#CosPhoChal – Page 42 – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

Advent Darkness

This darkness isn’t such that I
Can brighten it by light I bring.
No laws of nature taint the sky.
No bonds bind it so it can’t sing.

The power failed, but should we wait
For what might not come speedily?
Some of us would hesitate,
But darkness helps our hearts to see.

We’re thankful for the light that’s near.
Praise sound, but not with our ears solely.
Our voices stir the darkness here
Repeating, “Holy, Holy, Holy.”

Text: This was originally published in Ancient Paths Literary Magazine.

Photo: “Decorations” by the author and linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.

Blue Sky

Bare trees rising high.
Where did all those white clouds go?
Deep blue fills the sky.
Red lips, how their smiles flow.
Blue eyes sparkling, brighten so.

Text: I’m using a modified form that William N. Porter used in his translation of Japanese tanka into English, “A Hundred Verses from Old Japan“. This is part of my study of the Manyoshu, finding English forms similar to the tanka.

Photo: “Sun, Tree and Blue Sky”, above, and “Trees and Blue Sky”, below, by the author and linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge and Trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

News: The National Federation of State Poetry Societies in the United States (of which I’m a member through the Illinois State Poetry Society) announced its 2018 contests. There are fifty contests in all. Entries must be postmarked between January 1, 2018, and March 15, 2018. Some of the winners may be published in an anthology later in 2018. Check the details if you are interested in participating.

Also, yesterday Ancient Paths Literary Magazine published my poem “Advent Darkness“.

Skin

Skin is what I see, not what’s within.
Castle walls might block me, thick or thin.
When they crumble mysteries begin
To lock outside whatever went right in.

Photo: “My Right Hand” by the author linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo prompt with the theme “skin” and Trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

Textures

This funk I feel will heal somehow.
The textures of my mind are strange,
But they will change and even now
I feel those textures rearrange.

I’d rather think the world’s sublime
Than whine about each little thing.
I’d rather waste my time with rhyme
Than worry that I cannot sing.

Photo: “Three Textures Somme Woods” linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge and trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

Walking Downtown One Autumn Afternoon

Who is looking back at me
When I’m walking by?
Who is smiling curiously
When I wonder why?

Photos: “Rock Wall Downtown”, above, and “Small Town Downtown”, below, by the author linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with theme “downtown” and trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

Gratitude — Sun Salutation

Even seagulls understand,
Salute the brightening Sun.
They pause with eyes that watch it rise,
Give praise, for day’s begun.

Photo: “Sun Salutation” by the author. I am linking this to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with theme “gratitude” and since gratitude seems to make forgiveness easier I am also linking it to Debbie Roth’s Forgiving Fridays.

Man Made Meets Mother Nature

The shoin house is simply made.
It looks upon the pond.
Nature tolerates that, too.
She’s proud to see what we can do,
How pretty we respond.

Nature doesn’t simulate.
She plays the game for keeps.
We assume we know it all.
We reach the cliffs. We brag. We fall.
She cradles, dreams and sleeps.

Photos: “Shoin House”, above, and “Drain in Forest Preserve”, below, both by the author. The shoin house is part of the Chicago Botanic Garden and the drain is in Somme Woods. They are linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with theme “Man Made Meets Mother Nature”. The bottom one is for trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

Don’t Bump Me in the Night

What’s spooky in November
Fireworks my fear.
Bumps and groans
And nighttime moans
Entertain my ears.

Photos: “What Goes Bump in the Night”, above, and “Spooky Plants”, below, by the author and linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with the theme “What Goes Bump in the Night” and, since I think they are all mundane enough, trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

A Man in the Park

Halloween will soon be here.
Scary stuff will pop–appear.
There’s something spooky when a pop
Appears and doesn’t plan to stop.

I see a man lost in the park.
We monsters dance when it grows dark.
He looks OK. I’ll let him be.
It’s best if he does not see me.

He thinks this spot is so mundane.
His ears are plugged so why explain?
Tonight when cosmic lights turn on
His mundane world will–pop–be gone.

Text: I am linking this to dVerse Poetics. Bjorn is hosting with the theme of considering the monster’s perspective.

Photos: “Maple and Oak” taken at Somme Preserves. To make sure I have something mundane enough, there’s “Below the Road” at the bottom. I’m linking these to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with theme “A Walk in the Park” and trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

Maple and Oak

Below the Road

Unexpected Beauty

Some do not see beauty there.
My fingers point it out.
Some do not feel empathy–
Heartbreak all about.
I’ve taken much for granted, too.
I miss my share each day.
Tomorrow I’ll miss more with you,
But you’re not in the way.

Photo: “Autumn Path” by the author and linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with prompt “Unexpected Beauty” and trablogger’s Mundane Monday.