Ms. Poppins’ Travails

lillian29 Comments

Drones.
Little mechanical beasties
shall not be my demise!
Flashing metal, whirs and spins,
winds whoosh. Just concentrate!
Umbrella steady, point toes left.
Nose bleeding, dress in shreds
whirling blades too close again.
Children waiting. Parents chafing.
Magic wearing thin.
Umbrella soon to be
my rain-only accessory.

showers_umbrella

With apologies to Mary Poppins.  Motivated by Dverse Poets Pub prompt: create a Persona Poem. Decided to take the “light” approach today — a little humor to hopefully make you smile.

Still Life

lillian31 Comments

The weather shifted suddenly. For weeks, I walked along the tree-lined path with Sakura. She and I wrapped warmly in our love. Mother ignored the almanac’s provisions, coaxing cherry trees to bloom again. Shades of pink daring to be seen among branches stripped bare in their dormant season. They did not understand, the calendar progresses relentlessly.

And so I walk alone today, Sakura gone. Cold seeps into my bones and the sentinels of this path. New fallen snow blankets branches and lands upon my face. But it is not a comforter to me, nor to these delicate blossoms, still life in this winter scene.

She shall shroud your love
like new fallen snow upon the bark
and the buds shall be stilled.

cam00009

Word Count: 131 including title.  Posted for Haibun Monday in Dverse Poets Pub.  Haibun:  a Japanese poetic form that includes prose followed by a haiku. Haibun frequently includes fugetsu (natural scenery) and kaketoba (use of words with double meaning). Sakura is the Japanese word for cherry blossoms and also used a woman’s name. Comforter can be a blanket or someone who comforts. Still life refers to a painting (as this photo almost is) and to dying. A Haibun should also include an eternal truth or a theme that can be understood by many. Photo Credit: copyright Kanzensakura all rights reserved – Used by permission. With apologies to Toni:  I just went back and read your prompt and it indicates this is a quince blossom. I looked and immediate saw cherry blossoms! 

 

 

A Promise

lillian16 Comments

Skeleton trees rattle outside my window
the moon, their spotlight
as branches click like castanets.

No mouth, no heart, no head
just limbs flailing in the winter wind, so alive
though sap was spilled in days gone by.

They tap upon the glass as if to remind me,
seasons do change. Just keep in step
and move with us, partners in the dance.

The gift of greening shall evolve
and music shift to spring-time waltz,
nature’s present in days to come.

I smile, looking through the pane
today’s impossible will bloom tomorrow.
And I shall wire rose buds together,
a welcome wreath upon my door.

stockvault-bare-trees--night103029

Motivated by the Sunday Whirl, Wordle 233. Create a poem using these words/forms of these words: head, mouth, present, wire, change, gift, possible, spill, skeleton, moon, keep, step. Each Sunday a different Wordle is given! Very fun to take up this challenge. Photo credit: Heather Elaine Kitchen

Dear Peter Pan

lillian7 Comments

I need your help,
the crocodile is getting close.
Time just seems to disappear
even on ho hum days.

Please send Tinker Bell
to flit round my head.
I’ll remember then
to think wonderful things.

And the starry sky
outside my window
will look more inviting
when it’s my turn to fly.

lillian

peter pan

 

Quickly’s Winter Doldrums Jan 10 Prompt: write an epistolary poem – a poem in the form of a letter.

 

ETA

lillian14 Comments

I needed to get off!

Tarmack for an hour. The screaming kid in front of me? Don’t get me started on that. And then the kid behind me decided to be Ringo Starr. Rhythmic kicks like a drum roll until someone mercifully said stop.

Grab the carry on and shove like hell.

“Ladies and gentlemen. We have an emergency of sorts.” Of sorts?

“A passenger’s wife is in labor. He’s trying to get there in time. Please remain in your seats until he’s left the plane.”

That’s it. No connection. Good luck buddy, I’ll remember that excuse for next time.

melanie-greenwood

Word Count: 100   Completed for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s weekly flash fiction challenge: Friday Fictioneers. Photo credit for this week’s challenge: Michelle Greenwood.

Sunday’s Invitation

lillian6 Comments

Come meander with me,
a moon walk among scattered dreams
to explore the tantalizing.

Choose the light and join hands.
This shadow of mine shall disappear
as we climb out from the depths.

Secrets one and two shall be no more,
and we shall discover all we need
in that open space created by shared souls.

Our desires shall blend, one upon the other
like rose petals cling to their bursting bud
in the midst of a slow delightful rain song.

And we shall be two as one,
ready for Monday’s promise
this feeling, this exhilaration,
this passion called Love.

rose-bud-1306629

Motivated by Quickly’s Winter Doldrums: Create a list of titles – then be creative with them.  Sunday’s Invitation includes titles from some of my very first poems (started writing poetry in February 2015) and are some of my very early posts (started site in March 2015). Meander, Moonwalk, Scattered Dreams, Tantalizing, Choose the Light, Shadow of Mine, From the Depths, Secrets One and Two, All We Need, Rain Song, Monday’s Promise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happiness Extended

lillian4 Comments

She enjoyed decorating for the season
memories gently removed from tissue paper,
placed about the room.

Christmas cards from years gone by
ornaments of glass and styrofoam
some misshapen, now glitter bare.

Each year’s new wreath carefully selected
artificial greens bedecked in happines
meant to last well beyond her window.

And as Epiphany dawned
she readied herself for church
donned this year’s circle of golden stars.

Her wreath of choice, her Sunday hat.
And she wore the Christmas spirit
well beyond the new year.

IMG_3214

In response to the Daily Photo Challenge to let a familiar shape, the circle, inspire you. Poem motivated by photo, taken at the White House December 2015.