Absent Without Leave

Long awaited spring 
Certainly took its time
Before granting us its presence
Nicely warming our bones
Frozen by winter
A welcome visitor
Charming in its mild manners 
Only to promptly exit
Without saying goodbye 
Leaving us to wither  
In summer-like heat
Will spring return?
Offer its apologies  
Admit to leaving too soon
Certainly this desired guest will not  
Remain AWOL the season long

W3 Prompt #157: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Di, prompts us to write a 16 line free-verse poem on the theme of seasonal change. “The first word of line one must also be the final word of line sixteen.”

Featured image generated by Microsoft AI and modified by author.

Life’s Playground

Explorative play
Peaks the imagination
The playground of life

Life is a playground
Up the tall ladders we climb
Only to slide down 

Swinging to new heights
A push by playground buddy 
Adventures to come

The merry-go-round
Slows its incessant spinning
Solo traveler

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge, No. 10, hosted by Robbie. “I would like you to consider two opposing human experiences in the [senryu] series, alternating between them.”

Common Whitetail Dragonfly

In macro detail
Undisclosed secrets revealed
Through camera lens

Eugi’s Moonwashed Weekly Prompt – April 22, 2025

Revolving Doors

Time passes from hours to decades 
Routines alter to fit the times
Another generation takes over and then another
Nothing exists without change
Slow to evolve are us humans
Forging our way through revolving doors 
Out to a new era and in to the same mistakes
Revolutionizing the external world
Matters little to internal transformation 
Acts deemed as progress 
Turn to stepping stones for destruction
Insightful action requires time and thought
Our fight or flight tendencies don’t allow
Now is the time to exit the revolving door 

W3 Prompt #156: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Carol Anne, prompts us to write an acrostic poem using the word “transformation.”

Featured image generated with Microsoft AI, altered by author.

Surfacing

Surprise from below
Under the murky waters
Rise little critters

Finding the warm sun
Another spring calls them out
Chattering wildly

Ideal environs
Nurture need to propagate
Greets with spring fervor 

TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 9 Acrostic Poem hosted by Willow

Val’s Looking at Poetic Chimeras – “write a Senryu that is also an Acrostic.”

Rooted Words

A positive perspective planted  
The power of words take root
Abstract ideas grow into tangible thoughts  
Like street signs altering a predetermined course
The road is cleared of debris and lights guide the way
Back to a path that has been there all along   

Quadrille #222: There’s no alternative, hosted by Punam

In a Nature Preserve

In a nature preserve, I find:

Acorns scattered on the ground
Bluebirds perched on branches
Caterpillars gorging on precious leaves
Ducks waddling at water’s edge
Eastern cottontails nibbling clover
Ferns quietly contemplating
Geese flying in formation
Herons posed like statues
Insects whispering in the ear
Junipers sheltering little critters
Kayaks floating down river
Lizards skittering under foot
Maples swaying in the breeze
Nature in all its glory
Oxygen
People sharing experience
Queen bees assembling their workers
Red-bellied woodpeckers drilling out lunch
Snakes basking in the sun
Toads attempting camouflage
Unity
Violets peeking from forest floor
White-tailed deer bounding
Xanthium burrs latched to clothing
Youths exploring
Zen

Val’s Looking at Poetic Chimeras. I chose to: “Write a List Poem using the Abecedarian form.”

Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge – Week 16

Monk Parakeets

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

A Choka: Untethered Winds

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

Cypress Tale

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.