Love and Anger

Love is the skin of the soul…

Anger is the shadow that follows you

And, in the dark of night it becomes you

Love is face to face welcomed reality

Anger is that dark distorted part

Hauntingly eerie and frightening

Love lights the way leaving no shadow

No need to look back and wonder…

What part is trailing along behind

Love is the skin of the soul

bringing life and light to everyone

Healing the heart

Wrapping us in the divinity

With which we were created

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Two Different Perspectives

A few years ago I painted this waterfall. It started out from a completely different perspective. It was originally a painting of Looking Glass Falls in the Pisgah National Forest, NC. I had it sitting upside down in my garage. When I looked at it, I loved the way the perspective of the overhanging rocks changed as the painting rotated. I decided to turn it sideways and paint the waterfall flowing from the opposite direction.

The bottom painting was the original and the top painting is the redo. I added in more rocks and extended the waterfall to the bottom. I like the way it turned out. If you rotate the bottom painting you can see how the perspective changes.

Rotation changes

Rocks and water perspective

The world keeps turning

Paintings: Dwight L. Roth

Meaning in the Meaningless

Old in age, I am young at heart

Seeing my way through an uncharted maze

I look for light in the winter dark of night

Racing slowly toward the finish line

*

Days creep by, as redundant weeks roll on

Attempting to find meaning in the meaningless

Believing in that unbelievable Spirit of all Creation

Experiencing grace and comfort in not knowing

*

In this winter of freezing joints and pushing buds

I defy the waiting cold earth with warm sunshine

I write my simple poems from inspired words unknown

As night closes in, each new day dawns

I am the bud and the blossom, I am the late-falling leaf” – from The Paradox by Paul Dunbar

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Laura asked us to consider writing from the perspective of paradox. She gave us some lines from different poems to choose from for inspiration. I chose the one from Paul Dunbar’s, The Paradox.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com then click Mr. Linkey to read more.

“On the Go”

On the go..

Colloquial term

Used by many when I was young

Little Phil is learning to walk

Took his first steps yesterday

Now he is on the go!

Granny broke her hip last fall

Now she is healed up and on the go!

Today at d’Verse, De asked us to make a quadrille of exactly 44 word using the word go! What came to mind immediately was a term I heard very often when I was a boy. It was the term, … on the go. These days we are not on the go as much as we used to be. I can’t wait to be on the go again!

Join us at: https://deversepoets.com then click on Mr. Linkey’s box to read more.

Photo – Streets of Stasbourg, France: Dwight L. Roth

Living Above the Pain

Somewhere above the pain there is life

A place where one can live and function

Where hopes and dreams can still be achieved

Living above the pain does not make it go away

It only allows one to be in control

Pain lies rooted in one’s being

A constant reminder

Rearing its ugly head

Vying for control

Only to be suppressed once more

By hope determination and faith

Unwilling to resign oneself to fate

Knowing that above the pain

Above the pills

There is light and hope

It is a choice one must make

Every day all day long

***************

*A tribute to my wife Ruth, who makes this choice every day, all day long!

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Painting Hobbiton Mural

It was one of the most fun paintings I have ever done! A few years ago, I was asked by a neighbor down the street to paint a mural of the Hobbiton Shire, on their garage wall, for her husband’s Christmas present. He was a big fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It was my first attempt at anything quite this extensive, but I agreed to do it. I tried to incorporate significant parts of the story into the painting. This is how it turned out.

Paints spread colors wide

Across neighbor’s garage wall

Hobbiton Shire shines

Write For Yourself

Write for one’s self

Only then will it have meaning

and depth that speaks to others

Forms are fine and fancy words too

But, if you really want to connect

your words must all ring true

Choose not to write for accolades

of unknown publishers who read

multitudes of words each day

with swiftness and care-less speed

Write first for yourself

Share with friends who see

Who feel the depth of your soul

For that’s all your writing should be

So, write your stories and poems for you

You might even put them into a book or two

and give them to folks you care about

And friends folks who care about you

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today is open link night at d’Verse Poets Pub. Over the past few years, I have seen many different kinds of bloggers. Most write from a perspective that is special to them. Some write in hopes of getting lots of likes and comments, which is nice. Others write for several prompt sites such as d’Verse. Still others write so they can promote themselves or products on their site. But for me, I like to write for myself. I feel if I do that and others enjoy it, that is satisfaction enough. It is wonderful to connect with all of you and I love doing the prompts on d’verse, And, I do enjoy all the likes and comments and an occasional reblog. Most of all I want to write meaningful poetry that says something that connects with others. I will let you be the judge of that!

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com then click on Mr. Linkey to read more.