Tethered Freedom
Watch
the limbs
of a tree
and know its joy,
swimming, as it does
with no effort at all,
wind the only waves it needs
while it revels in its freedom,
firmly grasping its place in the world.
This reverse nonet is a response to Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday
#Poetry Challenge No. 145 #PhotoPrompt, with the provided photo
from Pixabay/Susan Cipriano.
Alienation
What is this lust for blood in debate,
this need for vile retribution,
love for self, and not for man?
Differences be damned.
Brotherhood is key.
That we should think
otherwise
makes no
sense.
This nonet is my response to
Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday
#Poetry Challenge No. 123 #Synonyms Only,
using sense and lust for meaning and passion.
Images
top: geralt at pixabay.com
bottom: tinyclipart.com & clipartlibrary.com (layered)
Love
Understanding grows in words spoken
between kindred souls as eyes meet
in a shared spark ignited.
No simple chemistry
explains emotions
consuming them,
the sheer joy
as hearts
swell.
that heady perfume
permeating my senses
intoxicating
washing over me in waves
keeping me afloat with love
heartbeat so simple
its rhythm measuring love
your presence the source
A nonet, a tanka, and a senryū for Colleen’s 2019 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday
#Poetry Challenge No. 122
And from my archives (for those with the time):
nonet
regardless
wide open
Between & In Between
senryū
just a single kiss
When the Day Met the Night
a heartbeat races
Like Darkness
Lying in wait, yet fast approaching,
each moment takes us unaware,
while deceptively distant.
Never far from our minds,
yet somehow far off.
Consuming us,
like darkness
enters
light.
This nonet took a month to come together, but it’s a response to Thursday Photo Prompt: Waiting #writephoto, from Sue Vincent at Daily Echo, with her photo.
lonely
seeking signs of life beyond their sight
they flicker, as if to broadcast
lights of deeds in distant space
reach an infant planet
shine upon its seas
as it ages
its own light
winking
out
This nonet is in response to November Yeats Challenge: Day Seven, from Jane Dougherty (each day a new Yeats quote).
“…stars, grown old
In dancing silver-sandalled on the sea,
Sing in their high and lonely melody.” W.B. Yeats
Image: NASA/ESA/HUBBLE via Astronomy Picture of the Day
Futility
It would seem that all hope is lost, yet,
blindly, I continue to search,
the prospect too bleak to face.
Does it make me a fool,
attempting to find
an honest man,
when I know
there are
none?
This nonet is in response to November Yeats Challenge: Day One, from Jane Dougherty (each day a new Yeats quote). Today’s quote didn’t inspire too much optimism.
Image: wikimedia.org (Diogenes Searching for an Honest Man – Jacob Jordaens)
Nature’s Gift
early summer day on the water
kayak still, tucked against the bank
heron poised, kingfisher darts
mink swims across the stream
hawk cries from above
senses savor
abundance
Nature’s
gift
This nonet is in response to the optional Day 9 prompt at NaPoWriMo 2017 for National Poetry Writing Month/Global Poetry Writing Month – to write a poem composed of nine lines.
Image: Great Blue Heron (my photo, edited)
Message from a Death Metal God
A heron stands in the shallows of the inner harbor, in the refuge of the park, poised to strike at a fish below the surface of the lake, when it spies me. It straightens, standing tall, and turns its head to look my way. As its bill slowly traces a circle in the air, the heron speaks to me with its eyes.
“Dave told you about this place, so, of course you would be here. He has asked me to give you a message.
They are the same, you know. Life. Death. And when they meet, the circle is complete. We are the circle, and all its aspects. Inside. Outside. It’s all the same. Remember that. He will always be with you.”
“That’s pretty metaphysical. Are you sure that came from Dave? Wasn’t there some irreverent banter? You know, maybe, ‘Good morning, my lusciously lascivious cumquat hoarders!’ Something like that?”
“He knew you would say that. He says he’s ready, any time you want to talk about it. Oh, and he says you need to start listening to death metal.”
With that, the heron suddenly lunged, snagging the fish swimming past its feet, then turned away, taking flight across the water in a broad circle before fading from sight.
I knew I would be seeing it again.
Isn’t Life Strange
Just as it seems darkness will threaten
A message comes in images
Of matters that matter most
When answers can’t be found
And words aren’t enough
And the message
Is one of
Peace and
Love
I lost a very dear friend yesterday, so of course my dream would center around him.
Image source: Animals Clipart (Irene Murphy/Creative Commons)
Allepo
Where is the sense in their oppression?
A despot bent on destruction
would ensure they have no voice.
Victims in their own homes
they fight to survive,
doomed to suffer
as they choose
to be
free.
This nonet is my response to The Secret Keeper’s Weekly Writing Prompt #68, with the prompt words sense, fight, free, voice & choose.
Nonet ~ a poem of nine lines and a syllable pattern of 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, with rhyme optional
Image source: Reuters
artsketchwithaview 6/6, by Harry Moody
Dismay
Dismay, not surprise, at the outcome
Of a misguided show of strength
Deposing the status quo
An age of upheaval
When discontent acts
With little pause
For reason
Over
Change
This nonet is my response to The Secret Keeper’s Weekly Writing Prompt #62, with the prompt words pause, over, strength, age & change.
Nonet ~ a poem of nine lines and a syllable pattern of 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, with rhyme optional
Image source: Saatchi Art (artsketchwithaview 6/6, by Harry Moody)
rivrvlogr 