Strength In Vulnerability

Georgia O’Keeffe, Three Women (1918)

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

Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #414 – Periwinkle

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