The Fury on a Horizon

The Fury on a Horizon

Is there a sense of calm on the horizon,
or do we see clouds eager to storm
over us with unrelenting fury?
Does that red sky at night really mean
peaceful seas in the morning light,
and does looming darkness forbode
an air of ill will waiting to cross our path?
Who are we, with no power to dictate our fate,
to decide what awaits beyond our sight,
when our view of an everchanging horizon
is nothing more than a reflection of
our own inner calm or turmoil?

This poem is inspired by a photo and blog post,
The Fury on the Horizon, by Steve Tanham.

Continuous Return

Continuous Return

The years overlap
as they remind us
that all of this
is only a moment,
our perspective changing

with each sunset
/sunrise, each leaf opening
/falling, each point of light
in the infinite star-filled sky
reminding us of the possibilities

behind and before us,
yet contained in the moment,
as one year passes
and another begins.

 

Kerfe Roig often has a way of sending my mind in unexpected directions,
as she has done with her pantoum, January 2022: into the darkness.

What Is Before Us ~ with audio

 

What Is Before Us
                for Stephen

Plain sight cannot deny
a truth without camouflage,
your subtle brushstrokes
never relying on memory hidden
within the ebb and flow of life,
always open to the new
as it unfolds, willing
an insight of what may be
repeated, though never taken
for granted. In chords
that stroke the soul,
I have seen your true self.

This poem is inspired by The Quiet Places, by Stephen Tanham.
Please read the original. It’s a short read, and the source of the photo.

one perpetual flow

one perpetual flow

contemplate a river
reflect on all, above
and below the surface
know the truth
of life flowing past

always flowing, depth
a matter of perception,
perspective found
in the waves that wash
over you in that moment

This poem is inspired by Autumn Astound, by SJaeschke (Jazz),
at Steps and Pauses/Mostly Mindful.
Please read her poem here.

Photo: The Niagara River gorge, seen from the Canadian side
(click image for a larger view of my photo in a new tab)

kinship

kinship

one room
three poets
convergence
a matter of perspective
all compass points relative to center
that sweet rose
friendship

gogyohka

three poets in one room
convergence
a matter of perspective
all compass points relative to center
sweet rose of friendship

shadorma

three poets
compass points gathered
convergence
perspective
all relative to center
sweet rose of friendship

cherita

three poets

convergence
a matter of perspective

compass points
relative to center
sweet rose, friendship

lune

three poets
that sweet rose, friendship
convergence

Our trip to Cleveland/Buffalo took us through Indianapolis, where we spent a pleasant evening with Stephanie L. Harper and Robert Okaji.

Yeah, short-form poetry is my thing.  I decided to try writing the first free-verse poem in other forms.  The definitions of these forms can be found on my Poetic Forms page.

Image source: peakpx.com

Sevenling (the journey)

Sevenling (the journey)

The journey is never over.
Never complete.
Always open to interpretation.

Destination, always changing,
a matter of conjecture.
Beginning and end have no significance.

The return is just a stop along the way.

I have been inspired by Ron. Lavalette, the master of the sevenling, to write my first.

Sevenling ~ created by Roddy Lumsden, a Scottish poet
~ a seven-line poem composed of three stanzas
~ first stanza ~ three connected or contrasting statements, or a list of three details, names or possibilities. (all of the three lines ~ or ~ contained anywhere within them)
~ second stanza ~ similarly contains an element of three, connected directly or indirectly or not at all to the preceding stanza (again, anywhere within the three lines)
~third stanza ~ a single line that should should act as a narrative summary or punchline or as an unusual juxtaposition
~ the tone should be mysterious, offbeat or disturbing, as if only a fragment of the story has been told
~ title is optional ~ if used, then “Sevenling (first few words)”

Image source: pngegg.com

In the Moment

In the Moment

inner Self
          day-consciousness
complements
          in balance

breathe
          with calm
inner vision
          directed outward

In the Momentconsider a sphere
          influence
watch it fade
          emptiness

accept the warmth
          nothing
draw it inward
          with calm

close your eyes
          feel the warmth
always home
          belonging

compass needle
          to the real Self
core empowered
          completeness

central to experience
          full with oneness
gift of the now
          in the moment

 

This poem is inspired by Steve Tanham’s Radiance of the Invisible Pearl.

Image pearl – 95C at pixabay
needle – Open Clipart-Vectors at pixabay