The up and down of beating drums are heard across the lake As falsehood twists the message and the drummers take no break. The solid door, self-righteousness, defends. It’s locked to win. Convinced that truth rests safe inside is where truth can’t get in.
Linked to dVerse Quadrille. Mish is hosting with the word “drum”.
On beaches blocked and empty Oceans still will drum. Seagulls once searched on this shore For bread crumbs. They can find no more. The sun turns slowly bright To fix the morning with daylight Discharging darker dreams of night. The gulls arise and soar.
Linked to dVerse Quadrille. De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo) is hosting with the word “fix”.
Linked to Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “The World In Lockdown”.
Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. I noticed this past week that the beaches are still closed, but the boardwalks are open. I do prefer walking on the boardwalks’ hard surfaces than on the soft sand, but the sand with bare feet washed by the waves is nice too. Things will change in ways I can’t imagine perhaps for the better and the thought of that makes me smile.
While looking here Or searching there Am I now near Or now nowhere? Alone and standing, Silly breeze, Trails and landings Restful ease. Autumn green And yellow blooms, Sunsets seen From prairie rooms. After searching did I find All that's best I left behind?
Linked to dVerse Quadrille. Lillian is hosting with the word “silly”. Also linked to dVerse Meeting the Bar in the final hours of the prompt where I am hosting with the theme of fourteen lines.
I am also linking this post to the Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “from an unusual angle”. I took the top photo on a trail in Colorado Springs. I don’t know why I decided to take a view of the trail while kneeling. Perhaps I liked the railings. It now looks like an interesting angle. The bottom photo was of a prairie in Northbrook, Illinois. I pushed all of the potentially interesting detail to the top right portion of the picture, not how I would normally look at the scene when walking through the park.
I am also linking to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. Some friends decided to continue our monthly breakfast virtually on Zoom. I thought it was odd, but then I have heard of a couple recently who decided against postponing their wedding and instead do it virtually. So I guess it wasn’t all that odd after all. It made me smile to attend our virtual breakfast.
On Thursday at dVerse Meeting the Bar, I will be featuring poems with only one constraint that the poem have fourteen lines like the one posted here.
There's symmetry as night greets day And day greets evening’s light. The virus flushed our breaths away. It’s time to win that fight. If I’m around when years go by Remembering this time, I’ll inhale breathing if I may And offer one more rhyme.
Linked to Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the prompt “symmetrical”.
This past week I also read Kim M. Russell’s Joe and Nelly and wrote an Amazon review. I highly recommend this story about two children and their families during World War Two in London.
Also linked to dVerse Quadrille. Mish is hosting with the word “flush”.
I am also linking to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. Below are two more or less symmetrical versions of me wearing a T-shirt mask. These masks don’t take a lot of skill or materials to make (even I can do it). The broccoli sprouts that failed last week now sprout without molding. And so with two successful projects to brag about I have no reason not to smile.
Magic through the wizard’s hand Waves dimly. We don’t understand, Wondering how we got here, Trembling short of breath with fear. There’s that forest, dense and dark. Demons hide. Beware their bark. Expose them. Choose and let life be. Reject what’s dark for majesty.
Linked to dVerse Quadrille where Linda Lee Lyberg is hosting with the word “magic”.
The Spring is stirring from this cold dead white, From dark beneath oppressive night. The searching sun reveals how bright And fresh is morning air. May I walk within such light Where mercy soothes, where tears turn right, And humble hope plants flowers everywhere.
Linked to Cosmic Photo Prompt. Dale offered the theme of “Spring has sprung”.
Linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile with thoughts of a coming spring smile to everyone.
Also linked to dVerse Quadrille. De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo) is hosting with the word “stir”.
A miracle I’d like to see Might make some mountain slide. Explanations won’t agree. The miracle I’d want to see Would peel this raging heart from me That seeks a place to hide. The miracles I’d long to see Would make my mountains slide.
Linked to dVerse Quadrille where Mish is hosting with the word “peeling”.
Linked to The Cosmic Photo Challenge where Dale offers the theme of “set in stone”.
Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. That I’m here at all is enough motivation for praise, thanksgiving, hope and a smile.
Also linked to dVerse Meeting the Bar where I am hosting with the theme of the triolet poetry form.
From above on rocky hill I see green trees below me. The wind blows as it wildly will Far above this rocky hill. Distant curves of mountains fill Horizons blue like wavy sea. From above on rocky hill So many trees below me.
Linked to dVerse Quadrille where De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo) is hosting with the word “fill”.
Also linked to The Cosmic Photo Challenge with the theme “From Above”.
Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. My smile this week comes from the memories of Palmer’s Park in Colorado Springs and the many hours spent walking there.
Winter turns the spirit out.
Leaves go red and fall.
Snowy silence sits about.
I wonder at it all,
But know the proof comes in the spring
When leaves and flowers bloom
When birds again have warmth to sing
And outside’s like a room.
Linked to K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge where the theme is “The Coming of Winter/Winter’s Breath” or “Playing with Light”.
Also linked to Trent P. McDonald’s The Weekly Smile. I realized that I don’t understand all that I think I do. No matter how bad that might seem, my smile comes from also realizing that it isn’t all that bad.
Also linked to dVerse Quadrille. De Jackson (aka WhimsyGizmo) is hosting with the word ‘spirit’.
Maple leaves charm forest floor.
Imagine there’s an open door
That keeps one satisfied - no more.
Walk along the way.
Simplicity, that raging fire,
Lets dreams go deep to then rise higher.
With worries done all doubts retire
To reach the end of day.
Linked to dVerse Quadrille. Kim from Writing in North Norfolk hosts with the theme word “keep”.
Poetry, Short Prose and Walking 