Books and Poetry
Communal living
Wild bird camaraderie
Never one and done
Native to South America, these birds have naturalized in South Florida. They are known to build large communal nests out of sticks. I have seen (and heard) scores of them building nests on large utility towers. Unfortunately, my camera’s zoom would only reach a few stragglers on the periphery.
I. J. ‘s Birds of the Week Invitation CXII
Eugi’s Moonwashed Weekly Prompt – April 15, 2025
Easy summer breeze
You’re fooled by the book’s cover
A storm brews inside
It circles round the edges
Looking for weakness
The smile on my face falters
One jab too many
A hurricane untethered
Threatens through broadening cracks
W3 Prompt #155: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Ooko, prompts us to: “Write a poem that gives voice to what is usually left unsaid — a buried truth, a silenced voice, a hidden struggle, or the quiet ache of the heart.”
TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 8 hosted by Selma – “write poetry that portrays movement.”
Featured image created with Microsoft AI
As a seed, I was shot out the back end of a blue jay when, heedless, she flew over the meadow. Spiraling downward as I should, I landed in the tall grass, among sun-loving wildflowers. I was not welcomed there. The unrelenting sun beat upon my shell until the evening forced it west. Ravenous night creatures soon appeared, foraging in the tall grasses. I found myself helplessly wedged between the toes of a young raccoon. It carried me through the meadow to the edge of the pond, toes dug into thick mud, as it fished out freshwater mussels. Suctioned from the raccoon’s grip, the sludge welcomed me into its nurturing environment. I sprouted and grew into the great cypress that I am today. And this, my precious seedlings, is how we came to be by this lovely pond we now call home.
dVerse Prosery, hosted by Sanaa.
We are to incorporate:
“As a seed, I was shot out the back end of a blue jay when, heedless, she flew over the meadow.” “Wild Pansy” by Lisa Bellamy.
Trains once moved along these tracks
Carrying textiles on their backs
Locomoted through towns bustling
Found vendors and traders hustling
Defunct echoes of the past
Lens Artist Photo Challenge #344: Abandoned, hosted by Anne
Trains and Trolleys – CFFC by Dan
Wildflowers do dance
In gently blowing breezes
See their bright heads nod
An invitation to those
Who cavort amidst their blooms
Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Featured photo flowers: globe-mallows.
You promised me
you would always be
by my side –
there for me.
I know I failed you.
This is true.
But tell me dear,
what can I do?
Fight! Fight,
with all your might!
Do not ready your soul
for flight!
But the wind does slow
and I must go.
This my dear
you surely know.
W3 Prompt #154: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Violet, prompts us to: “Write a poem—any form, or none at all—that captures the heart of a difficult conversation.”
Two hours in flight
Transports back a month in time
A short-sleeved tee shirt
Layered beneath warm bubble jacket
Flip flops replaced by winter boots
Spring rains pelt with icy fingers
Few flowers open to the call
Barren trees conform
To monochrome skies
Awaiting winter’s release
Round-trip time travel
Deposits in neon green
Smells of balmy petrichor
Migrating birds linger
Butterflies flit
Among bright blooms
Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge No. 7, hosted my Melissa.
Blushing crabapple
Sweetly opens to Spring’s call
Turns sour for Summer
Dawn’s April A-Z Challenge
A bench with a perfect view
Overlooks the water blue
Perchance some dolphins will swim by
Or a pod of pelicans on the fly
A giant yacht with decks galore
A sailboat sailing off to explore
Rainbows arcing overhead
Perhaps some shooting stars instead
But I choose best not to go there
On a different bench I sit where
I can view the bench with the waterfront
As sitting there’s sure to be disappointment
W3 Prompt #153: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Lesley, prompts us to write a monologue from a bench.
Xingfumama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge, week 13.
Frequent failing fool
Fecundates
Forthright forward forge
Colleen’s TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 6, Tarot: The Fool
Val’s Looking at Poetic Chimeras. I have chosen to: “Write a Lune as a Tautogram.”
Featured image from the Jungian Tarot Deck
JJJ Interactive Books