Waterfowl afloat
Aware not of its beauty
Nature’s cosmetics
Artistry at its finest
Marvelously breathtaking
I. J.’s Birds of the Week Invitation CXV
A Tanka: Wood Duck
Strength In Vulnerability
Girls
Forging
On
Be strong
Sisterhood
Prevails
Not
To be
Deterred by
Societal
Distortion
Support
Each
Other
Harmony
Strengthens
We
Shall stand
Firm
W3 Prompt #158: Wea’ve Written Weekly poet of the week, Suzanne, prompts us to write a Waltz Wave on the theme of strength and vulnerability.
dVerse Poetics, hosted by Melissa. Melissa challenges us to write an ekphrastic poem on one of a selection of Georgia O’Keeffe paintings, while incorporating “a handful” of words proffered by Melissa.
Sunset Voyage
Vibrant marigold
Inspires fantastical dreams
The blazing sun sets
Colleen’s TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 11
Periwinkle Skies
Gentle breezes blow
Across deep blue waters
Under periwinkle skies
Promises whispered in the ear
As a new day dawns
Calmed by shades of blue-violet
Softly nudged by the wind
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
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
JJJ Interactive Books 