Tag: Lake Michigan

Time – Décima

Delusion masks the sense of it.
Deceptive dreaming wastes my time.
From out of this I’d love to climb,
this dark, demonic, dragon pit.

Against the wall in mud I sit.
I see a makeshift rope appear
and from above the voice I hear
is telling me to grasp it tight.
There was no way, but now there’s light.
Death grabbed my feet, but mercy’s near.

Ronovan Hester offers the rhyme word “time” to be used in a B-line of a décima having rhyme pattern ABBAACCDDC for this week’s challenge. I was thinking of Jeremiah 38 about Jeremiah being rescued from the dungeon of Malchiah when describing the rescue from this dragon pit.

Ronovan's Decima Poetry Challenge Image
Ronovan’s Decima Poetry Challenge Image
Lake Michigan From Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve

Sunday Walk 17

I had rather feel contrition than be skilful in the definition thereof.

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, Chapter 1.3, Translated by Rev. William Benham, Project Gutenberg
Brooke Ligertwood and Ben Fielding, What a Beautiful Name, Hillsong Worship
Lake Michigan and Trees

Water and Rescue

When Lydia was playing in a shallow pool about four inches deep she stumbled and fell face down into the water. The problem is she did not stand up.  She kept her face submerged in the water.  She was very young.

Her father was watching her and saw what happened.  He got up out of his chair, stepped into the water and lifted her. He and his wife wiped off the water.  Lydia smiled.  That was enough water play for today.

It wasn’t a dangerous rescue.  Some rescues are routine, but imagine the consequences if they had not happened.

Linked to Carrot Ranch October 30 Flash Fiction Challenge where Charli Mills offers the theme of “life savers on any body of water”.

A short story of mine, “Unexpected Call”, appeared in Whispers and Echoes. I am grateful to Sammi Cox for accepting it.

All that blue at the horizon is Lake Michigan

Fourteen Lines

We hope we built it on the solid stone.
Earth that would get dizzy makes things wave.
We used what we were given, staying brave,
Though walls might fall and we’re left all alone.
We did avoid the sandy, shifting shore
Licentiousness had offered in its hand.
We chose perhaps unjustly the well-planned
When legalism offered frowning chores.

Looking high we see dark skies above.
The morning brings us color from the sun.
We built our best, remained in spite of doubt
Talking from our hearts to only one,
Walking on the waters of his love,
Confidently breathing in and out.

Linked to dVerse Open Link Night where Kim, Writing in North Norfolk, is hosting.

I started focusing on poems with fourteen lines. Here is an attempt at a Petrarchan sonnet.

Lake Michigan

Trees

By grasping ground the trees submit then stand
To face the stormy weather, hot or cold.
Winds slap their leaves with branches fully fanned
Yet year by year they grow on land they hold.
Small habits starting weak turn strong and bold.
They would not hesitate if they could voice
Their affirmations - life would be the choice.
They welcome all who aid their living there.
They fix one spot then from that spot rejoice
And offer wayward folk refreshing air.

Linked to dVerse Poetry Forms. Rosemary Nissen–Wade is hosting with the dizain poetry form: 10 lines, 10 syllables per line with thyme pattern ababbccdcd.

Overlooking Lake Michigan at Gillson Park

One Child’s Gift to Another

The ring she gave was made of lead
And broke one lonely day.
“It has no worth,” the jeweler said.
He’ll keep it anyway.

Text: Linked to dVerse Poetics.  Sarah Connor is hosting with the love tokens.

Photos: “Leaves Remind the Tree”, above, and “Water Seeking Lake Michigan”, below.  I am linking these to Frank Jansen’s Tuesday Photo Challenge with the theme “force”.

Water Seeking Lake Michigan

Grounding

Belief shows me what I would see
With mirrors everywhere.
Dark branches of the leafless trees
Shiver in the winter’s breeze
As I do standing there.

Text: Linked to dVerse Poetics.  Bjorn is hosting with the theme of mirrors.

Photos: “Grounding”, above, and “Lake Michigan from Gillson Park”, below.

Lake Michigan from Gillson Park

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”.

Lake Michigan and Overcast Winter Sky

Beyond the Objective Surface

What’s real does not bounce particles
Nor swim with random waves.
Its surface swings an open door,
Predictably behaves.

The real’s beyond the object.
Love lifts it, lets us see,
Sustaining every now we know
While veiled majestically.

Text: Linked to dVerse Open Link Night.  Grace is hosting.

Photos: “Overlooking Lake Michigan” by the author.

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