Remembering Hurricane Helene

Utter stillness 
until she arrives 
with little warning
of the disaster she unleashes
upon the mountains 
in a fury of floods
that cause land to slide and houses to topple 
into bloated rivers that wash away 
everything
but the survivors
who observe the wreckage
in stunned silence

W3 Prompt #178: Wea’ve Written Weekly hosted by poet of the week, Jaideep.

Higher ground safety
Quite simply a delusion
There is no escape
Autumn mountains slide away
Helene passes through clueless

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 31, hosted by Yvette.

Deserted

I walk the empty park trails
Winding a serene lake
One lone fisherman perched at shore
A deserted bench yearning for comfort
I feel the waning warmth upon bare skin
Listen to northern breezes rustle tree leaves
Heed the warning of cold days ahead

W3 Prompt #177: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Lisa, prompts us to write a Quadrille on the theme of transitions. For added inspiration, she provides a quote by Friedrich Neitzche: “I notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.”

Xingfumama’s Pull-up a Seat Photo Challenge, Week 38

A Chōka: Burdens Recast

Early morning fog
Encircles the lone giant
Dew weighs heavily
The cedar weeps under strain
Droplets roll down limbs
They cling to tips of needles
Refusing to fall
Rays of sun break through the gloom  
Each branch bejeweled with diamonds

Dawn brings perspective
In light of new beginnings
Burdens are recast
Enchantment hewn from sorrows
Heavy limbs buoyed with joy

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 30, 24 Seasons by Colleen.

In Flight

The spirit of flight
Dressed in yellow and orange
Colorful landings

Sunday Stills Monthly #Color Challenge: Vibrant Yellow and Orange Hues

Not a Fairy-Tale

Skin of brown, red or yellow
Sure to be a targeted fellow
(or woman or child)
We do not discriminate 
Each to get their fair share of hate
Cross the border and you will see
The ICE men can imprison thee
(in another country, of course)
Even with valid documentation 
Maybe while you are on vacation
It doesn’t matter if legal or innocent
You may be deported (even if you’re a citizen)

W3 Prompt #176: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Jaideep, prompts us to write a bright poetic form on dark subject matter.

Featured image created by ChatGPT.

Tanka Puente: Reminiscence

Much reminiscence
Triggered by evening showers
Smell of petrichor
Touch of early autumn breeze
Transports me back to childhood 

The true art of memory is the art of attention. *

Lakeside wandering
Vociferous bullfrogs croak
Mist covered mountains
Bittersweet farewells proclaimed
As summer slyly retreats

deVerse Quadrille #231: Making Much of Poems, hosted by De Jackson.

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 29, Memories, hosted by Willow.

* Quote by Samuel Johnson — Idler #74 (September 15, 1759).

Fungi Network

damp-earth 
sprouts tiny spores
stunning mushrooms break ground
just a peak of what lies beneath
networks

dVerse MTB: cinquains revisited, hosted by Björn

A Tanka: Predawn Sky

Cotton candy clouds 
Dress violet predawn sky
Venus slowly fades
I, but a mere speck of dust,
Gaze out the kitchen window

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 28, hosted by Melissa.

W3 Prompt #175: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Sadje, prompts us write a poem using imagery.

Featured image assisted by Microsoft AI.

Semipalmated Plover

Little feet
Scurry over sand
A brief pause

I. J.’s Birds of the Week Invitation CXXXI

End of Light

Summer is cooling
Summer will end
End of heat
End of sweat 
Sweat the change 
Sweat the future
Future uncertain
Future will come
Come into autumn
Come to the present
Present is nice
Present is pretty
Pretty with colors
Pretty in fall
Fall to the ground
Fall to the earth
Earth reclaims life
Earth rotates time
Time to work
Time to harvest
Harvest the pears
Harvest the apples
Apples are picked
Apples are baked
Baked with cinnamon 
Baked with love
Love in the air
Love of the weather
Weather is mild
Weather is fair
Fair season stars
Fair prized pumpkins
Pumpkins for pie
Pumpkins are carved
Carved with tools
Carved into faces
Faces that laugh
Faces that play
Play outdoors
Play in the leaves
Leaves that turn red
Leaves that turn golden
Golden mums bloom
Golden sky fades
Fades away day
Fades away light
Light winking stars
Light up the night
Night
Stars

W3 Prompt #174: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Carol Anne, prompts us to write a blitz poem on the theme of “transition from summer to fall.”