Exhale

Lake Michigan Through a Nearly Leafless Tree 
Some decades earlier he went
Along this way he’s walking now.
A child in hand and wife somehow
Were with him as if Heaven sent,
But now his energy’s near spent.
The sign suggests he’s on some trail
That loops to somewhere vaguely known.
A wind picks up. The oak trees groan.
His strength returns though flesh stays frail
While every breath yearns to exhale.

Linked to Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge Prompt No. 30 where the rhyme word “exhale” needs to be used as a C rhyme in a décima with rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC.

I realize I got the rhyme pattern wrong for a décima. Here is a revision:

Some decades earlier he went
Along this way he’s walking now.
A child in hand and wife somehow
Were with him as if Heaven sent,
But now his energy’s near spent.
The sign suggests he’s on some trail.
His strength returns though flesh stays frail.
The curving path becomes well-known.
A wind picks up. The oak trees groan.
His every breath yearns to exhale.
Lake Bluff View of Lake Michigan
Ronovan's Decima Poetry Challenge Image
Ronovan’s Decima Poetry Challenge Image

Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

19 thoughts on “Exhale”

  3. Dear Frank, love the poem and the image together. Math, writing and curation. Alas, I’m only good at the writing part. Bravo!

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  9. Pingback: Décima Challenge 30 Poets Collected | ronovanwrites

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