABA BCB CDC DED EE.

Sonnet information from Frank and “invisible” prompt by Merril at dVerse poets pub.

veiled tears

 

Choctaw nation land

low mist filters thru dead treesIMG_0476

ancestor spirits

crying out for true justice

turnpike poverty hidden

 

sound of dripping

CDHK challenge to create a “fusion-ku” with the two given haiku:

black forest
night extinguishes
the snow

sun and snow
still in the pines
the black forest

© Jane Reichhold

 

Combination fusion-ku: 

wet needles on ground
morning birdsong from branches
announces spring melt

© lynn__

 

IMG_9640

photo by lynn

 

 

as tea cools

 

for his morning tea
a monk sits down in utter silence-
confronted by chrysanthemums

© Matsuo Basho

a holy moment of awe
contemplating God’s wonder

© lynn__

 

 

taka tanka

“Taka” is Japanese word for hawk. “Tanka”is Japanese poetry form.

10190-close-up-of-a-red-tailed-hawk-pv

 

red-tailed predator

eyes alert, talons sharpened,

silent as fence post

waits for slightest rustling

small creature disturbs switch grass

 

 

kaeribana kigo

“Kaeribana” is Japanese kigo for “returning flowers”…from Carpe Diem Haiku Kai

img_9694 2

Image

you, me, and tea

982213-thomas-kinkade-quote-steeping-my-life-in-beauty-brings-color-to-my-1

 

 

after the

tea steeps

let’s pour it,

steaming, into

travel mugs to

drive south

away from

bitter winter

over steeps

across desert

through cities

onto island

where sun

smiles for

sandy miles

where we

hide from

hazy sea-spray

 

between

 

steep dunes,

sipping tea

 


Mish invites us to write a quadrille (44 words) on word “steep” at dVerse Poets

daughter she never knew

 

desperate now

no real choice

no viable option

he’d already left her

she birthed other babies

what else could she do

but have child removed?

…the one she’d never celebrate

 


Abortion is a tragedy to grieve, not an occasion to celebrate. Author Leslie Leyland Fields writes an open, compassionate letter to “celebrants” of abortion here.

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries