I woke up this morning shaken, frightened, and blue
So glad that scary dream I dreamed wasn’t really true
Our minds have ways of taking us there
leaving us hanging in the shadows snare
Driving into thick blinding fog
No way to stop…
black
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, De Jackson asked us, since this is Halloween, to write a poem with scare in it.
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Today, I painted two watercolors that are memories from our trip we took a few weeks ago. The first one is a little red fireplug that was by the sidewalk as we strolled leisurely along, and the other is the Little Stone Church on Mackinac Island. At the time, I did not see any parallel between them, but the more I thought about it the more it stimulated my imagination. So, this poem is about opposites and similarities.
Little red fireplug waiting alone
for the time when its purpose will be fulfilled
A time of connection when the water inside
can flow forth with such force
that it will put out a fire
saving a building from physical destruction
***
The Little Stone Chapel sits high on the hill
standing out in the morning sunshine
waiting for a time when its purpose can be fulfilled
An inviting place where all are welcomed
to hear the good news of faith and hope
A time of heavenly connection
that when accepted by faith can light a fire
in one’s soul
saving them from spiritual destruction
***
Watercolor Paintings: Dwight L. Roth
Sharing this on d’Verse Poets Pub open link night
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
The Bible says,
“The heart of a man is desperately wicked,
Who can know it?”
This seems to be very true when it comes to politics
As I listen to the campaign ads on TV
it does not take long to realize
that the heart of politics is lies and twisted truth
Just enough truth to salve itching ears
Just enough of a lie to make you a believer
As we come now to the midterm elections
we have again witnessed all of the above
So, what is one to do?
Most of us are smart enough to see the deceit
We recognize the half-truths
And in the end
We compromise
Every vote is a compromise
In our democracy each has a right to his/her opinion
What it comes down to, in my opinion, is this
Which candidate’s policies will do the most good…
for me, for the country, and beyond
We know we won’t agree on everything
So, to vote is to compromise
Something long lost with our lawmakers it seems
***
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Let the Diwali celebration begin
Light the candles and avoid the wind
Firecrackers blasting as smoke floats upward
Adding to the pollution, smog, and the covid
Time to get out the broom and mops
Cleaning the house from bottom to top
Wrap up your hair in a silk bandana
You can shampoo it later right after your Nana
Cleanliness is next to godliness, you know
Inviting Lakshmi in bringing wealth to show
Let the dancing begin as the jungle cats sing
Sharing life and light and all good things
Wear your cashmere headdress and colorful bangles
Dance in the streets and on the verandah
Eat lots of good food with friends and family
When the hullabaloo’s over it’s back to work on Monday
Painting: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, Punam shared with us about the celebration of Diwali in India. She noted that there are and number of Indian words that are used in the English language. She gave us a list of them and asked us to use four of them in a poem of our choosing.
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
We arrived home form our trip late Tuesday afternoon. After traveling in the car for two and a half days we were excited to be home and sleeping in our own bed again. But, that night for me was restless, with chills and achiness, and in the morning, I tested positive for Covid. Ruth tested and she was negative.
Since I had gotten sick, we thought there was a possibility she would get it as well, so she immediately called our daughter-in-law and asked her to go to the grocery store and get what we needed for the next week. She spent the day making the most delicious chicken soup. As it cooked the aromas floated over me making even a sick man hungry.
By Saturday, she also tested positive, and we were stuck homebound for the next week or more. We lived on her great chicken soup for the next two weeks as we both floated in a yucky covid soup of our own.
Fall Covid season
Time for homemade chicken soup
Soup helps ease the pain
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, Mish asked us to write a poem about soup! I love soup so this was an easy prompt for me to write.
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
While shooting these photos I got caught in a rain shower that sent me under the barn overshot to keep dry. It is beautiful to see the raindrops against the backdrop of the old corn crib. As I watched water dribbling from the downspout, I thought how often we/(I) take rain and water for granted. In the Southwest, the water levels are continuing to drop in reservoirs like Lake Mead. More people use more water in a dry and thirsty land. Water and rain should never become an assumption.
Refreshing Fall rain
Grass stays green until the frost
Precious assumption
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lake-mead-water-level-historic-low-drought-heres-what-that-means/
1947
Chrysler Windsor
I saw her sitting up on blocks
this vintage old machine
from a time gone by
just as old as I
this vintage old machine
*
The bumpers gleam the chrome still shines
throughout its passing years
the engine purred
the pistons whirred
throughout the passing years
*
A grill that ran from side to side
she smiled from ear to ear
with suicide doors
and carpeted floors
she smiled from ear to ear
*
Flathead engine and three speed shifter
and power enough to haul eight
broad bench seats
gave room for those pleats
and power enough to haul eight
*
Now she sits awaiting attention
she’ll be running many years more
just a little care
to repair the wear
she’ll be running many years more
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse Laura asked us to write a Roundabout Poem. The Roundabout – a 20-line poem (attributed to David Edwards) because of course today is the 20th! “The roundabout is a metered stanzaic form with a simple but unusual premise that the rhyme scheme should come full circle (thus the name).” Word Wool In the poem stanzas the third line becomes the fifth line as well.
I thought I would give it a try. I chose the subject of my poem from an old car I saw a few weeks ago in Marietta, Ohio.
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
OOPS! I see at my age I still can’t count my lines!! I seem to have added an extra stanza to my poem which makes it 25 lines instead of 20. I must be getting old!
While we were in Michigan a couple of week ago, we visited the Au Sable High River Overlook, near Mio! It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful view of the river. The fall colors were just beginning to show. I decided to do some notebook sketches and watercolors of our trip.
I did this one last Saturday when I was recovering from Covid. I thought I was about through it all and then this past Monday, I work up with a bad head cold and tested positive again! Ugh!! Today is the first I have felt better.
Fall colors shining
Nature paints stunning landscapes
Covid returns again
Photos and watercolor: Dwight L. Roth
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/hmnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=18550&actid=64
Nature’s Beauty Queen
Sits motionless on her web
Snagged become lunch
***
Bagging them for later meals
Egg laying time for spiders
iPhone Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Roth Poetry 