Blue sky and blossoms
Reminds us that Spring is here
Cardinal’s sweet song
***
Painting – Dwight L. Roth
Blossoms and Blue Sky
Month: March 2021
Americans One and All
Most of us will remember when Hurricane Harvey came through Huston Texas a couple of years ago, the city was flooded, homes were destroyed and people were stranded needing help. This year a different but similar storm hit Dallas Fort Worth with ice and snow, freezing pipes, crippling the electrical grid, and contaminating the water. In both cases people came to assist and offer help. This kind of coming together to help is what America is really all about. I wrote this poem after the hurricane, but it could just as well apply today.
“Forty Days and Forty Nights”
“The rains came down and
The floods came up”
Water deluge seemed endless
Twenty-trillion gallons of water fell
No Ark available for people or animals
Only Texans reaching out with mini arks
Carrying friends neighbors and strangers
To safety on dry land
No discrimination hate or bigotry here
Only concern to help one’s neighbor
Not Republican or Democrat
Politics is left for the judgmental talking heads
Not African-American or White or Latino
Just Americans helping Americans
Concern for one another’s safety
Supersedes all other strongly held labels
Except for a few smallminded newscasters
Who lost their sense of focus
Making light of the First-lady’s heels
Leaving with her husband to support the victims
The true Americans one and all
Manifested themselves in Harvey’s wake
Working tirelessly to help others in need
We must remember and learn from this
When the waters recede and dry land reappears
We are more than politics race or creed
With one heart one spirit and concern for each other
We are Americans one and all
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Bursting Beauty
Pink pear buds bursting
shiver in the cold night air
Glorious Springtime
Photos; Dwight L. Roth
Life’s GPS
Life is like a GPS
with every change in direction
it has to reset itself
to get where you are going.
*
Just as true in the spiritual realm
God’s Spirit shows us the way to go
We often choose our own path:
get off track
headed the wrong way
sometimes crash and burn;
But our Spiritual GPS
resets and lets us know
what needs to be done
to once again turn around
and head in the right direction.
I read a post from a blogger friend, Astrid, Life’s Adventure and Disability | Astrid’s Words , this morning. It inspired the opening line to this poem. The application to our spiritual life seemed to fit in so well, so I wrote this poem. Click on her link to read her poem.
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Say it Now
‘This being human
is saying, “I love you!”
Before it’s too late…
Realizing that sharing
our love is being human
Today at d’Verse, Kim asked us to use a line from Rumi’ poem Guest House. We are to start out with, “This being human is…” and write a poem expressing what it means to be human.
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com then click Mr. Linkey and read more posts.
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Why Believe?
“Why would anyone believe in God?” Or for that matter, “Why would anyone not believe in God. “ “I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility that existence has its own reason for being.”
Such were the conversations between the old preacher and his grandson. His son did not follow in his steps and had left the church at an early age. Grandson Charlie, now a university student, decided to challenge Grandpa’s long held faith.
“Why do you believe such nonsense, Grandpa,” he asked. “You can’t begin to prove any of it.”
“Well, son, take a look at that daffodil blooming in the sunshine. Do you know anyone who could make a living breathing flower that is as wonderfully complicated as that?” “Some say it all just happened over time, but I believe the God of creation brought everything into existence for a reason.“
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’verse, we are writing Prosery. This is where we are giving a line from a poem and asked to write a story of exactly144 words that includes that line. Merril gave us this line: “I prefer keeping in mind even the possibility that existence has its own reason for being.” from polish poet Wislawa Szymborska’s poem, “Possibilities”
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
Turtling on a Log
Six turtles necking
On Lover’s Log in the pond
Their hot blood pumping
*****
Sun’s bright rays coming on strong
Wondering who’ll get lucky
Two slide in to chill
Leaving four seeking a thrill
Long necks stretched …entwined
*****
With hot lovin’ on their minds
Warm chills up and down their spine
Two more slide away
Into the green pond they spill
Rita and Bill stay
*****
Will Rita’s love want to play
Or will he send her away
Rita cozies up
But Big Bill’s not in the mood
Now Rita’s long gone
*****
Leaving Bill alone to brood
Wondering what he did wrong
I wrote this Haikai poem in renga form, but it is not a true renga since it is not a collaboration. I did both the first and second voice with the asterisks showing the divisions. Renga is a Japanese form that is written in collaboration with another person; each verse and response becoming more boisterous. We went to the Dogwood Park today, where we saw this row of turtles lined up on a log in the middle of the pond. It was so cute… the pairs were neck and neck in the sunshine. So, that is how I came up with this silly renga!
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
I posted this earlier this week. Since many of the d’Verse Poets Pub group have not seen this one. I am putting it up for open link night.
Join us at: http://dversepoets.com Then click Mr. Linkey to read more…
Spring Travelers
Now that Spring is on the way, I am anxiously waiting for this beautiful bird to appear. The Rose Breasted Grosbeak comes through each spring and stops to eat at my bird feeder. He shows up around Easter, when my lilac is blooming. His gorgeous colors make him stand out against the green foliage of Spring.
Spring traveler stops
Enjoys seeds at my feeder
Summer home awaits
Fregrance of Springtime
Perfumes the air with sweetness
Kiss Covid goodbye
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Venturing Out Again
Today is the anniversary of the Covid-19 shut down in the United States. We had no idea what was going on, and it seemed no one else did either. Travel bans, restrictions, quarantines, hospitalizations, and deaths all came together for the perfect storm. It has been a very different year for all of us.
We celebrated our 50th in the summer of 2019 with a European River Cruise. We are so thankful that we were able to do this before all the Covid restrictions came down. We are waiting for our second shot, and the ability to feel safe going to restaurants, church, and travel to visit family once again. Hopefully you are doing well also.
Hiding in shadows
Missing travel, family, friends
Spring brings warm fresh air
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Dubbs Rat
Today I followed this cut up custom job down the road. It gives a whole new meaning to short-bed pick-up! He had a beer keg strapped on the bed for his gas tank. His 357hp Chevy V-8 engine had a lot of power. He left me in the dust; but, I seem always catch up at the light or the next string of slow cars. It is great to see the creativity people come up with when they get inspired.
Old Chevy pick-up
4-barrel under the hood
Recall summers past
iPhone Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Roth Poetry 