Heading Home

Karin presented us with a list of words to use for the poetry challenge at Real Toads today and asked that we use at least three in today’s poem.  I’ve placed the words from her list in italics.  I’m also sharing at the open link for d’Verse Poets.

***

A simple daily habit,

taking personal inventory

of where I’m at right now.

Taking account of

what I have and

what  I want in life.

Tomorrow’s on its way.

Time’s pace never slows;

soon gray will dapple

my straight dark hair

as I hurry home.

***

Prelude

Today it’s all about what comes before the main event!  Kerry’s Wednesday Challenge at Real Toads is to write a prelude, what comes before the main story.  I’m also sharing at d’Verse Poets open link.

lost in dreamy thoughts

digging through drawers

for black satin and lace

lights dimmed, shades drawn

flickering candle flames

floating rose petal fragrance

soft strains of music

electric anticipation

courses through my being

waiting on his arrival

Beltane Blessings

Over at Real Toads, Mama Zen has assigned the task of writing an unprompted poem with no more than 45 words.  Since it is May 1st, it seems appropriate to celebrate Beltane, the mid-point between spring and summer.  I’m also sharing for the open link at d’Verse Poets.

bathed in sunlight

verdant grass growing

birds and bugs abound;

potent with virile life

the horned Green Man

paints vibrant spring,

spreading his seed

upon Mother Nature’s

open canvas womb

A Shakespeare Inspired Triolet

Today, Real Toads is celebrating the Bard by asking us to write a poem inspired by him or his works.  I have long loved his Sonnet 18 (Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?), so that is what I used for my inspiration.  At NaPoWriMo, the challenge is to write a triolet.  I thought this form would be perfect for a Shakespeare inspired poem.  I’m also sharing this for the open link at d’Verse Poets.

Your love is like the warmth of spring;

new life you draw from winter’s rest.

My joyful heart a song does sing.

Your love is like the warmth of spring

more precious than the wealth of kings.

I hold you close within my breast.

Your love is like the warmth of spring;

new life you draw from winter’s rest.

   ***

A Dangerous Walk

Well, today I’m combining three prompts!  First, at NaPoWriMo the suggested prompt was to talk a walk and record our observations in a poem.  D’Verse Poets presented the task of writing about a monster.  Finally, at Real Toads, the task was Accessible Poetry, inspired by Billy Collins.  

I’ve heard tales of monstrous

dangers within the wild spaces

between the hills and trees.

Cautiously I begin walking up

one hill and down the next,

listening for sounds of

danger; I only hear the 

woodpecker and the wind,

a blue sky above and below

grass greening where I go.

At the watering hole, I

see evidence of wildlife–

the cloven hooves of a deer,

canine pawprints of coyote.

Nowhere do I see a danger.

Through a copse of trees

where squirrels scold

and drop walnut hulls to

the ground beside my path.

Nearing the end of my walk

I feel foolish for thinking

dangers were lurking within

the wild wood where I walked,

and I returned rested and calm

to the safety of civilization.

Rant in Palindrome

Yesterday, d’Verse Poets threw out the extremely difficult challenge of writing a poem in the form of a palindrome.  I struggled until I saw the prompt at NaPoWriMo today was to write a poem of things I would never say to someone.

 

can I teach?

pendulum theories swinging wildly

indoctrination or education

parents and principals

blame and shame

kids lose

killjoys

lose kids

shame and blame

principals and parents

education or indoctrination

wildly swinging theories pendulum

teach I can!

Gravedigger

I am linking this to the Open Link at d’Verse Poets.  It is my offering for today’s NaPoWriMo, even though it doesn’t fit the suggested topic.  I seem to be doing a horrible job of writing and posting each day.

gravedigger’s rusted shovel
cuts through the ground
digging deep deep down
dirt and rock scratching
against metal, the only sound

memories of a young face
and sweet laugh echo
in a silent still mind as
he digs deep deep down
ghost of a child he never met

a quiet prayer is spoken
as the hole grows deeper
the pain of sore muscles
and sweat running down
masks tears falling to the dirt

beneath the new moon
the gravedigger works silently
a mourning task to complete before
a public farewell service
displays of woe and wailing

followed by silence of the dead
broken only by the black dirt
the gravedigger drops deep deep down
as it thunks against the pine wood
burying a coffin in the ground

Fire and a Cinquain

I was a bit surprised this morning when I saw all the goats and the llama on high alert.  I snuck through the barnyard, into the barn and didn’t see anything amiss.  Then I peeked around the barn into my field.  I didn’t invite her for breakfast, but she was feasting on goose eggs.

 

coyote

sneaking closer

drawn to barnyard noises

a vicious canine killer

Nature

Miranda’s revenge!

coyote stands within my site

ready, aim, fire away!

***

In addition to the above cinquain for NaPoWriMo, I am sharing it and the haiku for d’Verse Poets.  I might have to explain the irony in the haiku though.  Last summer I lost one of my goat kids, Miranda, to a coyote.   This morning, I stood and watched this one and the only thing I could shoot her with was my camera.  Some revenge…

I’m also including my haiku for Haiku A2Z Heights, where we are up to the letter F, which is for Fire.  Notice, fire in the haiku above.  See, it all ties together in this rambling post.  Kind of…

bright flames of passion

burning my heart’s desire

on the soul’s window

***

 

Candle and Lies

Day three of Haiku A2Z Heights is candle.

soft candlelight kiss

two souls burn with desire

flames growing brighter

bright luminous fire

burning brightly through the night

beacon to my soul

***

The suggested prompt at the NaPoWriMo site today is a poem that tells a lie.  I’m also sharing this for the open links at Real Toads and d’Verse Poets.

your gift given with guile,

a beautiful tale told with kisses

leaves me vulnerable soft;

lustful lies with every caress

coaxing me to your bed;

fingertip touches tracing

lines on tender parts

telling me sweet untruths;

your fallacy penetrates deeply,

a passionate prevarication

of physical pleasure,

ignoring the lonely truth.

Don’t stop lying to me.

***

Gems of Poetry

It’s time for the open link at d’Verse Poets.  I have a pretty big collection of old books, and I found this one to be rather inspiring.  I wonder in another 129 years, what will poets think of today’s poetry.

***

Gems of poetry speak to my heart,

telling the secret story of my soul-

Grandma’s pearls to guard purity,

a prim and proper ladylike couplet,

give way to peridot’s free verse.

Black onyx tiger’s eye masculine

energy overpowering strength

forces ruby fervency upon the

white iridescent blank page

of moonstone’s feminine core,

mingling in sapphire passions

beneath an old leather cover.

***