Tag: Mundane Monday

Righteousness and Grace

It takes no time at all to choose
But more to justify
The choice I made so I won’t lose–
Lose what, to whom and why?

I build a wall of righteousness
That only grace can smash
And let forgiveness air the mess.
Rejoice. Enjoy the crash.

Text: Linked to dVerse Poetics. Paul is hosting with the theme “grace”. I am also linking this with Debbie Roth’s Forgiving Fridays.

Photo: “Bottle in the Light” by the author. I am linking this to Trablogger’s Mundane Monday with the theme of “bottles”. I am also linking it to Frank Jansen’s Tuesday Photo Challenge with the theme “recycle” which is what I should do with this bottle since I no longer use it.  Perhaps the idea of the light of grace shining through the bottle might link the photo to the poem?

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“.

Trees and Blue Sky

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.

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.

Small Town Downtown

Rock

Fossils and some other things
Rest inside this rock.
The past to my own present brings
Suggestive hints to shock.

I am used to seeing such
Along this Green Bay shore.
What was before stands out to touch
My mind through this rock’s door.

Text: Linked to dVerse Quadrille hosted by Mish with the prompt word being “rock”.

Photo: “Rock” by the author and linked to trablogger’s Mundane Monday.

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.

Drain in Forest Preserve

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.

Spooky Plants

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

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