Harmonoia

My arms reach toward the sky
Like branches of a majestic tree
Blessings counted on each green leaf
Kindness and compassion ooze like oxygen
Gratitude sits at the forefront
Harmonoia plays in the background
As seasons will inevitably change 
Vibrant greens destined to turn brown
Good fortunes doomed to wither and die
Only strong roots remain insulated from dark days
I plant mine deep in the nurturing soil
Fretfully awaiting the inescapable adversity

W3 Prompt #172: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Violet, prompts us to: “Choose a word from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows and make it the title of your poem. Your poem should either use the word directly or capture the essence of its meaning.” The definition of “Harmonoia” may be found here.

dVerse OpenLinkNight #388 hosted by Bjorn. Bjorn provides a mini-prompt: Why do trees conceal the splendor of their roots? Pablo Neruda, Book of questions.

Unpredictable

I could love the rain
Long for rolling thunder clouds
Raindrops rhythmic beat
But there is trepidation 
Regular hundred year floods

Colleen’s TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge #25

Kate’s Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge, week 32

A Taiga: Philosophically Treading

About the waters
Workers watch the others play
Seaside residents
Gaze from bayside terraces
Philosophically treading

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge #24 hosted by Willow.

Explanation Unknown

Long path winding to destination unknown   
Strongly compels with temptation unknown  

Deep rooted trees attentively guide roadside 
Gnarly cheerleaders through motivation unknown 

Each tentative step intuitively follows another 
Tired feet persevere with determination unknown  

Invisible skittering critters crunch forest underbrush  
Each spy through curious investigation unknown  

Long winding path disappointingly runs a full circle 
Jen ends at the start — her transformation unknown  

W3 Prompt #171: Wea’ve Written Weekly, poet of the week, Deanna, prompts us to write a ghazal on a theme of our choice.

dVerse Poetics “Let’s Take a Walk in the Woods, Shall We?,” hosted by Lillian.

Character

Why must you stop and stare?
Your mouths agape at my front gate
Your heads shaking in distaste
Do you expect me to feel disgraced?
A spice of life is what I add
In a conformist neighborhood I find sad
So what if I paint my shutters pink
It adds some character, don’t you think?
The baby blue siding complementary 
A vibrant yellow front entry
Black and white checkerboard paths
Lead to colorful flowers in upcycled baths
(and toilets)
Yes, it’s quite the marvelous home
Simply ask my donsy of gnomes 

Photo credit: Victoria Baker
Donnybrook Visitor Centre

W3 Prompt #170: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Dennis, prompts us to: “Write a poem of 20 lines or fewer that imagines what is happening in the scene… You must use the word ‘donsy’ somewhere in your poem.”

Featured image assisted with Microsoft AI

A Choka: Sotto Voce

To old ways we cling
Colorful coral bleached white
Death lies under foot
A sotto voce ignored
We dance in shadows
Grooves tread in infertile soil
Voices in our heads
Drown meaningful messages
Choruses played on repeat

A subtle whisper
Heard with silent attention 
Soft voice speaks volumes
An ode to humanity
A seque to a new verse

Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge #23 hosted by Robbie

dVerse Poetics hosted by Merril

A Kimo: Unlucky Good Luck

Thirteen I found in a bed of clover
Each one has four lucky leaves 
Wait for it to play out

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 22 hosted by Selma.

Featured photo by Paul Szlosek

An Island

An island
Detached, disconnected, isolated
Gently trespassed upon by tentative feet
Caressed by passing winds
Enchanted by the dazzling Milky Way
A bit-o-honey for the undernourished soul
Tenuous waters
Lap against my shore
Greet, retreat, abandon
An island
Am I

W3 Prompt #169: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Lesley, prompts us to write, literally or metaphorically, on the theme of “The Deserted Island” or “The Fantasy Castle”.

dVerse Poetics host Lillian challenges us to incorporate one or more listed candy brands into our poem.

Head Gears

Determined to fly with the birds
To swim with the fish
Daydreams sketched upon stars
Visionaries are we
Magniloquent in sharing our ingenuity 
Tools in our hands
Gears spinning in our heads
We turn our dreams into reality
And explore the unreachable 

W3 Prompt #168: Wea’ve Written Weekly. I don’t think is what Ben (poet of the week) had in mind for this challenge, but I just couldn’t switch “gears” once I got started.

Featured image generated with Microsoft AI

Denim

Colors masked
In denim blue jeans
Casual
Travel wear
Attempting to play it cool
Flamboyance tempered

Fuchsia stains
On favorite jeans
Reminders
Of good times
Joyfully wild and carefree
Denim stories shared

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 21, hosted by Melissa.

Melissa challenges us to write a shadorma series based on one of Alma Thomas’ paintings.

Featured photo: Alma Thomas, Celestial Fantasy, 1973, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum