prognostications

Yes, the calendar says that February 2 is Groundhog’s Day. So what’s that to me? I may be a German groundhog but I am NOT getting up for any festivities, especially for Candlemas. I must finish hibernating and am feeling all tuckered out…now please, just let me sleep!

What in tarnation is all that commotion atop my burrow? Stop ringing that #punxsutawney% bell up there! I thought Gobbler’s Knob was a peaceful neighborhood but it’s gone to the prairie dogs, I say. There’s no shadow of a doubt, I’ve had my phil of winter in these parts already!

winter’s soft shadow

falls upon snowy landscape

seek comfort of hearth


Frank hosts haibuns at dVerse poets in observance of Groundhog’s Day…

bang on!

try (fitfully)
to sleep; i’m
depleted from
preparations:
hop, shop, clean,
bake, make room
in “mama’s inn
for (too late… or
too early?) arrival
so….. please (!)
don’t bang that
door (again) !!

yet, come & go,
and also know
you’re more
cherished
than sleep
to me .


My 44-word quadrille for dVerse as we end poetic year with a bang!

slumber party

slumber party hosted by famous bard?
i’ll sleep not a wink while genius sleeps hard
thoughts of sonnets and great theatrical works
poetic lore over snores, s’mores, and smirks;
in my warm flannels with hot cup of tea
i’ll dream of writing brilliant poetry!

_______________

Punam hosts our quadrille prompt (44 words) with slumber party theme 🙂

lust & lies

A quadrille for dVerse Poets on theme of “sleep”….

______________

things got hot in egypt

when potiphar’s wife urged
young servant joseph
“come, sleep with me!”

he refused to dishonor master;
resisted by fleeing without cloak
which became false evidence

potiphar’s wife deceitfully
cried “rape!” which swiftly
landed joseph in slammer

integrity is costly!

painting ofJoseph and Potiphar’s Wife” by Guido Reni, 17th century

janitorial dreams

drifting into sleep

i sometimes startle

wide awake to avoid

swerve into oncoming traffic

or drive off mountain curve

but in deeper dreams

in public places i

desperately search

for a clean restroom

to find only stalls with

unhinged doors and

plugged toilets

 

 


Linking to Lillian’s prompt at dVerse on dreams…mine being less than poetic.

hunter moon

 

october hunter

moon is hunting, haunting my

feigned sleep — bright night light!

in grandma’s eyes

 

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.

air-borne

 

life force strong but a

puff will scatter fragile seed

sleep…a breath from death

 

 

fragile

image & idea from Carpe Diem

lonely or alone is a choice

Linking to Carpe Diem Haiku Kai‘s “loneliness” haibun prompt.

 

My husband and I don’t sleep together anymore. Yes, it happened slowly and yet it was by choice…my husband’s but I influenced him. As newlyweds buying furniture, I encouraged him to pick out a recliner but, not wanting to be a “lazy boy” by association, he declined.  

For years, I was a poor sleeper who desperately sought rest. I complained if awakened when hubby worked late (often), rose early (sometimes), or got up during night to check livestock (seasonal). My alert sensory apparatus took intense interest in all these nocturnal comings and goings. Worries about my husband’s apparent workaholism aggravated my insomnia. I was a co-dependent sleeper to a man who had little appreciation for circadian rhythms. 

Fast forward to time our middle son broke his leg and the doctor suggested he sleep in a recliner with his leg raised. I called my husband from the surgery center. “Honey, if you ever  wanted a recliner, now would be the time to buy one. Why don’t you go pick one out?” He did; it would be a life-changing decision.

Our son’s recovery led to my husband’s discovery…that recliner was comfortable! He could fall asleep to a movie without me grumbling about noise in bed. When calving season came, he would get up during the night, check cows, and spend remaining hours of darkness in the chair so as not to wake the queen. It eventually became a habit since we both slept better.

On vacation, camping or otherwise, we enjoy sleeping together…time apart seems to have a “honeymoon effect” when we reunite. And my husband knows he’s welcome to visit anytime!

 

ships pass in the night

Unknown

wallpaperup.com

farmer snores in recliner

dear wife sleeps in peace

 

off-beat circadian rhythm

 

waking teenage boy

in morning proves real challenge

he’s wired to sleep sound

after three alarms buzz on

you will find him still snoozing

 

“What time did you go to bed?”  is my first question 🙂  Join Elsie’s weekly tanka challenge at Ramblings of a Writer.

sleeping with spring

screen-shot-2017-02-22-at-8-32-32-pm


Anyone can write a poem with magnetic poetry online…try it!

Image

welcome showers

 

the sound of rain smiles

pattering steady on roof

sleep rolls us over

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