winds of war

Joseph Farquharson ‘Cauld Blaws the Wind Frae East to West’ (1888)

war is a

desolate, cold mountain;

obstacle to and reason for refugees

where savage wind blows fear,

pelting rain drives misery,

grief burdens the weary,

even as

memories, dreams

ooze away with mud.


Linking this quadrille to dVerse for a “March wind” ekphrastic challenge with Merril…

crater lagoon, nicaragua

one-midsummer-morning-at-rydal-web

ubiquitous mists of cloud forest
layered in reflective lagoon’s
volcanic depths harboring ancient
crustaceans which rarely dare to
skim surface to kiss rhythmic raindrop
ripples while howler monkeys
groom their mates and sloths sleep
in green arms of upper canopy

farmers of nearby village
oblivious to jaguar’s hunger
herd a meager group of thin
cows past tin huts with leaky banana-
leaf thatched roofs, making mud of
dirt floors where chickens scratch
and little children play with pebbles
while mamas prepare tortillas


Ekphrastic poetry at dVerse poets’ pub featuring the late Fay Collins’ artwork…actual location is a matter of interpretation!