I spread stained glass wings
Compete with the blazing sun
Certain I outshine
TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 27, hosted by Robbie.
Outshine
Like an Abstract Painting
I find you disconcerting.
Your asymmetry
contradicts my desire for balance.
Your blue perspective
curbs my deluded optimism.
Somehow we work —
an abstract painting
converged at the center.
W3 Prompt #173: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Ange, prompts us to write an ekphrastic poem inspired by one of two proposed works of art, incorporating the word “blue.”
Assassin Bug
A search for insects
I stalk the garden flora
Camera ready
I scan each petal and stalk
Meeting an assassin bug
TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 26, hosted by Yvette. Yvette challenges us to write a Tanka using a word that has multiple meanings. I chose the word “stalk.”
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
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
JJJ Interactive Books 