BATTERED bare, brittle branches
howling blowing banshee winds
BOOMING thunder voices anger
lightning CRACKS zig zag skies
nature’s rampage runneth over.
Nature
Summer’s Delights
NaPoWriMo April 29 and Photo Challenge to share a photograph that captures motion and tell the story behind it. Several summers ago we were delighted to have our daughter and grandchildren join us for a weekend in Provincetown. Oh the joys and innocence of childhood!
Summer’s Delights
Apple tree blossoms in curly hair
knocked off their branches
during the morning climb
by scraped and knobby knees.
Sidewalks with white chalk not snow
crooked squares and wiggly numbers
smudged by hop scotch jumps
and dripping lime popsicles.
Seaside escapades scented by Coppertone
childhood tag at water’s edge
joy forever captured in portraits
of red-brown freckles on sun flushed cheeks.
‘Tis Spring!
Skipping out the door
a spring to my step
’tis the season!
Woods’ Desire
NaPoWriMo April 24, without prompt. Spending February in Bermuda, we walked many miles on the Old Railway Trail. So many sections were almost mystical – nature can be that way.
Wood’s Desire
The forest seldom traveled
seeks company and joy
trees stand sentinel proud
light rarely allowed upon her ground.
Winds decide to grant her wish
push aside branches high and low
create slivered space amongst the leaves
open pathways for morning sun.
Leaf filtered, bright and spritely shapes
suddenly dance upon her darkened floor
awakened shadows without selves
companions until the calm.
Star Wish
Cold damp sand between my toes
skirt poufs, billows in the wind
eyes squished shut for dreams
open quickly at the whoosh.
Shooting star flashes bling
streaks across my universe
fingers cross to catch magic
I wish upon the star.
Like tinsel, moon beams shimmer
beget a glistened path
smiling slyly, I double-dip
to wish across the waves.
Spring!
Dawn awakens
morning senses
spring delicious.
Ode to a Dying Leaf
NaPoWriMo Day 9: Write a calligram: a poem or other text in which the words are arranged into a specific shape or image.
leaf
misshapen
shriveled once green
donned vibrant red disguise
to ward off lurking decay
fallen tendon of skeletal oak
hardened veins stand out from brittle flesh
dull brown age spots on blackened stem
curled like death’s beckoning finger elasticity gone
your smallest pieces granular near dust
hearkened back unto your mother soil
tomorrow’s wind will hurl you
to another place
or unthinking footsteps
will grind you
into
no-
thing-
ness
Scattered Dreams
I love this photo by dear friend, Alison Hofer. I think of the many times I’ve picked dandelions like this, and blown them into the wind……
She holds the watering can in hand
too late for dried wispy dandelions
swaying in the slight breeze
seed pods gnawed by nature.
Loosened tendrils float slowly
through thick humid air
like memories and dreams
slipping beyond her grasp.
Shadow of Mine
Shadow of Mine
We walk, you in front of me
one created flesh and bone
the other born of sun
elongated faceless gray.
Seamlessly
we stroll the beach
arms out wide now close in
darkness plays with light.
I stop you stop
your head turns as mine
we follow a gull’s flight
as it rises from the sea.
If I turn and reverse my course
will you dance behind me
like the kite that zigs and zags
when its master loosens his hold?
The Tree
We lived in Bermuda for 35 days (Jan 24 – Feb 26) at Crooked Elbow, #5 Shinbone Alley. Bermudians in St. George name their homes. So we totally missed Boston’s 100+ inches of snow. Well, not missed, but missed — you know what I mean.
We understood quickly why, during one of his stays in Bermuda, Mark Twain famously wrote, “You go to heaven if you want to, I’d rather stay here.” We spent many a day in shirt sleeves hiking the Old Railway Trail.
The Tree
Sprawling twisted legs
of varied length and size
gnarled knotted and crawling over each other
seeking to be sure-footed on this earth.
Torso evolved into two odd-shaped
bark encrusted bodies fused as one
yet each side and angle unique
as if a fraternal twin.
Like many-armed goddess Durga
female in beauty strength and power
you bear fruit with crimson leaves
to protect your own from the maelstroms of nature.
A tree spirit, you walk and dance while rooted in solitude
your only partner a yellow breasted Kiskadee who
flits from branch to branch making its acquaintance
with all your wondrous limbs.
lillian the home poet 