#CosPhoChal – Page 43 – Poetry, Short Prose and Walking

At the End of the Day

Evenings keep on coming.
Mornings happen, too.
In between I’ve breaths to breathe.
It’s all I need to do.

Photos: “Sunset and Clouds”, above, and “Evening”, below, linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge.

Waves today calmly bounce
Then crawl toward waiting shore.
The air is warm enough for me.
That’s what the sun is for.
Reality is ever near.
It’s patient, does not hide.
I take it all for granted, true,
Still it waits by my side.

Text: Linked to dVerse Quadrille hosted by De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo) with theme word “bounce”.

Photo: “Morning Sun”, above, “Earth, Fire, Air, Water”, below, linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with theme “earth, fire, air and water”.

Winter Moon

The Moon lets me stare at it unlike the Sun. I need a cooler face that doesn’t burn my eyes. I know little about the Moon, but that doesn’t matter.

I pass two cats along the boardwalk. They don’t mind me looking at them either and I know as little about them as I do about the Moon.

STRAY CATS ON THE PATH
WINTER–DOES IT BOTHER THEM
STORMS ARE COMING IN

Text: Linked to dVerse Haibun Monday hosted by Victoria C. Slotto with the theme “winter moon”.

Photos: “Winter Storm”, the panoramic view above, and below, “A Different View of Winter” by the author and linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with the theme Winter.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Winter wears a gloomy sky.
Yesterday came snow.
Today as well we’ll get some, too.
Tomorrow? I don’t know,
But if it dumps a load on us
I will wonder when
We’ll get to feel warm spring love leap
That brings back joy again.

Text: Linked to dVerse Quadrille where Grace is hosting using “leap” as the prompt word.

Photos: “Sun Through Overcast Sky”, above, and “Lake Michigan and Overcast Sky”, below, by the author and linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge with theme “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.

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.